Ever wondered what it would be like if you could substitute your average high school class to learn boat building skills in a boatshop perched on the shores of the Puget sound that produces over 40 student-built boats a year?
Well look no further than Port Townsend Maritime Academy’s experience working with NWM fleet manager Sam Trocano (Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Graduate) to finish two vessels; a Wineglass Wherry from Pygmy Boats, and a Portage Pram from Duckworks, whose construction has spanned three generations of PTMA students.
“From this experience, I learned the value of precision. I realized that taking the time to measure out the equal cuts and area of wood can make a world of difference in the final product. This project not only strengthened my technical skills but also taught me important lessons about problem-solving and attention to detail.”
– Forrest Cox
This year saw the two vessels finally make it to being launched. Students were focused on delivering comprehensive finish work to prepare the vessels for use, using Total Boat products, which have been tried and tested in the NWM Port Townsend boatshop.
Students started the unit by preparing surfaces within the vessels in preparation for reinforcing joints with fiberglass. The students fiberglassing work was of notably high standard, and attracted the attention of visitors to the shop.
Then came the sanding, which was broken up by adding hardware to the vessels, choosing names befitting the boats, and the all important decisions around which color to paint the boats.
Students chose to name the Portage Pram “Green Bean” after its compact stature, and chose a regal shade reminiscent of its humble namesake.
The wineglass wherry was named “Shake” and was painted a dusky purple, which complemented the exposed wooden shades wonderfully.
Students worked in pairs rolling and tipping to produce a high quality finish, which any member of the NWM boatshop team would have been proud of.
Students held a naming ceremony for the vessels, which included the traditions such as a bouquet of greenery, a toast, and an appeal to the four gods of the wind to keep the vessels safe in their lawful endeavors.
Students then launched the vessels on their maiden voyages and rowed around Point Hudson Marina, realizing the vision of the classes that came before them.
“Sam from the Northwest Maritime taught us how to paint boats, which was a skill I had never learned before. The process of painting the boats was both challenging and rewarding. Sam showed us how to properly apply the paint to ensure a smooth and even finish, and it was amazing to see how the boats transformed from simple wooden structures into beautiful pieces of craftsmanship.”
– Alana Hamman
Shout out to Grizzly tools and Total Boat epoxy for making this happen – and to Pygmy Boats and Duckworks for designing two wonderful vessels that we hope will grace Port Townsend Bay for years to come.
“We all had fun during this unit and it felt especially rewarding to row the boats that we worked on together as a class.“
– Isaac Johnson
