Cambridge to drop boat — not ball — on New Year’s Eve

While most people are used to seeing a ball drop on New Year's Eve, those in downtown Cambridge can expect something different this year.

Cambridge is hosting its first ever New Year's Eve Boat Drop, where a replica workboat will be launched down a 60-foot track at midnight.

"We wanted something different and relevant for the Eastern Shore, and in particular Dorchester County, and this is what we came up with," Brian Roche, chief technology officer at Bay Country Communications, said.

Building the trot-lining deadrise replica has been a team effort, with Rob Kramer Welding in Hurlock engineering and building the track, B&B Auto Body painting the boat and Kevin Hill of Hill Kimmel Contruction lending a construction lift to raise the boat to the top of the track.

The four foot long replica boat has not been named yet; a contest is currently underway to pick one.

"It's a big deal to name a boat, particularly here on the Eastern Shore where your boat might be your livelihood," Roche said.

Ideas for the boat's name can be submitted by email to nyeboatdrop@cambridgemainstreet.com and are due by midnight on the 30th. The contest winner will be announced 30 minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve.

The 500 block of Poplar Street will be closed from around 10 PM Saturday night until 1 AM Sunday morning for the event.