It’s wholesome, and it’s a great way to spend the morning by the dam!
Johannesburg, South Africa (25 September 2025) – If you’re looking for something unique and family-friendly to do in Jozi this weekend, you could go and watch model boats! The Gauteng Model Boat Club is about to host its annual exhibition day.
Miniature boats, built with jaw-dropping detail, will be sailing, racing, and even zipping around the water like the real deal, just in pocket size. It’s all going down (or, going up in floats) on Sunday, 28 September at the GMBC Harbour at the Botanical Gardens entrance of Emmarentia Dam in Randburg.
From 10:30 to 13:30, you’ll get to see all sorts of boats in action. Navy ships with working parts, tiny tugboats, fishing trawlers, submarines that actually go under the water, yachts with sails catching the wind, and even speedboats that zip across the dam like they’re in Fast & Furious.
It’s really wholesome, and a hobby popular amongst father-son duos.
Why do people love it? For some, it’s about the craft. Members work, often for months at a time, on building something from scratch, wiring up the electronics, and painting it until it looks like the real thing.
It’s also about the thrill of sailing. There’s a lot of excitement in racing your little yacht against someone else’s, or just enjoying a quiet afternoon on the dam. It’s also a hobby that has as much to do with community as it does with boats.
The club has a long history at Emmarentia. It actually started back in the 1960s, disappeared for a while, and was revived in the 2010s by a passionate group of hobbyists.
Today, it’s one of the most welcoming clubs around. The group meets every week and annually hosts its exhibition for the public. Members are always happy to explain how things work, show newcomers the ropes, or encourage others to give it a try.
It’s free to attend. If you’re just curious about the hobby, looking for something fun to do with the family, or just want to see dozens of little boats sailing about, you’ll be in good company.
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