Every summer in the Santa Barbara harbor, the Sea Shell Association rolls out its little boats and has races. Sea Shells are a local phenomenon. Built for the last 50 years or so, they are made of plywood, about 8' long, and big enough for a couple kids or 1 kid and an adult. Just about every kid that has learned to sail in Santa Barbara has spent at least some time in a Sea Shell. Some of these little boats have been around for several generations, and are handed down from family to family.