The classic Moth Boat project is not only a design and hands on building project for our students, but one connected to local history.

The first Moth Boat was designed and built in 1929 by Captain Joel VanSant in the Elizabeth City shipyard about eight miles from our high school. The popularity of the Moth Boat waned during the 1970’s, but was revived in 1988 by the Museum of the Albemarle who sponsored the first regatta held in a couple of decades.

Camden County High School carpentry class began designing and building our first Moth Boats three years ago. The design we adopted was the original MINT design. The MINT design won

national awards for several years during the late 1950’s. Mr. Jay Cuthrell our carpentry instructor guided the students through design and actual building of our boats.

The boats we built have juniper frames, which are covered with lauen plywood. The hull design is somewhat open on Moth Boats with the greatest restrictions being on the sail itself.

The Moth project did not just end with the building of the boats: "BRUIN PRIDE" and "BEAR-LY CRUSIN." Camden County Schools has an active sailing club for students and these two boats do a lot of cruising on the Pasquotank River. The Sail Club coach is George Ashley.

This project has received much local support from the community as well as the classic Moth Boat Association, which aided in areas of boat design, technical advice, and donations of sails and other equipment. The schools Home Economics class has made uniforms for our sailing club members and the agricultural class has built a trailer to transport the moths.

The main funding sources have been from the local community and vocational educational programs.

The school is currently interested in restoring an older Moth to add to its fleet.

George Ashley (Vocational Director)
Camden County Board of Education
174 North 343
Camden, NC 27921

Phone# 252-335-0831

Fax# 252-331-2300