Category: ALL POSTS

The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding is co-sponsoring this year’s Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend, Washington. We will launch our wood composite, stripped planked, cold molded hull day sailor, Sentinel 24!

Our 20′ tent will include visual displays, boat models, small craft and activities for kids. Instructors will be giving presentations and demonstrations as well.

The Wooden Boat Festival is probably the largest event of its kind on the west coast of the United States. You will see a huge variety of vessels and have the opportunity to actually board many of them that are placed in the marina area of the event. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to enjoy and learn more about wooden boats.

Click on the sailboat image to the right to watch “Sleepless in Port Townsend,” a video produced by Off Center Harbor about the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival.

We hope you can join us!

The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding and the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, Washington present experiential educator and international boatbuilder Lance Lee. Mr. Lee will speak on “Joseph Conrad and the Tremolino” at 6:30 pm Sunday, August 17, 2014 at the Northwest Maritime Center’s Maritime Meeting Room (MMR). Mr. Lee is noted for his re-creations of historic watercraft, including a one-third-scale model of Joseph Conrad’s Tremolino.

Mr. Lee’s vision of building a copy of Joseph Conrad’s cargo carrier Tremolino, began 50 years ago. “The project, a marriage of wood and words, now built has been campaigned throughout east and west Penobscot Bay and embodies the experiential in craftsmanship and seamanship. In this project we can begin to explore the connections between craft, art and exploration.”

Mr. Lee, founder of The Apprenticeshop in Rockland, Maine has worked 50 years in the maritime world of experiential education, including apprenticing in craftsmanship and boat building rooted in the work of Kurt Hahn and Outward Bound. He has initiated international boat building and seamanship projects involving 12 countries, including the Atlantic Challenge International. He and his work have been published around the world since 1973. His most recent project is the Scholarshipwrights: Apprenticing Land and Sea, an institute formed in 2012 working to build apprentices and communities through traditional wooden boat building and seamanship. Mr. Lee believes “apprenticing by land and by sea nurtures citizens, strengthens communities and cultivates a culture of resourcefulness and a spirit of collaboration.”

http://www.apprenticeshop.org/

http://apprenticinglandandsea.com/

Lance Lee feature article in Wooden Boat Magazine

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding staff taught 70 Girl Scouts how to build boats at a July 23, 2013 summer camp in Sequim, Washington! They learned about the boat school from Executive Director Pete Leenhouts, careers related to boat school skills from Director of Education Pamela Roberts, and the parts of a boat (transom, thwart, planks, carvel and lapstrake) from Maintenance Manager Brian Standifer.

Girl Scouts introduces girls of every age to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences relevant to everyday life. Whether they’re discovering how a car’s engine runs, how to manage finances, or exploring careers in STEM fields, girls are fast-forwarding into the future.

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding graduates gain skills that allow them to work in boat yards, maritime museums, educational programs, architectural design, rocket construction, automotive design, wooden boat repair and restoration, yacht construction, wooden boat building, boat surveying, musical instrument building, fine furniture making. and building construction.

Congratulations, girls! You were an awesome group to teach!

Click here for the entire photo gallery!

Ferrari of the schooners’ also offers race-based sail training
By Robin Dudley of the Leader

Form follows function – it’s one of the reasons sailboats are so aesthetically pleasing. Design details are there to do something, not just look pretty. And one of the prettiest boats around keeps busy winning races as well as teaching kids and adults about sailing.

The 84-foot, 106-year-old schooner Martha, operated out of Point Hudson by skipper Robert d’Arcy and his wife, Holly Kays, did Port Townsend proud at the Swiftsure Inshore Classic on May 25. Martha won her division and the overall score against 60 boats, most of them much newer.

With her heavy wood hull and Dacron sails, how does Martha manage to keep up with the modern racers? “She’s the Ferrari of the schooners,” d’Arcy said. “The ocean hasn’t changed.”

Read more about how this older boat beats its modern competitors.

You can enhance your educational experience in the Jefferson County, Port Hadlock and Port Townsend, Washington area by attending CedarRoot Folk School workshops.:: PO Box 135 :: Nordland, WA 98358 ::  [email protected]

Masonry Stove

Come learn the elegant design of eastern European high thermal mass stoves.   These fuel efficient stoves are designed to radiate heat back into a living space for a long time and can also be used to cook.  This hands-on workshop will cover concept, design variations, material use, and utilization.  Participants will leave this workshop with the fundamentals needed to recreate their own masonry stove for home or shop.

June 14^th (evening) 15-16^th :: Port Townsend, WA :: Ages: adult  :: Instructor Jason Temple :: $180 :: 2 1/2 days

Introduction to Blacksmithing and Knife Making Workshop

A two-day workshop producing a personal knife.  The workshop emphasizes tool making techniques as well as basic blacksmithing.  Using recycled car springs, a blade will be forged to the student’s suitability for shape, then heat treated and tempered.  A handle will be made from wood and fitted to the blade, followed by instruction in sharpening and care.  Safety and respect for materials and the forge environment will be emphasized.  Class size is limited to 4.   Students need ALL cotton clothing, gloves, leather shoes or boots. June 29-30 :: Marrowstone Island :: Instructor Rick Kirkwood :: Cost $165 + $30 material fee :: 2 Full Days

Intermediate Blacksmithing Class- Build your own forge

Participants of this class will create a highly functioning propane forge.  Intermediate Students will each make their own forge to bring home. These forges can be used to create a pluthera of home projects like knives, hinges, hangers and brackets. Students must have taken a basic blacksmithing (or equivelent experience) to participate. Instructor Rick Kirkwood

Fire Making Class

Back by popular demand.  This class will cover the basics of fire making with traditional technologies. Participants will learn hand drill, bow drill, flint and steel and basic fire mechanics.  All students will leave with a functioning fire kit.

June 30th :: Port Townsend, WA :: Ages: 5-adult (students under 12 must be accompanied by an adult) :: Instructor Justin Lake :: $85 :: Full Day ::

Bow Making and Archery

The art of building and shooting longbows have been practiced worldwide for thousands of years.  Bows have been used for survival, sport and meditation (Zen Archery).  This class is a continuation of these ancient practices.  During this class you will learn the skills to build a longbow, how to choose wood, the tools needed and their use, how to  make strings and weather “proof” your finished bow.  By the second day your bow will be ready to shoot and we will spend the afternoon learning ‘instinctive’ shooting techniques.

July 20th-21st :: Marrowstone Island, WA :: Ages: 5-adult (students under 12 must be accompanied by an adult) :: InstructorsPeter Yenken and Scott Brinton :: $160 + $40 material fee :: 2 Full Days ::

Tool Sharpening

Mid-summer and our tools need to be honed.  This class will give you the confidence to sharpen many useful tools found around a homestead from kitchen knives to crosscut saws. After learning techniques and equipment needed for a variety of tools, participants will receive a chance to sharpen some of their implements brought from home. July 21st :: Near Port Townsend, WA :: Ages: Adult :: InstructorSteve Habersetzer :: $45 :: Half Day ::

Arrow Making

Come explore and connect to your ancient roots in this one day workshop learning to craft the primitive wooden arrow with shafts constructed from locally harvested shoots, natural fibers & wild turkey feathers. Many types of arrowswill be discussed – each tailored to specific situations or purpose. Stone points will be provided which you will learn to haft with homemade pitch glue – useful skills which also comprise the basics for making many other stone age hafted tools and weapons. Participants will take home at least one fully completed, ready-to-shoot primitive hunting arrow and more importantly the knowledge needed to make more! July 27th :: Port Townsend, WA :: Ages: 5-adult (students under 12 must be accompanied by an adult) :: Instructor Eric Johnson :: $80 + $15 material fee :: Full Day ::

Edible Landscape Design

This workshop covers the basic tenants of Agroecology and Permaculture.  Participants will tour a highly functioning edible landscape, and then create drawings and designs for their own property.  Topics will include: species selection, mimicry of natural ecosystems, microclimates, plant guilds, pest control, irrigation, year round harvest, propagation techniques, weed suppression, plant succession and much more.

July 28th :: Marrowstone Island, WA :: Ages: Adult :: InstructorScott Brinton :: $45 :: Half Day ::

Round-Pole Timber Framing Intensive

Round-Pole Timber Framing Intensive  July 29-August 3

Learn the basics of structural joinery and round pole construction in this six day, hands-on, intensive course. Topics will include use and care of hand tools, design considerations, interface between round poles and sawn lumber, and appropriate use of fasteners.  The course will focus around the construction of a 10 x 12 foot “clubhouse,” beginning in the shop where we will prepare the joinery and ending with the assembly of the structure on site in the heart of Port Townsend. This structure will provide the first in a series of natural building courses offered in conjunction with Rainshadow Natural Builders Guild.

July 29th- August 3rd :: Port Townsend, WA :: Ages: adult :: Instructors Steve Habersetzer ::$850 :: 6 Days ::

Learn how to create an Herbal First Aid kit from wild medicinal plants as well as your own garden. You will learn how to identify, harvest and process Wild Medicinal plants from the beautiful forests, meadows and sea of our local area, both for wilderness travel or your home use. Learn how to make all natural medicines for burns, bug bites, cuts and scrapes, muscle aches, colds, parasites and more. You will gain the knowledge and confidence of being able to help yourself and others in times of need. Included in this class will be a handout for assembling your own kit as well as your own liniment/salve, tincture and all natural insect repellent.  August 3rd :: Port Townsend :: Ages: adult (students under 18 must be accompanied by an adult) :: Instructor Nicole Larson :: $65 + $10 material fee :: Full Day ::

Root Cellar Design

With the abundance of summer, we start looking at the ancient dilemma of storing our food through the winter.  This class will tour a highly functional root cellar and focus on general design considerations.   Topics will include: ventilation, thermal mass, insulation, storage requirements of different fruits and vegetables and shelving.  “In the field” storage techniques and alternative surplus storage techniques will be explored

August 10th :: Port Townsend :: Ages: adult (students under 18 must be accompanied by an adult) :: Instructor Steve Habersetzer :: $75 :: Full Day ::

Solar Hot Water

Solar hot water is one of the most cost effective techniques for putting the sun’s energy to work while minimizing your monthly electricity bill.  This workshop is perfect for those interested in creating their own system or who simply want an introduction to heating water with the sun.  Topics include equipment, freeze protection, circulation pumps, passive designs, tips and tricks for installation, pros and cons of different systems and creating solar hot tubs. This class will visit two different systems and cover the necessary elements of several others.

August 11th ::  Marrowstone Island, WA :: Ages: adult :: Instructor Kenny Schordine :: $45 :: Half Day ::

Soap Making

Learn how to make your own gentle cleansing soap from raw ingredients.  This class will cover all of the basics of soap making in a hands-on format.  Each student will make their own soap to bring home and, more importantly, the knowledge to successfully make all of their own soap in the future.

August 17th ::  Location TBD :: Ages: Ages: 5-adult :: Instructor Anne Aldrich :: $45+$20 material fee :: Full Day ::

Living Roofs

In this workshop you will learn the basics of creating three simple, inexpensive, and lightweight living roofs. Part of our time will be spent in lecture and part in hands-on assembling a living roof using hand tools on a small shed, which is already framed and has roof sheathing. We will start with morning coffee or tea (provided)  in the cob kiva by the pond at9 a.m. Bring a sack lunch for the mid-day meal, if desired, and we will finish up around 3 or 4 p.m. Anyone wishing to stay after school can self-tour on the homestead. Lots to see and learn from 36 years of work.

August 31st ::  Marrowstone Island, WA :: Ages:: Adult :: Instructor Greg Lalish :: $75 :: Full Day ::

Youth Programs– Although many of these classes are appropriate for many age levels, Click Here for Youth Specific Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Pete Leenhouts, Director
Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Phone: (360) 385-4948
Fax: (360) 385-5089
Email: [email protected]
Website: boatschoolstore.com

Boat School Offers Wide Range of Workshops During 2013

Port Hadlock, WA, May 15th, 2013.

The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding is hosting a wide variety of informal workshops during 2013.

The School, now in its 32nd year of instruction, is a non-profit institution devoted to teaching and preserving the skills and crafts associated with fine wooden boatbuilding and other traditional maritime arts.

Located on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula on the waterfront in the little town of Port Hadlock, the School is accredited to offer four full-time courses, three of which lead to Associates in Occupational Speciality (AOS).

Our avocational not-for-credit workshops are offered to people in all walks of life who are interested in learning a new skill or polishing an old one with us. We offer a wide range of these workshops throughout the year. We suggest that those interested keep an eye on our website for new offerings as they appear.

Here’s our current summer workshop schedule, organized by date:

Lofting Wooden Boats
Dates: July 15 – 19, 2013
Tuition: $625 (includes materials)
Lofting is the fundamental process through which boatbuilders derive the patterns with which to build traditional and contemporary boats. We’ll show you through demonstrations and plenty of practical hands-on experience how to loft and take the lines from wooden boats. You’ll loft two different boats and take the lines from a third.

Build a HEIDI Skiff
Dates: July 27 – August 3, 2013
Tuition: $950 (includes materials)
Location: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Port Hadlock WA
The Heidi is a beautiful, traditionally-built flat-bottom wooden skiff that rows like a dream. It is featured in designer Rich Kolin’s best-selling classic book “Traditional Boatbuilding Made Easy – Building the Heidi Skiff”.

Come and spend 8 days in our waterfront boat shops with our staff instructor and a small group of wooden boat enthusiasts to learn the secrets of the craft. This is one of our most popular courses! The skiff will be available for purchase to a student builder at a discounted price at the end of the class.

Build and Sail the SCAMP Pocket Cruiser with John Welsford and Howard Rice
Dates: August 5 – 16, 2013.
Tuition: $1,895 (boat kit, tools, trailer and materials extra)
Location: NW Maritime Center, Port Townsend WA

SCAMP is the wildly popular trailerable water-ballasted sailing micro-cruiser designed by New Zealand designer John Welsford for the magazine Small Craft Advisor. Featured in WoodenBoat magazine March/April 2012 and in Small Craft Advisor as well, this pocket-sized 11 foot 11 inch modern plywood boat packs in big fun on the water. We tauight this course once in Port Townsend and once in Michigan last year, and both courses sold out immediately!

Oar-Building Workshop with Jason Bledsoe
Dates: July 26 – July 28, 2013 (9am – 5pm)
Tuition: $375 (includes materials)
Location: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Port Hadlock WA

Jason Bledsoe is a skilled local shipwright who will introduce you to the various types of oars we build for our boats here at the School. Under his expert instruction, you’ll build a pair of 7 to 9 foot traditional larch oars. Learn how to use the tools needed to turn square stock into a beautiful set of oars! You’ll also learn and practice the steps needed to leather the oars you build.

Half Model Workshop
Dates: August 2 – 4, 2013 (9am – 5pm)
Tuition: $375 (includes materials)
Location: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Port Hadlock WA

Half models were traditionally used by wooden boatbuilders to visualize the shape of a hull they wanted to build. Once they had the model right, they’d take off the lines to loft and build the boat. Jason is a talented Boat School graduate and expert shipwright. He will introduce you to how we draft and loft wooden boats, and will help you build a pine half model that you will be proud to display.

Building the Masts and Spars for the SCAMP Sailboat
Dates: August 17 – 19, 2013 (9am – 5pm) (Saturday, Sunday and Monday)
Tuition: $350
Materials costs: $120
Location: Northwest Maritime Center Boatshop in Port Townsend WA

ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Dates: September 12-15, 2013
Where: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Time: 8-5 pm daily with an hour off for lunch
Course Registration Fees: ABYC Member $885.00 Non-member $1,170.00
42 N Water Street, Port Hadlock, WA
Port Hadlock, Washington 98339

Contact:
Cris Gardner ([email protected])

This electrical certification course with instructor Kevin Ritz is designed and intended for those with a minimum of 3-5 years practical experience in the field of marine electrical design, service or installation. Students new to the marine electrical field should consider our basic electrical programming options.

The successful certification candidate should be familiar with all of the ABYC electrical standards, although the applicable standards will be reviewed as a part of the course. Course content is broken out into 14 topic areas that will be presented over a three and ½ day period. The three-hour certification exam will be administered during the fourth day of the program from late morning into early afternoon. The exact time for the exam will depend upon varying class sizes and review time needed.

Painting and Varnishing with Diane Salguero – Preparing for Winter Storage
Dates: September 23-27, (5:30pm – 8:30pm)
Tuition: $300 (includes materials)

Location: Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Port Hadlock WA
Diane Salguero is a skilled local finisher with over twenty years of experience, and an engaging and popular instructor who has recently written an article on varnishing for Small Craft Advisor magazine. Diane will show you the secrets of preparing, stripping, painting and varnishing your boat, spars and other materials. She’ll explain how to choose the right material for the job at hand from among many different types of similar material. Demonstrations and lots of hands-on work will make this class a valuable one for anyone who appreciates a beautiful paint and/or varnish finish and wants to learn how the pro’s make it happen.

Diane will focus this class on preparing your boat and spars for proper winter storage (or use!) in the Pacific Northwest.