There will also be a car-boot sale for “boat bits”, displays of classic craft on the water, and under construction, and a picnic for boaties and their families.

Boatfest is now presented by Lake Macquarie Classic Boat Association. 

Association president Bill Coote said the group was formed in 2010 to take over the running of an annual Boatfest event first held in 1988, when it was known as Heritage Afloat.

Boatfest is now run as a boaties picnic at Rathmines Park in association with Lakefest, the 10-day celebration of sailing and aquatic fun on Lake Macquarie.

“Last year we transferred Boatfest from Toronto to Rathmines Memorial Park to be held alongside the association’s Classic Boatshed which is within the Rathmines Memorial Park,” Mr Coote said.

“Last year our focus at Boatfest was on dinghies. We also had our first regatta for historic 10ft skiffs and 50 historic Holdens came along for lunch in the park.”

The historic 10ft skiff regatta will return next Sunday, as will a range of classic dinghies.

Boatfest organisers have added one interesting event to this year’s program: they’re calling it a ‘Boat Bits Boot Sale’.

“A Boat Bits Boot Sale is like a car boot sale only featuring boat bits,” Mr Coote said.

“The general public is invited to bring along their unwanted boat bits to sell from their car boot. The 50 members of the Classic Boatshed will bring plenty of boat bits for display and sale.”

Boatfest is free to attend at Rathmines Memorial Park, on Stilling Street.

It will start at 11am, and run to about 3pm.

Visitors are encouraged to take a look inside the Classic Boatshed where they will see some of the projects the association’s members have been working on.

”We are currently building a 22-foot four-person rowing skiff called a St Ayles skiff,” Mr Coote said.

“We also have a 12-foot rowing skiff called a whiting skiff under way.”

Two historic 10-foot skiffs are being restored by members, a mirror dinghy and an original VJ sailing boat.

“And restoration of our 19-foot Delta Craft lake cruiser is nearing completion and it will soon be up for sale.”

A sausage sizzle will operate all day, with proceeds going to the Classic Boatshed.

“If the weather is right we are hopeful two amphibious aircraft will fly in, a yellow fox bat on floats, and a floating hull super petrel flying boat,” Mr Coote said.

A raffle will be held, with the winner to be treated to a ride with aerobatic pilot Paul Bennet in his aerobatic YAK aircraft.

Proceeds from the raffle will support the NSW Cancer Council, Mr Coote said.