Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2026: Full Schedule

10:00am PDT

Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT

Sharpening is a fundamental skill that every woodworker needs to know. Tim breaks down sharpening into a simple sequence of steps and shares tips and tricks to help you develop and refine your technique.

Speakers

Tim Lawson

Port Townsend School of Woodworking

Tim is one of the founders and was the founding Executive Director of the Port Townsend School of Woodworking based at Fort Worden.

Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

11:00am PDT

All about Dovetails

Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT

Boatyard

In this presentation, John will discuss Dovetails: through, half-blind, compound angled, sliding and housed-tapered. He will cut some simple dovetails. He will have examples of these, with a set of parts showing the steps to cutting the various sorts.

Speakers

John P. McCormack

John P. McCormack Furniture

John P. McCormackwww.johnpmccormackdesign.comI've paddled the complete Canadian portion of the inside Passage solo, including a circumnavigation of Princess Royal I. and a trip from SG̱ang Gwaay to Queen Charlotte City. Our coast as you go north, reminds me of Yosemite Valley (I... Read More →

Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

12:00pm PDT

Adventure sketching

Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT

Boatyard

Prepare for sketching on your adventures, whether exploring Port Townsend or sailing around a far-flung island! Join expeditionary artist and Art Toolkit founder Maria Coryell-Martin to explore fundamental sketching techniques and essential tools for creating colorful and expressive sketches. We’ll practice gesture, contour, and thumbnail sketches to quickly capture a sense of place and to encourage creative flow and inquiry. We’ll provide Art Toolkit travel palettes and brushes to try out, and all levels are welcome! Bonus: show off your Festival wristband at the Art Toolkit shop on 1003 Water Street for a 10% discount!

Speakers

Maria Coryell-Martin

Art Toolkit

Maria Coryell-Martin is an expeditionary artist following the tradition of traveling artists as naturalists and educators. Maria’s travels have brought her face-to-face with polar bears, leopard seals, emperor penguins, and narwhals. A memorable experience juggling clumsy sketching... Read More →

Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

1:00pm PDT

Doing Round Work: Making a Ship's Wheel and turning parts for Boats

Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Boatyard

In this presentation, John will discuss how turning is useful for boatbuilding. Making a Ship's Wheel and turning boat parts like belaying pins, stanchions, serving and caulking mallets will be discussed.

Speakers

John P. McCormack

John P. McCormack Furniture

Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

3:00pm PDT

She Takes the Helm

Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Boatyard

I would like to do a reading and discussion of my book. If there is a writer's presentation, I would like to attend, present, and participate in any book signing.

Speakers

Mary Jacobs

Fishing Vessel Renaissance

Moving to Alaska for adventure, Mary Jacobs’s job—and pay—at the cannery fails to excite. When she begins working on a fishing vessel, she is hooked. But in this man’s world, if women get hired, they usually cook, clean, and do unimportant jobs. Mary aspires for more. Much... Read More →

Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

4:00pm PDT

40 Years on the Waterfront

Friday September 11, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Boatyard

Speakers

Joni Blanchard

Leatherwood Finishing Company

Joni Blanchard has been varnishing boats in and around Port Townsend for 40years. She authored a varnishing book titled 'Tricks, Cheating & Chingaderos' - A Collection of Knowledge and TIps for Varnishing/Painting Wooden Boats.in 2010. Her book will be available at the workshop.

Friday September 11, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

10:00am PDT

Sharpening - Chisels and Planes

Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT

Boatyard

Speakers

Tim Lawson

Port Townsend School of Woodworking

Tim is one of the founders and was the founding Executive Director of the Port Townsend School of Woodworking based at Fort Worden.

Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

11:00am PDT

Schooner Adventuress' Fiber Topmast Rig

Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT

Boatyard

Schooner Adventuress has topmasts again! In part due to our synthetic fiber topmast rig. The replacement of the galvanized wire with fiber removed approximately 180 lbs from her rig. This, in concert with the new hollow topmasts, has greatly improved her stability, and reclaimed her license to fly the tops'ls. Another precedent-setting standard with fiber rigging on inspected vessels.

Speakers

Blaise Holly

Owner, Haven Boat Works

Blaise leads a skilled group of 35 people in repairing and restoring historic vessels- like the iconic 120-foot Adventuress, the flawless 96-foot Geary fantail yacht Blue Peter, and the award-winning MV Comrade. The efforts of his crew ensure Haven remains a cornerstone of the Port Townsend maritime community... Read More →

Ian Weedman

Brion Toss Yacht Riggers

Ian Weedman succeeds the late Brion Toss at the helm of the 43-year-old shop in Point Hudson. He has been rigging classic and contemporary sailboats for over 20 years.

Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

12:00pm PDT

Buying and Selling a Boat - a How to Conversation

Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT

Boatyard

Thinking about Buying or Selling a boat? We'll talk about the Buying and Selling Process, the Benefits of Working with a Yacht Broker, How to Prepare your Vessel for Sale and How to Buy the Right Boat for You!

Speakers

Rob Sanderson

Port Townsend Boat Company

Rob Sanderson is a 100-ton USCG Captain, ASA and US Sailing Instructor and has lived in Port Townsend for over 20 years and worked in the maritime industry for over 30 years. In 2018 he started the Port Townsend Boat Company which is now one of the top rated Yacht Brokerages on the... Read More →

Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

1:00pm PDT

Bottom Paint Types with Comparative Analysis

Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Boatyard

Join a SEA Marine Bottom Paint Expert in an interactive Bottom Paint presentation, likely to include a boat-yard walk! Presentation will include standard preparation with a review of types of bottom paint and comparative performance of each.

Speakers

SEA Marine

SEA Marine of Port Townsend, Washington is a full-service boatyard, providing recreational and working boat owners with a full spectrum of services for outfitting and maintaining motor and sailing vessels. Our dedicated staff handles a broad range of services including bottom paint... Read More →

Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

2:00pm PDT

Varnishing tips and Tricks

Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Boatyard

I will be discussing products, tools, strategies and answering questions to help you learn how to apply your varnish and keep it maintained with efficiency and minimalize problems and intimidations about doing it.

Speakers

Joni Blanchard

Leatherwood Finishing Company

Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

10:00am PDT

Sharpening - Chisels and Planes

Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT

Boatyard

Speakers

Tim Lawson

Port Townsend School of Woodworking

Tim is one of the founders and was the founding Executive Director of the Port Townsend School of Woodworking based at Fort Worden.

Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

11:00am PDT

17 Ways Not to Kill Your Inboard Diesel

Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT

Boatyard

How a marine surveyor inspects a wooden boat.
Hauling a wood boat and repair procedures - plank replacement, fasteners, caulking, repair and installing new framing both steam bent and sawn frames and correct diesel engine installation - using posters with hand -drawings from my book 'The Art Of Wooden Boat Repair-How To Save Wood Boats" in print for 41 years.

Speakers

Allen Taube

Marine surveyor/shipwright

Architecture graduate from Rhode Island School of Design and MIT. Professional shipwright.
NAMS/GLOBAL Marine Surveyor for 30 years. A wooden schooner captain/sailor/owner for 50 years. He wrote and illustrated "The Boatwright's Companion" and "The Art of Wooden Boat Repair-How to Save Wood Boats" which has been in continuous print for 41 years, as well as many features... Read More →

Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

12:00pm PDT

Outboard Maintenance Tech Talk

Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT

Boatyard

Westside Marine, located in Port Townsend, WA has been serving boating enthusiasts of Western Washington since 1984. Boaters count on Westside as their primary resource for boats, outboards, supporting gear, service and advice. www.WestsideMarine.com

Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

1:00pm PDT

Building a Marine First Aid Kit: Improvised Versus Commercial

Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Boatyard

Not all marine first aid kits are created equal. Case in point- take a look at a $50.00 "Offshore" kit. This lecture breaks down what belongs in a practical onboard medical kit — how to build them from scratch or customize a commercial kit. Learn how to match your kit to your cruising style, crew experience, and distance from help, with guidance on organization, essential supplies, and common gaps seen in commercially available kits.

Speakers

John Taussig

Maritime Medical Guides

John Taussig is a paramedic, maritime educator, and Executive Director of Backcountry Medical Guides and its seafaring division, Maritime Medical Guides, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on wilderness and marine medicine. With more than two decades of experience in prehospital... Read More →

Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

1:00pm PDT

The resourceful sailor: Creative solutions to Boat Modifications and repairs

Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Boatyard

Preparing a small boat for big adventures takes creativity. Joshua Wheeler shares practical, sometimes unorthodox solutions he used to ready his Flicka 20 for offshore cruising—offering thoughtful, outside-the-box, and affordable approaches to keep you sailing. As seen on Latitude 38 and Small Craft Advisor.

Speakers

Joshua Wheeler

Sailing With Josh

Joshua Wheeler has sailed and lived on small craft for 15 years and 25,000 nautical miles. Credits include a 2019 transit of the Northwest Passage, two solo circumnavigations of Vancouver Island in 2018 and 2023, the Inside Passage to Alaska in 2022, and a Pacific tour in 2023-24... Read More →

Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatyard

Presentation

2:00pm PDT

One Sheet of Plywood

Sunday September 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Boatyard

Speakers

Riley Hall

Harbor History Museum

Riley Hall is a seasoned shipwright and sailor specializing in restoration and use of wooden boats. Working as the Museum Shipwright and Preservation Specialist at the Harbor History Museum located in Gig Harbor, WA, Riley recently oversaw the volunteer driven restoration and conservation... Read More →

Sunday September 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Boatyard

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