ROCKLAND — Rockland’s Sail, Power, and Steam Museum will be presenting two new talks in its “Boat Talk” and “Captains’ Quarters” speaker series.

Boat Talk, held at the museum Saturday, February 24, at 9 a.m., will be covering “Anchors and Anchoring.” Staff member Ben Diamond will be the featured speaker. Diamond has spent over 20 years exploring the coast in small boats, both in New England and the Great Lakes.

“Having a good understanding of anchoring is imperative to the safe operation of any vessel, in addition to being able to truly enjoy Maine’s scenic coastline and islands,” said Diamond, in the SPSM news release.

This talk aims to give boaters an understanding of different types of anchors, rode, and how to pick an anchorage using a variety of resources.

Whether you own a boat or are thinking about buying a boat, there are always questions about maintenance, materials, and ownership. “Boat Talk,” brings staff and local experts together with current or prospective boat owners over coffee and donuts to help answer questions and to think through decisions that must be made.  The series takes place in person at the museum, which is located at 75 Mechanic Street, Rockland. Registration is not required, and there is a suggested $10 donation at the door. 

Captains’ Quarters, the museum’s online speaker series, will be held Monday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m. Featured speaker, Bob Trapani, Jr., is the Executive Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation, a US Coast Guard lighthouse technician for the past 24 years, and a well-known local photographer and writer. His most recent books, Beacons of Wonderment: A Fascination with Maine’s Lighthouses and Gleams and Whispers: Maine’s Lighthouses and Their Allure will form the basis for this talk.

Participants will view the coast of Maine through the lens of Trapanis’ camera as he narrates the journey. There is no cost to join this online talk, but registration is required. Registration information can be found on the Music and Calendar page of the museum’s website.

“We are pleased to be able to reach out into the community to offer these speaker series,” said Executive Director Robin McIntosh. “Boat Talk is new this year and has been building a great audience of local boaters. Captains’ Quarters was started during the pandemic and continues to have an international audience. Followers have the option of watching this program live or watch on our YouTube channel at a later date. We’ve covered topics as diverse as the weather, journeys around Cape Horn, the history of most of our local windjammers, and more. Links to all of these Captains’ Quarters talks can be found on our website.”

The mission of the Sail, Power, and Steam Museum is to celebrate, honor, experience, and share the story of Maine’s maritime heritage. Hosting an extensive maritime history collection and active waterfront programs, the museum is located on the shores of Rockland’s working waterfront. For more information on these talks or other events, visit www.SailPowerSteamMuseum.org.