With a shout of “Arrr” these young pirates from Alexandra Community School in Owen Sound showed off the cardboard boats they had made with the help of the Marine Heritage Society July 24.

Hub Staff

It was all hands on deck as dozens on young landlubbers tried their hand at cardboard boat building at Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre July 24 ahead of the cardboard boat races July 27, part of the ninth annual Marine Heritage Festival in Southampton.

Under the instruction of Marine Heritage volunteer Rob Campbell, the young boat enthusiasts, using pre-cut cardboard and duct tape, built miniature versions of the boats that will attempt to sail this weekend at Pioneer Park. Following assembly, children had a chance to decorate their boats, giving each a unique touch, at the arts and craft tables.

Once finished the vessels were tested as to their seaworthiness by floating them in buckets filled with water and adding marbles until they sank. Chalkboards registered each boat and the number of marbles it managed to sustain prior to sinking.

With approximately 65 children participating, Campbell said it had been a successful day. “We find that it's something that the kids enjoy and they're amazingly inventive,” he said. "They've got great ideas of what they're tying to do."

The Marine Heritage Festival kicks off with a launch party at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 26 at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre with a full day of events planned for Saturday, July 27 including cardboard boat races at Pioneer Park. The festival continues into Sunday with the annual War on the Shore bike race, a barbecue and a picnic supper.

For the full three day schedule for the ninth annual Marine Heritage Festival, click here.

There were a number of options available for children to decorate their cardboard boats, making each one unique.

Already holding 60 marbles, 8 year old Parker was about to add another 60, proving his boat was truly seaworthy.

Nine year old Taylor from Wingham was doing a great job of decorating her boat.

There to help children with their cardboard boat making and standing with a cardboard cutout of Captain Wayne Sparrow were Marine Heritage summer student Willow Cushnie and volunteer Rob Campbell. Sparrow will be live and in person at the Marine Heritage Festival's cardboard boat races July 27.

Cousins, nine year old Lilly and soon to be seven year old Connor, show off the boats they had just crafted from cardboard and duct tape at the Bruce County Museum July 24.

Ethan, age 13, writes his name and the number of marbles his boat held before sinking on the cardboard boat challenge boards.