BOATSHOP CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Registration for 2023 classes is open!
Photo © Mark Hawkins Photography
Delve into the maritime world through craftsmanship, creativity, and education. From one-day skill-building classes to week-long boat builds, our Boatshop offers a wide variety of workshops for all abilities!
2023 Class Schedule at a Glance
To read full class descriptions, click on class names or keep scrolling.
Don't forget to check out our 2024 Boatshop schedule.
Weekend Workshops
Spend your weekend in the Boatshop learning new skills or polishing up existing ones.
Mar 25 Demystifying Marine Finish
May 6 Outboards: Maintenance, Care, and Troubleshooting
Aug 24-28 Wooden Boat Tools and Joinery
Sept 28-Oct 1 Paddles, Oars, Spars, and More
Dec 9-10 Deck The Hulls With Boatshop Offcuts
Boatshop Build Workshops
Craft vessels of your choosing while receiving professional guidance from our Boatshop crew.
May 24-29 Skin-on-Frame Boatbuilding
Oct 2-29 Duckworks Boatshop Takeover
Create your own schedule Boatshop With Benefits
Saturday Summer Series
New for 2023! Starting in July, we will be offering classes every Saturday leading up to the Wooden Boat Festival. This seven-week series will allow students to get their feet wet in a number of areas, while getting their questions answered and building new skills.
Jul 8 Ye Olde Shipwright's Tools
Jul 15 Sharpening
Jul 22 Stationary Power Tools 101
Jul 29 Basics of Lofting
Aug 5 Steam Bending
Aug 12 Epoxy 101
Aug 19 Boat Lettering
Chesapeake Light Craft Builds
NWMC is excited to partner with Chesapeake Light Craft to offer unique boatbuilding workshops. Our professional instructors will help you assemble your own boat from start to finish. These classes will be held over the course of 7 to 9 days—a perfect week-long vacation with your own boat to take home at the end, ready for finish work.
April 8-16 Build Your Own Annapolis Wherry, Expedition Wherry, or Chester Yawl
May 13-19 Build Your Own Kayak or Kaholo Stand Up Paddleboard
Sept 18-24 Build Your Own Skerry or Passagemaker Dinghy for Sail and Row
REGISTER NOW
These classes are designed for adults, with youth registration alongside a parent/guardian possible for some classes. Please call us at 360-385-3628 x1.
All classes have a minimum number of participants, in the rare case that we will need to cancel, we let you know at least 2 weeks before the class start date. Prior to class you will receive an email from our registrar with specific details pertaining to your class.
NWMC is proud to offer scholarships to those facing financial barriers, youth service organizations, schools and underserved youth, so everyone can have the opportunity to learn with us, regardless of financial circumstances. Please note that Boatshop classes have a limited number of full scholarship spots per class. To be considered for a scholarship, or to sponsor a participant please contact our Boatshop Manager, Joel Arrington Joel@nwmaritime.org or 360.385.3628 x123.
Class Descriptions
Classes listed are listed here in alphabetical order. See above for the 2023 schedule at a glance.
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Basics of Lofting
Saturday Summer Series
July 29, 2023 last day to register is July 28
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $99, $89 member
If you have ever seen a set of traditional boat plans, you've seen the table of offsets. The table of offsets is a fully comprehensive set of points that allow the builder to bring the boat to full scale in a two dimensional drawing. This drawing is where the builder derives the ability to make patterns and parts. We'll work through the offsets of a fairly simple skiff to plot our points and fair our lines, and by the end of the day, we will have a boat drawn to scale.
Boat Lettering
Saturday Summer Series
August 19, 2023 last day to register is August 18
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $99, $89 member
Whether traditionally carved or painted, lettering your boat is a great way to add character and show off the passion you have for your boat. This intensive will walk through the process of traditionally carved and painted sign boards through demonstrations as well as hands-on practice.
Boatshop with Benefits
You create your schedule! last day to register is two weeks before start date
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | $449, $404 member
Design your own workshop! We offer a space with a workbench that you can use and have access to from 8am–8pm for seven days. As a participant, you are not limited to just one week but are welcome to rent the space for as many weeks as you need as long as space is available. With the rental of the space, you will also get 8 hours of one-on-one instruction from the Boatshop manager, Joel Arrington. We team up with outside businesses such as Chesapeake Light Craft and Duckworks to help you with project direction and supplies, including boat kits and rigging.
Build Your Own Annapolis Wherry, Expedition Wherry, or Chester Yawl
Chesapeake Light Craft Build
April 8-16, 2023 last day to register is March 8
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition: $949, $899 member | Kit Cost: Kit Cost Expedition - $2185, Annapolis single - $1785, Annapolis Tandem - $1935, Chester Yawl - $1998 | does not include additional tax + shipping
So, you want to be a contender in SEVENTY48? Then you're gonna need a boat! There's only one caveat—you have to build it first. Through this nine-day class you will have the option to build an Expedition Wherry, Annapolis Wherry, or Chester Yawl.
Build Your Own Kayak or Kaholo Stand Up Paddleboard
Chesapeake Light Craft Build
May 13-19, 2023 last day to register is April 14
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition: $889, $839 member | Kit Cost: Kaholo 12-6 - $1325, Kaholo 14 - $1325, Shearwater 14 - $1498, Shearwater 16 - $1498, Shearwater 17 - $1498, Shearwater Sport - $1448, Sectional Shearwater - $1698, Wood Duck 10 - $1298, Wood Duck 12 - $1329, Wood Duck 14 - $1485, Wood Duck Double - $1625 | does not include additional tax + shipping
In this seven-day build class, instructor Joel Arrington will guide you through all the steps of building a Kaholo stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak from a Chesapeake Light Craft kit. Kayak options include: Shearwater 14, 16, 17, Sport or Sectional Sport kayak, or the Wood Duck 10, 12, 14, and Wood Duck Double.
Build Your Own Skerry or Passagemaker Dinghy for Sail and Row
Chesapeake Light Craft Build
September 18-24, 2023 last day to register is August 16
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition: $889, $839 member | Kit Cost: $1845 Base Kit Price, Sprit Rig - $1345, Gunter Sloop Rig - $1545, Lug Rig w/ Reef - $1470 | does not include additional tax + shipping
Join instructor Joel Arrington for this seven-day build class where you'll be guided through the process of constructing a Skerry or Passagemaker Dinghy.
Deck The Hulls With Boatshop Offcuts
Weekend Workshop
December 9 & 10, 2023 last day to register is December 1
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $249, $225 member
This is your chance to spend a weekend in the Boatshop learning the basics. We are offering this course as an opportunity for students to come into the Boatshop and start building foundational knowledge of all things shop—from safety to basic hand tools, power tools, joinery, gluing, clamping, and beyond. During the process, students will be able to complete multiple small projects of their choice including great holiday gifts such as cutting boards, toys, trinkets, apple boxes, hand tools, and more! This is a great opportunity to develop and refine your skills while working with instructors who are well-versed in woodworking.
A plethora of materials will be available for students to choose from for their projects. Students are welcome to utilize the available tool resources here in the shop or bring along their own if desired. Students are asked to provide their own Personal Protective Equipment, including an N95 mask, eye protection, and ear protection.
Demystifying Marine Finish
Weekend Workshop
March 25, 2023 last day to register is March 20
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $99, $89 member
Join the Boatshop crew as we dive into a couple classy fleet boats to show all the tricks of the trade when it comes to keeping your boat looking good and protected from the elements. Finish work can be intimidating for a boat owner because there is such a large spectrum of different types of paints, oils, additives, and varnishes used to protect your vessel. In this one-day intensive, we will cover preparation, implementation, clean-up, and proper safety precautions—breaking down each with hands-on demonstrations. Students will leave with a newfound confidence and a checklist full of everything they need to know about finish work.
Duckworks Boatshop Takeover
Boatshop Build Workshop
October 2-29, 2023 last day to register is September 1
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $499, $459 member per week or $1799, $1699 member per month
Duckworks, the fine folks that brought you the Scamp, Scout, and Portage Pram, are taking over the shop and opening up the space for you, the builder. This is an open platform workshop that allows you to choose what to build while receiving professional guidance from the Boatshop manager, Joel Arrington.
Duckworks Boat Builders Supply is a small family business that has been helping boat builders (and others) with their needs for more than 20 years. Whether you're starting from scratch or simply need new hardware, line, or other gear for an existing boat—Duckworks can help. They have boat plans from over 36 designers (and counting), from the smallest dinghy to ocean-going vessels. They can also help you with epoxy, fiberglass, paint, marine hardware, rope, tools and countless other gear. This is an enthusiast-run company—they’re out there messing about in boats, just like you! As a result, they offer proprietary designs and products.
Book by the week or join in for the whole month! Students will have the opportunity to book the time they need to complete the project they choose. Interested in joining the fun but need more help deciding what to build? Give us a call and we will help nail down the perfect project for you. To order your kit, visit the Duckworks website, but be sure to contact our registrar for your exclusive NWMC takeover coupon code first!
Epoxy 101
Saturday Summer Series
August 12, 2023 last day to register is August 11
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $99, $89 member
In the ever-changing world of boatbuilding and repair, the use of epoxy has become more and more prevelant. Epoxy can be used as a resource in a wide variety of ways, but it can be a bit intimidating for the inexperienced. In this intensive, we will work through a litany of products to demonstrate how you can benefit by utilizing epoxy in your next project. We'll cover proper preparation techniques, implementation, fiberglass, fiberglass repair, adhesive properties, filets, fairing, clean-up, and more.
Outboards: Maintenance, Care, and Troubleshooting
Weekend Workshop
May 6, 2023 last day to register is May 1
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $99, $89 member
We've all been there—stranded. Whether at the dock or halfway across the straits, there is never a good time to experience outboard troubles. In this Saturday intensive, we will break down and demonstrate all the proper steps one can take to make sure that their outboard motor is in prime working order all season long. The class will be divided into four main topics: The Anatomy of an Outboard, Basic Start-Up and Operation, Troubleshooting, and Proper Winterization and Storage. Each topic will be covered with live hands-on demonstration, both in the shop and on the water. This is an opportunity to utilize years of experience to ensure you have the right tools and knowledge to make the most out of your time on the water. Lunch will be provided.
Paddles, Oars, Spars, and More
Weekend Workshop
September 28-Oct 1, 2023 last day to register is September 15
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $499, $459 member
A crash course in how to make a square piece of wood round. This four-day course will walk you through the process of laying out and shaping spars, paddles, and oars. Students will receive demonstrations in both traditional and more contemporary building techniques while utilizing a number of hand and power tools. Students will have the choice of building set of oars, a pair of paddles, or a small solid spar to take home as well as build their own set of spar gauges to take home to continue mastering the craft. Students in the class will also learn birdsmouth construction of a small mast that will be utilized as part of the Northwest Maritime Center's fleet. Students will need to provide their own personal protective equipment, including work gloves, eye, and ear protection. This class has a three-student minimum.
Sharpening
Saturday Summer Series
July 15, 2023 last day to register is July 14
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $99, $89 member
Keeping edge tools sharp and well-honed always makes work more effortless and enjoyable. In this class, students will learn the ins and outs of keeping edge tools ready for the next project. We'll cover techniques for chisels, gouges, planes, scrapers, and western saws. Students will learn the sharpening processes—both by hand as well as electrically assisted. Feel free to bring tools of your own to practice on. Everyone who attends the class will get a whetstone to take home and keep.
Skin-on-Frame Boatbuilding
Boatshop Build Workshop
May 24-29, 2023 last day to register is April 10
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: One person canoe $849, $799 member: Wee Lassie or PH13
Two-person canoes and rowboats $999, $949 member: Great Wicomico, Shenandoah Peapod or Shenandoah Whitehall
The fuselage style of skin-on-frame construction makes for a great introduction to boatbuilding. In this week-long course, students will choose from five of Dave Gentry's boat designs and create a craft that is fun to build, easy to transport, and classic in design. The boat construction consists of plywood frames with spruce and fir longitudinals that are wrapped in a specially engineered ballistic nylon. Once constructed, the boat is sealed with a two part urethane that keeps the boat very light but also durable. Students will receive all the parts and materials they need to construct the boat, and at the end of the class will take them home.
Boat Design Options:
Stationary Power Tools 101
Saturday Summer Series
July 22, 2023 last day to register is July 21
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $99, $89 member
In this day long workshop, we will cover the basics of operation for the tablesaw, jointer, planer, drill press, and bandsaw. These are all tools commonly found in a shop, and we will demonstrate the proper use and function for all. Besides operation, we will also cover the processes and procedures for proper care, tuning, and troubleshooting of each machine. Students will get to work hands-on with the machines and hopefully, by the end of the session, all questions will be answered. Bonus content: If you've ever wondered how a SawStop tablesaw mechanism works, here's your chance to find out as we intentionally trigger the SawStop mechanism as part of the workshop!
Steam Bending
Saturday Summer Series
August 5, 2023 last day to register is July 28
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $99, $89 member
Steam bending is a fun, efficient process that has been utilized in the construction of boats for generations. In this workshop, we will break down the process so that it is easily repeatable for the student to implement at home. You'll gain a real world lesson in biology and chemistry as we talk plant structure and how the steaming process helps the builder tie wood into a knot. We'll also demonstrate processes that utilize the steam maker, steam chamber, jigs, clamps, forms, and compression straps. At the end of the class, students will take home a new skill and hopefully a couple souvenirs.
Wooden Boat Tools and Joinery
Weekend Workshop
August 24-28, 2023 last day to register is August 11
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $499, $459 member
This extended weekend open shop platform serves as an introduction to wooden boat joinery. Whether aesthetic, structural, or both—all the parts of a wooden boat fit together in a purposeful way. In this course, we aim to introduce the purpose and show the student to how all the parts of a wooden boat fit together through traditional joinery. Students will develop skills using hand and power tools, through demonstrations and guided projects, and will receive an in-depth tutorial on tool care and shop safety. Students are encouraged to bring their tool kit with them, but they also are welcome to utilize all the tool resources the shop has to offer. Upon completion of the three-day course, participants will have a beautiful mallet and bevel gauge to take home as well as a new set of skills to hone.
Ye Olde Shipwright's Tools
Saturday Summer Series
July 8, 2023 last day to register is July 7
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuition Cost: $99, $89 member
Take a deep dive into the tool bag of a shipwright and see the variety that has evolved over centuries of boatbuilding. This is a great opportunity to put your hands on tools, learn new skills, and get all your questions answered. We'll be talking corking, measuring, gauging, planing, patterning, and so much more. Starting out with a broad lecture style introduction, we'll then move into Q&A and finish with lots of hands-on opportunities!
Boat Shop Space Rentals
Looking to rent space in the shop for your next boatbuilding project? Learn more about our space rentals.
About the Instructors

Joel Arrington
Joel Arrington is just a southerner lost wandering through the west looking for water. Joel, originally from southwest Georgia started his westward migration with a ten year career as a fly-fishing guide and carpenter in Colorado. There, he developed his passion for being on the water and crafting with his hands but after a few too many subzero winter days he was ready for a new adventure and landed in Port Hadlock, Wa. where he attended to Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding. This allowed him to channelize his passion for water and love of woodworking into a career building boats. As boat shop manager, Joel is ready and eager to help others delve into the wonderful world of boats and boatbuilding

Sam Trocano
Sam has been working with wood for almost his whole life. Growing up he managed his family’s tree and timber farm. After leaving the military he went into construction and fine homebuilding. Wanting more refined skills he pursued a BFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design, but changed course for the NW School of Wooden Boatbuilding. Upon graduation, he worked as a shipwright while living aboard and cruising his 32′ Cutter. He is now the Fleet Maintenance Coordinator and is responsible for the upkeep of over 50 boats.