One Thing Leads to Another... Another Wooden Boat Center to visit anyway.

I recently wrote about "discovering" the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle Washington. Now, I've stumbled across the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center in the bay area. I'll be headed that way later this Fall, so add another wooden boat center to my itinerary.

I have a soft spot for wooden boats. growing up we had an old plywood rowboat converted to a sandbox in the back yard. Some of my earliest memories are going out on our wooden Dory from Pacific City, Oregon. The first of our commercial boats was a 40' wooden trawler, a shrimper named the "Shadow Dew" out of Newport Oregon. Since then, everything I've owned or crewed on has been steel, aluminum, glass or plastic. But still, seeing a beautiful wooden boat brings a smile to my face.

OK, back to the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center - In addition to their main site, which offers information on the organization and its programs, there is a Wooden Boat Finder site; sort of a blog clearing house for wooden boats ranging from partially finished projects, to large sailing yachts. I then ran across their Boatbuilders' and Sailor's Blog about a program where kids build and sail wooden boats. Tomorrow - November 8th they are having a launching party for their latest creation - the Guppy, a 12' Norwegian Sailing Pram. stop by and check out the project. They had nice documentation and a very cool project. Where were they when I was a kid? Congratulations and best of luck on your launch tomorrow.

Loren

Center for Wooden Boats on My "Places to Visit" List.

In a round about way, I discovered a site for the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, Washington. I've got several trips to Seattle planned for this fall, so I'm going to see if I can get over to see their museum. It looks like a fascinating place. According to their web site they have a broad collection of vintage and replica wooden boats ranging from canoes and skiffs to steam launches, classic motor boats and sailing vessels of various sizes. In addition to touring the docks and looking at boats, they offer boat rentals on Lake Union, free boat rides in classic wooden boats, and classes in boat building and related skills. Want to learn how to build a wood and skin Umiak? Need to brush up on making cedar rope? How about sailing lessons or seamanship classes? This is the place.

Visit their site for full directions and hours. They offer a pdf version of their walking Map of the Center for Wooden Boats which has some interesting information.

I'll keep yo posted once I've had a chance to visit this remarkable museum.


Loren

Cape Ann Dory - Rent it and sail or
row it on Lake Union in Seattle