Sapperton Wooden Boats

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New Westminster, BC
Sapperton Wooden Boats

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Sapperton Wooden Boats preserves and advances the craft, culture, and community of wooden boats.

We bring together experienced boatbuilders, learners, and enthusiasts to share knowledge, build boats, and keep maritime traditions alive. The Purposes of the Society are:

To promote, encourage and facilitate interest in wooden boats and any and all activities involving and related to wooden boats
To promote, organize and sponsor any activities involving and related to wooden boats. To provide information and any forms of assistance to owners and potential owners of wooden boats and wooden boat enthusiasts. To disseminate information with regard to wooden boats through all means, including exhibits and displays. To co-operate with public and private agencies, governmental departments and other groups, organizations and individuals.

10/30/2026

Our dinghy has more screen time than most of us ever will.

Thanks to Bryan Adams for featuring her in “Lake Ontario” and for supporting our non-profit along the way.

PS: Our boats are available for music videos, photo shoots, gender reveals at sea, and whatever else you’re dreaming up. Ask us.

If you stroll by our workshop on a Saturday you can probably even see our now-famous boat.

Listen to Lake Ontario: https://lnk.to/lakeontarioFrom the forthco...

10/27/2026

We had another sold out class for the Greenland-style paddle making class. This style of paddle is legendary and we get stories of past participants sharing pictures of where they are using theirs years later. If you or someone you know would love to do one of these workshops, sign up for our newsletter so you can be the first to know when we open the next one.

10/25/2026

On Friday we had the pleasure of hosting a visiting group of woodworking experts from China at our New Westminster workshop.

We shared a look at the coastal boatbuilding traditions that shaped life on the Fraser River and the BC coast, how local woods are chosen and shaped, the hand techniques passed down through generations of builders, and the boats themselves that tell the stories of this place.

We shared conversations about techniques and it reminded us how much craft connects people across languages and oceans.

From hosting international guests to public workshops, open workshop days and community events, we’re proud to offer visitors a hands-on cultural experience they won’t find anywhere else, and to work alongside groups like Tourism New Westminster and the Fraser River Discovery Centre in sharing the stories of our riverfront city.

Thank you to our guests for their curiosity and please come back anytime!

📷 by: Eric Bailey Videos

10/04/2026

Now that the handliner has 4 planks aside at the bottom we can flip it. Its a lot easier to work on now and the next series of planks do not requires quite as much steam bending. We are there every Saturday from about 10-2 in the shop, feel free to drop by and see what we are up to. We are always looking for new members to join our fun club. No experience necessary.

09/26/2026

We had a wonderful day at Riverfest 2026 at the Fraser River Discovery Centre. Our exercise to find the next generation of club members through a tiny boat building activity was a hit - lots or smiles and happy sailors. Thanks to our club members and volunteers who helped with tool support and training, and to Canoe Cultures for the loan of the tents.

We are very community oriented and love to participate in these types of activities when we can. We also enjoy hosting clubs and groups at our workshop so reach out if you might want to arrange a visit. We are always seeking new members who want to learn how to use tools and help us build - no experience is necessary!

09/26/2026

We are helping the next generation of shipbuilders at the Fraser River Discovery Centre! Come on by and make a sailboat with us. We’re using a retired sail to put sails on all of these small ships.

09/25/2026

Plank by plank, this project keeps moving on. The hardest planks have been laid. They are the ones that bent a few ways from end to end. As we begin to add the less-twisted planks our pace should pick up. That includes flipping it and working more ergonomically.

And a welcome to our new members. We are always so pleased to have new people join the club.

We'll be active at Riverfest 2026 tomorrow (at the Fraser River Discovery Centre), happy to meet people, help kids build little boat projects, and discuss the club. Come visit us!

09/23/2026

We love to be a part of this community and enjoyed hosting the New Westminster Photography Club. Thanks for sharing your great photos!

09/21/2026

We are pleased to share that we will be providing an exciting activity for kids at Riverfest 2026. This event is put on by the Fraser River Discovery Centre and we are excited to help out.

09/11/2026

We will be at Riverfest 2026 hosted by the Fraser River Discovery Centre on Saturday, Sept 26. We're putting on a great kids activity, showcasing some of the things we build, and we'd love to encourage people to consider joining our club. It's far more than restoring or building boats - we teach and mentor woodshop skills, socialize and have fun. If you are on the New West waterfront that day, please visit us in booth #2.

Address

60 Columbia Street East
New Westminster, BC
V3L0E3

Website

https://sappertonwoodenboats.ca/

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