Category: ALUMS

Michael Voderberg (Class of 2014) was hired by Farrand Orchards in New Zealand and is also working on an exciting boat project there, Fiona. Here is a note from Mike:

“So as far as my employment goes I was hired as an independent contractor by Farrand Orchards. It is a commercial kiwifruit farm in KeriKeri New Zealand. As well as learning how to be a commercial orchard manager I spend a large portion of my time restoring a 12 meter motor sailor named Fiona. The boat was owned by my employer’s father and has heaps of sentimental value to him. It is quite an honor to be able to bring this family treasure back to life. Between the two different aspects of my job I am kept quite busy often spending the mornings out under a canopy of fruit. Then when the sun gets too oppressive it’s into the boat shed for the afternoon and evenings. Here are some photos of my various projects.”

Mike, we are exceedingly proud of you and your accomplishments! Best wishes from the Boat School!

You can click on each photo once and then again to open the larger image.

Penelope Partridge has been hired at Zyl Vardos in Olympia, Washington to work on building tiny houses!  Penelope was an enthusiastic student in the Traditional Large Craft program at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding. She worked extensively on the Hanson designed Forest Service Scalers boat while at the Boat School. We are pleased to hear that Zyl Vardos sees her potential and has hired her to help with their tiny house construction!

Austin Bewley

Lead Designer at Hull Historical

Fort Worth, Texas
Architecture & Planning

Previous

Woodlands Design Group,
Innovative Architects & Associates

Education

Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building

“Known for award-winning design of exceptional architectural interiors nationwide, Hull Historical provides expertise in residential and historic preservation. It is a company that is passionate about classical design and the level of detail and craftsmanship it brings to every project. The work is commissioned as it would have been centuries ago, painstakingly and accurately executed to last for generations. Not only is the company known for its design, fabrication and installation of architectural interiors for private residences and country estates, it also provides expertise in historic preservation of public buildings revered as architectural gems across the country. Hull Historical is dedicated to creating beauty and preserving the future.”

Mussa Ulenga graduated with the Class of 2014 from the Traditional Large Craft program. Mussa was instrumental in the building of the Chamberlin-36 that year. He worked on the transom of the Chamberlin-36, which was quite the undertaking. Mussa was a hardworking student who always stayed with a task until it was completed. He has a background in business and has lots of ideas about businesses he would like to develop so we are excited to see where his career will take him. Congratulations, Mussa, for being hired at Custom Wood Interiors in Seattle. We are so proud of your accomplishments and look forward to hearing more updates as the years go by!

Chris Lindstam (Class of 2014) was hired by The Boat Company in Port Orchard, WA.

“Taking an Alaskan Cruise in 2015 or planning ahead for 2016? See Alaska ‘up close and personal’ with The Boat Company. Incorporated in 1979 by the McIntosh Foundation, The Boat Company is the only non-profit educational organization offering luxury eco-cruises through Southeast Alaska (a portion of the cost of most trips is tax deductible). With over 35 years of cruising and conservation in Alaska’s Inside Passage, The Boat Company has reinvested between $25 and $30 million into conservation efforts throughout the region.” http://www.theboatcompany.org/

Chris graduated in the Contemporary Wood Composite Boatbuilding program with his Associate of Occupational Studies degree. Chris also took Repair and Restoration in the summer quarter of his program. The thing I remember most about Chris was his willingness to get dirty and to get the job done regardless of the challenges. Chris distinguished himself at the school with his work on repair and restoring a 1960s Chris Craft speed boat.

We are so proud of you, Chris! Best wishes!

We are so proud that John Sandoval (Class of 2014) has been hired as a shipwright at Schooner Creek Boat Works in Portland, OR.

“Schooner Creek is one of the largest and most advanced boat repair, maintenance, and new construction yards in the United States. This includes fiberglass repair, custom woodworking, vessel painting, electrical, rigging loft, winterization/storage, yard services,  full service metal shop, and mechanical/systems.” http://www.schoonercreek.com/

John graduated from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding with an Associate of Occupational Studies degree in Contemporary Wood Composite Boatbuilding. He distinguished himself as a student particularly in the building of a cedar strip cold molded Grandy. After graduation he was hired by the school to help complete the Bartender that the Contemporary Program students built.

Nice work, John. We are so proud of you! Best wishes!

We are proud to announce that Drew Larson (Class of 2014) has been working on the restoration of Alyssa, a 42-foot sloop from Bremerton, WA. Drew has been employed with shipwright Kees Prins as an apprentice. This boat project gave him the opportunity to further his woodworking and boat building skills under the tutelage of a highly respected shipwright.

Drew’s next professional step will be working with Cape George Marine in Port Townsend, WA. http://capegeorgecutters.net/

Drew  graduated in the Class of 2014 from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding. He completed his Associate of Occupational Studies degree in Contemporary Wood Composite Boatbuilding. He also took Repair and Restoration during the summer quarter at the school. Drew always impressed us with his mathematical mind – he could summarize so many boat building processes in mathematical patterns! He was a highly disciplined student who always took care to get jobs done in a meticulous manner. Drew’s problem solving abilities were also noteworthy.

Best wishes, Drew! We are so proud of your accomplishments!

 

Troy graduated from the Contemporary Boatbuilding program in 2013. He set a high bar as far as work ethic goes – always the first one in each morning and last out at night. When everyone else was chatting and getting ready each morning, Troy could always be found at his bench sharpening his tools to get ready for the day! Congratulations on your career successes, Troy!

“SEA Marine Yacht Services of Port Townsend, WA is a full service Boatyard & Marina, providing recreational & working vessel owners with a full spectrum of services for outfitting & maintaining a motor or sailing vessel. Our dedicated staff handles a broad spectrum of services including boat storage, maintenance, re-power, refits, and full restorations on any type of boat or yacht. Our full range of services includes; Mechanical & Propulsion, Brokerage, Rigging, Bottom Paint Packages, Woodworking, Fiberglass, Electrical Repair & Installation, and marine electrical services.

SEA Marine supports the boating community through a comprehensive array of services designed to enhance our customers’ experience on the water. We design and deliver these services with the understanding that each customer’s boating style, preferences and financial capacity is unique. Our goal is to provide service in a way that provides value to our customers over the long term, rewarding employment to our staff, and financial stability for the long term health of our business.”

SEA Marine provides personal service, expert advice before, during, and on completion of the work and accurate cost accounting while maintaining close communication with the customer. We stand behind our work; even with the passage of time.

Hello Everyone!

It has been exactly one year since I graduated from the NWSWB! This morning as I sit sipping my coffee, I can’t help but recall the amazing things I experienced at Boat School: the friends I made, the boats we crafted, the knowledge I internalized, and ultimately, how those experiences have helped me since.

I am currently the Chief Mate on the schooner Lewis R. French.  A wooden boat built in 1871 in Maine, and a National Historic Landmark, the 101′ French takes people vacation-sailing along the coast of Maine. Before our sailing season begin, I was directing the crew on standard maintenance items such as painting and varnishing — things I’d done plenty of times before.  But for the first time in my life, I was able to contribute to the structure of the ship.

The Captain and I replaced an entire section of the deck, as well as a sill for the cabin house.  I was proud to be able to offer legitimate assessments of the project based on what I’d learned at school, as well as do much of the work efficiently, utilizing the tricks-of-the-trade I’d practiced as a student.

Before sailing down east, I was in Port Townsend right after school working aboard the schooner Adventuress as their Winter Mate.  The 133′ wooden schooner was undergoing her largest and final phase of hull restoration.  Leading a team of 12-15 volunteers, we completely revamped the schooners interior including engineering projects, carpentry, and finishing. My team also supported the skilled team of shipwrights at Haven Boatworks. Again, thanks to my time at Boat School, I was able communicate with the shipwrights in their boatbuilding language to effectively move the project forward.

I cannot thank the instructors and staff of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding enough.  Especially my instructor, mentor, and friend Jeff Hammond.  I am so grateful for everything you have given me.

I hope all is well for everyone at the Boat School.  I hope you have a fantastic next school year!

Zach

—

Zachary W. Simonson-Bond

Chief Mate, Schooner Lewis R. French

USCG Master, Inland, NMT 100 tons

[email protected]
(360) 202-2125

Bradley Suedekum was born in Delta, Colorado and from an early age showed that he was “bound to wander.” He finished high school in Ft. Collins, Co., eventually joining the US Army as a Cavalry Scout in 2005. During the next eight years he would find out what he was made of, but more importantly, what would help shape his ever changing landscape. He served in two deployments 2005-2006 and again in 2008-2009, both to Iraq. He was honorably discharged in February 2013, at which time he was faced with a big choice to make.

Bradley and his fiance, Courtney Stoffel, decided to pack up everything and move out to the Northwest. Not having anything lined up for the future was uncertain but full of hope and potential. Courtney found her place at the Downtown Seattle YMCA as the Assistant Director of Healthy Living. Meanwhile Bradley found his calling at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building. He attended the school for one year and earned an Associate of Occupational Studies degree in Traditional Small Craft and Restoration and Repair. “There is nothing more peaceful or beautiful than the construction of wooden boats.”

After graduation Bradley and his fiance moved to Seattle to start the next phase of their lives. Bradley first got a position at Jensen’s Motor Boat Company where he was welcomed with open arms. Having worked there for a month Bradley was again blessed with the opportunity to move over to the Center for Wooden Boats. “I am very excited about this and humbled by the opportunity that has been afforded me.” This is the perfect opportunity for me to really help bring focus and historical value to this amazing organization.”

 

Brent Davis came by the Boat School today to say hi and to bring a potential student by to check out the school. It’s great to see our established graduates reaching out to young people to share with them the fulfillment of working in the marine trades and in woodworking. Brent owns his own business, Brent Davis Construction, Inc., and has an impressive gallery of projects completed that you can see at the following webpage: http://www.brentdavisconstruction.com/gallery/gallery.htm. Best wishes, Brent, and keep coming by to say hi – we always love to hear about what our graduates are up to!

 

Student Christine Jacobsen worked on the cutter VIRGINIA during summer Repair and Restoration courses in 2012.

Christine went on to work as a shipwright at The Center for Wooden Boats and at Northwest Seaport following graduation. She now works for the Port Townsend Shipwright’s Co-op.

We are exceedingly proud of Christine’s success in the boat building profession and wish her all the best in her growing career!

Click here for the Port Townsend Shipwright’s Co-op website.

Dana Linwood graduated from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 1984 and has distinguished himself as a boat builder and wood worker. He is currently employed through Giddings Boatworks in Charleston, Oregon.

Journeyman Ships carpenter at Giddings Boatworks

Reedsport, Oregon
Shipbuilding
Foreman Ships carpenter
Giddings Boatworks
November 2012 – Present (2 years 1 month) Charleston, Oregon
Ships Carpenter
Giddings Boat Works
April 2012 – Present (2 years 8 months)

Designs and instalsl ship interiors.

Noah Flegeal graduated with the Class of 2013 at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding with an emphasis in Traditional Large Craft. He was part of the team that built the Whitehalls for the BBC and Discovery Channel to replicate John Wesley Powell’s expedition down the Grand Canyon, “Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow.” Noah had a background in English editing and culinary arts. He had worked as an editor and chef. After graduation he started freelancing as a woodworker and has completed some remarkable projects. Best wishes, Noah, with your new and exciting career!

You can see Noah’s website at: http://www.noahswood.com/

Evan Walsh – photo from Filson company feature story.

Evan Walsh graduated with the Class of 2013 with a focus on Traditional Large Craft. Evan distinguished himself at the school with the construction of the curved transom on the Hanson-designed Forest Service Scaler’s boat. After graduation Evan started working in the marine trades in Port Townsend, WA. It was during that time that he was featured in an article for the Filson clothing company. You can read the entire article and see additional photos at the following link:

http://www.filson.com/filson-life/2014/02/trade-stories-wooden-boat-building-pnw/

Ben Feldman is a shipwright in Alaska. He graduated from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 2013. Ben was instrumental in repairing the TRUANT class sloop for The Center for Wooden Boats www.cwb.org while a student in Traditional Large Craft at the School. (Seach on TRUANT in our photo stream here on Flickr to find pictures of Ben at work on that boat, which was recently delivered to the Center.)

Ben is also an apprentice luthier. We love receiving photos from him showing all the exciting projects he is working on.

Best wishes, Ben, on your varied and exciting career!

Chris Gilda graduated from the Contemporary Boatbuilding program at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 2013. Chris had a varied background as a hotshot firefighter and sailor. He held an associate degree in diesel engines and then graduated from the boat school with an associate degree in boat building. With his interest in tallship work he had many bases covered with his background and he was hired immediately after graduation from the school.

“Welcome aboard Spike Africa. She was built in 1977 by Bob Sloan of Newport Beach, California. Bob was known and respected throughout the world for his lifetime of experience on sailing vessels. His goal in building Spike Africa was to create the ultimate schooner.

Since her launching, Spike Africa has worked as a freighting and charter schooner on the west coast, Mexico and Hawaii. She has been featured in major articles in every important yachting publication, and universally praised as one of the most beautiful schooners built in modern times.

She combines the functional elegance of the 19th century coastal schooners with unobtrusive touches of modern luxury. Bob named the boat for Spike Africa, a seaman renowned as a living legend of the sea. Spike, the man, was known up and down the West Coast as the President of the Pacific Ocean.

Bob built Spike Africa not as a yacht but as a true working schooner, which in every detail combines beauty and grace with sturdy seaworthiness. It is this harmony of form and function that gives Spike Africa her timeless elegance.

Spike Africa has served as a support boat for some of the most important 1970’s and 80’s yacht races, has won honors in her own racing career, and has starred in films such as “Joe vs. the Volcano” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, TV shows including Baywatch and Hotel, and numerous national advertising campaigns.

Starting in 2009 Spike Africa’s current owners have taken her through a complete refit. Many long time admirers of Bob and Spike’s participated with world-class skills in wooden boat building, rigging, finishing, and mechanical systems. From keel to topmast, every part of the boat has been renewed, replaced, or upgraded as required to bring her into Bristol condition. The goal of the restoration was to maintain the traditional character of every detail just as Bob Sloan envisioned.

Since the Stone Age, every generation has made incremental advances in the art of wooden boat building. Without our care, the skills developed over millennia will not be maintained, advanced or passed on as they were in a world when men spent careers working on wooden boats and in the yards. Our wooden boats are important. These boats and the art and skills that they represent must be saved.”

Marketing Manager at Flagstaff Local Works

Flagstaff, Arizona
Construction

Current

Deckers Brands,
Flagstaff Local Works

Previous

Dave Muscato Woodworking, Four Corners Cabinetry, Frameworks Timber

“Flagstaff Local Workshop is a place where people can design, build and create their ideas. This community workshop provides local craftsman, inventors, engineers, artists, and entrepreneurs with access to affordable design space. It includes tools not economically available to individuals at a monthly membership rate. Local Works will also provide public classes, and lectures in the areas of automotive repair, woodworking, machine work, electronics, art and similar vocational areas.”

Masaki Tabohashi graduated with the Class of 2013, having completed an Associate of Occupational Studies degree in Traditional Small Craft. His instructor was Jeff Hammond. Masaki loved working with wood and had great patience with the demands of wooden boatbuilding. He works for REal Carriage Doors in Gig Harbor, Washington and is part of a dynamic team there. We wish Masaki all the best in his evolving career in woodworking!

Cooper Parish was hired by the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding after graduating from the Contemporary Boatbuilding program. He and a team of 5 graduates completed construction on the Bob Perry designed “Sliver,” a 62-foot yacht.

As of 2014 he is working for Scaled Composites in

“Founded in 1982 by Burt Rutan, Scaled has broad experience in air vehicle design, tooling and manufacturing, specialty composite structure design, analysis and fabrication, and developmental flight tests of air and space vehicles.”

http://www.scaled.com/

1984
The year Jim Ferris and Charlie Moore, graduates of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, launched the partnership of Edensaw Woods. They started the business in Jim’s yard with an old J.C Penny truck, some blue plastic tarps and a few hundred dollars.

“We are a specialty marine plywood and custom wood supplier that will deliver the quantities you require – for projects large and small.

Because we pride ourselves on offering the best, we stock only the highest quality lumber and marine plywood. But quality woods alone are not enough to meet the standards of exacting clients. To ensure your satisfaction, we are committed to providing our customers – from weekend craftsmen to commercial boat builders and millwork houses – with exceptional service. We gladly accept orders by phone, fax or email and are EDI capable. Our delivery trucks serve the entire Puget Sound region directly from Edensaw’s Port Townsend and Seattle facilities, including all shipping lines: rail, ocean barge and truck. And we are delighted to fill even unusual custom orders.

At Edensaw, we measure our success in terms of satisfied customers rather than board footage. Please accept our open invitation to Edensaw’s showroom! We would be honored to provide the wood products and services you need for your next project. Referrals are gladly provided on request.

Custom wood products are Edensaw’s forte. Thanks to our in-house millwork shop and vast selection of wood, we can design solid wood products according to your exact specifications. And because we individually hand pick lumber and wood veneer from our own stock for each order, you can rely on consistently high quality in every board and veneer.

We supply custom materials for yachts and houses of all kinds. Duplicating Victorian trim and siding patterns for homes on the National Historic Homes Register is just one example of the kind of project we welcome.

At Edensaw, we recognize challenges as growth opportunities.”

<<Back to Business Supporters Table

Laura graduated in 2000, and co-owns the business Ravenstone Tiles, which creates decorative tile and does repair and restoration of artwork, furniture and historic artifacts.

http://www.ravenstonetiles.com

Retired Commander Chuck Garrett shares tips about boat building with his children, Roland and Maggie.

Retired Commander Chuck Garrett will graduate from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock on Wednesday, September 17 at 3 pm. The ceremony will be held at H.J. Carroll Park, 9884, SR 19 in Chimacum and the public is welcome to attend.

Chuck’s motivation to enter Boat School was inspired years ago by his uncle.  He stated, “When I was a teen I worked in my uncle’s cabinet shop for a whole summer. It was something I really enjoyed and wanted to get back to someday.” He studied woodworking in high school, but dropped this interest after entering the military.

Chuck was in the Army for eight years and went on to complete a 19-year career in the Navy as a fleet pilot, operational test and evaluation pilot, adversary pilot and flight instructor. He started his training at Officer’s Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. Then, after becoming a Strike/Fighter pilot, he was stationed in mostly desert locations in the southwest, including NAS Lemoore and NAS China Lake in California and NAS Fallon in Nevada. His last duty station was on Whidbey Island, which was his first tour of the Pacific Northwest.

“When we saw that I was going to retire and there was an opportunity to use the GI Bill®, I saw a link to the boat school online. It included Yacht Interiors instruction and that got my attention. My wife, Amy, thought it was a great idea. In fact she said,” You have to do this!” I guess the stars were aligned.”

“I came to the school not knowing much about boats except that they were previously something I had to land on. My initial interest was in marine surveying. Now I know that there are many opportunities to pursue with these woodworking skills – marine tech, boat building, boat surveying and even aerospace industries.”

Now Chuck’s life has entered a new phase.  He will be home-schooling his 8-year old daughter, Maggie, and 5-year old son, Roland, through Home Connection. He is planning to home-school them for the next 12 years and will be staying busy with a combination of teaching, marine surveying, woodworking and boat building with youth.

For questions you can contact the boat school at 360-385-4948 or [email protected].

Bradley Suedekum graduated with the Class of 2014 from the Traditional Small Craft program. Bradley was instrumental in the building of the Batela and Davis boat projects that year. He was a steady force in the boat shop, always willing to take on tasks and do what was required to get things done. Bradley headed for Seattle after graduation it appears to have been hired at just the type of jobs he was looking for. Congratulations, Bradley, and best wishes with your new career!

David Eckler graduated from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 2007 and has been going strong every since!

He does artisan woodwork and custom boat building. He designs and builds wooden boat accessories. You can see his work and get his contact information at the following website:

http://www.woodenboataccessories.com/

Keep an eye out for the upcoming edition of the Small Craft Advisory for December/January 2015 – when a small article  (a “blurb”) about David and his business development will be published!

“Tired of getting your foot tangled up in your anchor line? Tired of tripping over y​our water bottle and chasing it down just to get a drink of water?”

Go to David’s website and he’ll help solve these and other problems for you – with custom woodworking!

David’s advice for boat school students: “If you get an idea in your head about something, follow through with the idea and that way you can see if it will work – if it will come together into a viable business.”