Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2026

*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets here


How well do you really know your engine?
For most boat owners, diesel engines are essential—but often a bit of a mystery. And when something goes wrong, that uncertainty can turn into stress quickly.
Nigel Calder has spent decades helping boaters change that.
In this workshop, Nigel starts with core maintenance tasks every boat owner can (and should) understand and be able to perform. From routine care to knowing what not to attempt, you’ll gain a clear, practical understanding of the systems that keep your engine running reliably.
This is about building confidence. The kind that comes from knowing what you’re looking at, what matters, and how to take care of it properly.
Whether you’re new to diesel engines or looking to deepen your understanding, this is foundational knowledge you’ll use again and again.
This workshop is the first of two complementary diesel sessions on Thursday. Each can be taken independently, but together they provide a deeper understanding of diesel engines.

*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets here


When your engine fails—especially far from help—what do you do?
For many boaters, the answer is uncertainty. For those with the right knowledge, it’s often: figure it out and get moving again.
Nigel Calder has spent decades helping boat owners do exactly that.
In this workshop, Nigel breaks down how diesel engines work—and how to diagnose the most common problems you’re likely to encounter. From overheating and loss of power to strange vibrations, smoke, or an engine that simply won’t start, you’ll learn how to identify what’s going wrong and what to do about it.
You don’t need to be a mechanic. With a clear understanding of core systems and a few practical techniques—including simple multimeter tests—you can troubleshoot most issues you’ll face on the water.
Over the years, Nigel has heard from countless sailors who were able to get themselves back up and running in remote places thanks to this knowledge.
This workshop is designed to give you that same confidence.
Whether you’re preparing for extended cruising or simply want to better understand your boat, this is practical knowledge you can carry with you—wherever you go.
This workshop is the second of two complementary diesel sessions on Thursday. Each can be taken independently, but together they provide a deeper understanding of diesel engines.

*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets here

If your boat has an electrical system, unfortunately, there’s a good chance something isn’t quite right.
In fact, many of the most common electrical system problems on boats—both power and sail— are built in by the boatbuilder. Poor design and questionable installations are compounded over time by well-intentioned but incomplete upgrades. 
Most mistakes remain hidden until vibration, corrosion, or some other factor results in an electrical system failure. Some are inconvenient. Others can be unsafe. The majority of boat fires originate in electrical systems.
Nigel Calder has seen it all.
In this workshop, Nigel walks through the most common electrical installation mistakes found on boats today—many of them surprisingly widespread—and shows you how to identify and correct them. From wiring issues to system design flaws, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of what’s happening behind the panels on your own boat.
You don’t need prior experience. This is about learning what to look for, what matters, and how to make your system safer and more reliable.
Chances are, you’ll recognize something that needs fixing on your own boat.
This workshop is the first of two complementary electrical sessions on Friday. Each stands alone, but together they provide a deeper understanding of onboard electrical systems.

*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets here


When something electrical stops working on your boat, it can feel like a mystery.
Is it the battery? A connection? A wiring issue? And where do you even begin?
In this workshop, Nigel Calder breaks troubleshooting down into clear, step-by-step processes that any boat owner can follow. Using simple tools—especially a multimeter—you’ll learn how to identify the most common electrical problems and trace them to their source.
No prior experience is required. This is about building confidence—understanding what you’re looking at, knowing what to test, and being able to take action instead of guessing.
Along the way, you’ll also learn how to prevent common issues like premature battery failure and avoid unnecessary service calls.
On today’s increasingly complex boats, electrical systems can be one of the biggest sources of frustration—or one of the most empowering areas of knowledge.
This workshop helps tip the balance. It complements the morning session on electrical installation issues, but can be taken independently.

This workshop is the second of two complementary electrical sessions on Friday. Each can be taken independently, but together they provide a deeper understanding of onboard electrical systems.

Learn the basic parts and functions of your standing rig.  Understand how it is built and sized along with knowing the questions to ask when replacing it.

Capt. Sanders of U.S. Maritime Academy will tackle and simplify the process of finding your latitude at noon by the use of Sextant. and the Sun. Following the presentation, he will conduct a real time noon shot (1pm local time) out on the wharf where participants will "find themselves" using provided sextant.

Power point presentation exploring 60 years of boatbuilding, sailing

When your sailboat is struggling to stay on her feet and sail to weather efficiently do you wonder if you should have put in a reef?The solution is a quick and easy reefing process.This seminar demystifies common hurtles to reefing. If you can reef quickly you will be more inclined to reef early and often. Conversely shaking out the reef is a piece of cake

The modern sailor is awash in weather data with just a couple clicks on a mobile device.  This presentation will demonstrate how to choose an appropriate weather model, analyze the digital data for your own onboard forecast for wind and seas, and identify where you must rely on traditional weather knowledge and skills.

Capt. Sanders of U.S. Maritime Academy will explain (and simplify) the entire USCG licensing process including the various avenues on how to accomplish it. You will come away with some clarity dealing with this often confusing and overwhelming endeavor. He's been doing this longer than anyone on the Planet! Q&A will follow

The Bay of All Saints (Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil) holds one of the most distinctive maritime traditions in the Americas: the saveiros de vela (cargo sailing vessels). For centuries, these boats connected communities, transported goods, sustained local cultures, and became an emblem of the region.
But due to infrastructure development, declining economic opportunities, and lack of cultural visibility, master boatbuilders and sailors face the risk of their craft disappearing. Today, only about 20 saveiros de vela remain in active service. A new collaboration between Projeto Içar, BRANA, and the region's master shipwrights aims to revive saveiros de vela and increase the cultural visibility of the people who build and sail them by creating economic opportunities in traditional boatbuilding and sail cargo in the region. Through in-person remarks and video, this presentation introduces these boats, their makers, and their home waters to the Festival.