Hooked On Wooden Boats

Today’s podcast is an interview I did recently with Nordic traditional boatbuilding master Jay Smith of Anacortes, WA. Jay has several decades of experience building traditional Nordic clinker boats and was trained in Norway. In today’s podcast, Jay discusses the virtues, benefits, uniqueness, and attractiveness of building boats from a once living material.

Today’s podcast is an interview I did recently with a delightful couple – Herb and Nancy Payson of Port Townsend, WA. Herb and Nancy read a book titled “A New Way of Life” by Samson in the 70’s. The book suggests addressing the problems of urban life by sailing around the world on a sailboat. Herb proposed to Nancy that they buy a boat and start cruising (with their kids) – and the rest is history...

Thanks to your support and the support of hundreds of other wooden boat lovers around the globe, HOWB has completed its THIRD full year with flying colors. This Episode is dedicated to Reviewing the Highlights of 2014 and looking forward to Plans for 2015.

Today’s podcast episode is a interview I recorded for HOWB016 (December 2011) with Tug Buse. Tug made an amazing 3,ooo mile solo adventure in a 14ʹ sailing pram he built himself. His adventure started in Iowa, meandered through the river system to the Gulf of Mexico, and then east and north on the intercoastal waterway all the way to Bowdoin College in Maine.

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Jay Benford of Benford design and discuss a lot of fun things including his background in boating, how he entered the boat design world, and some of the really cool boats that have been his live aboard homes. Benford has designed boats for many uses – tug boats, fishing boats, cruising sailboats, live-aboards, and freighter yachts. Chec...

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to talk to Chris Lux of Seattle, WA. Chris contacted me via email to tell me about the vintage Klepper folding canoe he recently purchased, how he was able to get parts locally for this 40 year old canoe, and some other fun details about this amazing boat that fits into 2 duffel bags and has a folding Spruce (wooden) frame.

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with small boat and cycling adventurist Colin Angus of Victoria, BC. At the top of the discussion were the details of some of Colin’s amazing adventures on the Amazon River among other places. He is one amazing and adventurous dude.

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Howard Rice of the Small Craft Skills Acade We met up at the NWMC during SCAMP Camp #5 in Port Townsend, WA. At the top of the discussion (of course) was the SCAMP and the newest development in self-rescue – the “elevator”, to get oneself back in the SCAMP after a capsize. Howard also discussed new developments at the SCSA, and some of...

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Tony Grove and Tobi Elliot of Gabriola Island, BC. Tony is restoring the 1897 built Sloop Dorothy, and Tobi is the videographer filming a documentary on the project. Dorothy was built in 1897 on Vancouver Island, BC. She is a 34ʹ LOA gaff rigged sloop with a 9ʹ beam and 5ʹ draft. She is red cedar planked on oak and fastened with copper...

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down and do my second interview with Lin and Larry Pardey of sailing fame. During the 45 minute discussion, I peppered the Pardeys with questions such as: Top 10 mistakes made in offshore cruising How to prepare for a circumnavigation How to select the right boat for blue water cruising Your favorite destinations around the world We have a great...

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to interview John Harris of CLC Boats in Annapolis Maryland. John and I discussed new boats and plans at CLC, developments in the wooden boat kit industry, and other fun stuff John has been up to. CLC continues to be on the cutting edge of applying modern technology to developing new designs, new manufacturing techniques, and innovative ways to make the...

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Cody and Beth Harris of Salt Lake City, Utah and talk about their newly christened cutter Rabannah. Cody designed and he and Beth built this beautiful 35ʹ cutter rigged plywood/cold molded sailboat over a 2 year period ending early in 2014. Cody and Beth are looking forward to many great cruising adventures in their cutter. Check out th...

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Scott Rohrer, volunteer at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, and discuss the fascinating history and pedigree and the famed R boat – Pirate. Pirate has a long and storied history including being a direct descendant of Ted Geary’s design R class boat Sir Tom which was one of the winningest boats in history.

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Josh Colvin, co-editior of Small Craft Advisor Magazine and brainchild of the microcruising phenom SCAMP (Small Craft Advisor Magazine Project) sailboat. Josh and I discussed the SCAMP phenonema (nearing 300 Plan/Kit sets sold to date) in detail including SCAMP in the Everglades Challenge; the first Red Lantern Rally; and other fun SCAM...

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Bob Lamson at the 38th annual Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival and discuss his boating background and his beautiful 1999 fully bright-worked (South African Mahogany) Venetian Water Taxi – Capolavoro (Italian for “masterpiece”). Bob grew up in the Seattle area and his dad ran a boat shop on the Duwamish River when he was a kid. Fast forwa...

On this week’s episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Jake Beattie, Executive Director of the North Maritime Center, to discuss the recently announced event RACE TO ALASKA (and other NWMC happeni The event was conceived by Jake and friends while beerstorming at the 2013 Wooden Boat Festival’s Bar Harbor. This inaugural adventure race begins June 4, 2015 in Port Townsend, WA and the first b...

Today I discuss the highlights and fun events (from my point of view) of the 2014 Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. I arrived Thursday afternoon and grudgingly left Sunday evening after the festival was over and most of the boats had sailed away I had an absolute blast for the entire time and secretly wished it was a little bit longer...... Here are a few of the highlights for me: Recorded 7 int...

Today’s podcast is an interview with Colin Angus. Colin and his wife Julie are avid outdoor enthusiasts and have accomplished numerous human powered adventures that seem undoable and improbable to most of us During the interview, Colin discusses growing up on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, and how reading about real life adventures of others led him to dream and seek his own Adventure...

Today’s podcast is an interview with Marty Loken – organizer of the Port Townsend Pocket Yachters and the 3rd annual Pocket Yacht Palooza in Port Townsend. Marty is an avid small boat enthusiast, having come full circle from owning larger vessels and yachts (including a Lake Union Dream Boat) to realizing the amazing benefits of trailerable boats that are less expensive to own and maintain, easier...

Today’s podcast is a joint interview with Carol Hasse (“Hasse”) of Port Townsend Sails and Barb Trailer of the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, WA. Hasse moved to Port Townsend in 1977 and started her sailmaking business in 1978. She was part of a small group of enthusiasts who were instrumental in planning and starting the very first Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival in 1977. Hasse di...

Today’s podcast is an interview with Brant Lodge of the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle,WA. Brant is the field trip coordinator specializing in Native American maritime culture and heritage. Brant is also learning to become a master canoe carver, and has been involved in numerous open water canoe expeditions in the Northwest.

Today’s podcast is Part 2 (HOWB 134 was Part 1) of an interview with Jon Wilson – founder of the WoodenBoat in Brooklin, ME. WoodenBoat is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. That is truly amazing – congratulations to Jon and the whole crew at WoodenBoat! In today’s interview, Wilson discusses the last 3 decades at WoodenBoat and his work at Just Alternatives – a non-profit he founded to f...

Today’s podcast is Part 1 (HOWB 135 is Part 2) of an interview with Jon Wilson – founder of the WoodenBo in Brooklin, ME. WoodenBoat is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. That is truly amazing – congratulations to Jon and the whole crew at WoodenBoat! In today’s interview, Wilson discusses his growing up years in Rhode Island with summers in the Thimble Islands; when and how he started bo...

Today’s podcast is an interview with Dick Wagner – founder of the Center for Wooden Boats, and Aislinn Palmer – director of the 38th Annual Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival in Seattle, WA on July 4-6, 2014. I peppered Dick with questions about how and why the very first festival was started in 1976, who attended, how many boats were there, did they intend to make it an annual event, and on and on....

Today’s podcast is an interview with Jim Miller – President, General Manager and Publisher of WoodenBoat in Brooklin, ME. Jim grew up in Rhode Island and played a lot of sports as a youth. He participated in some boating activities but the goal was mainly to catch fish and have fun. After obtaining his business degree and working for a few years, Miller spotted a classified ad (in 1985) – WoodenBo...