Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Accredited vocational school teaching hands-on skills in boatbuilding and marine systems.
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Our mission is to teach and preserve boatbuilding and marine systems skills while developing the individual as a craftsman. The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding is committed to providing students a quality education in wooden boatbuilding, and marine systems. We strive to impart sound, practical knowledge to foster the next generation of problem solvers and skilled craftspeople. We are accr

edited through the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and upon successful completion, award an Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree in our 12-month long Boatbuilding program, a Diploma in our 9-month Marine Systems program, and a Certificate for our 5-day Marine Systems Intensives. Located in Port Hadlock, WA on seven acres of waterfront property with more than 20,000 square feet of shop space, the Boat School's Port Hadlock Heritage Campus is located near the heart of more than 50 maritime business on Port Townsend Bay and only two hours northwest of Seattle, WA.

We're hiring for two instructors to help shape the next generation of marine tradespeople:Marine Systems Instructor & Bo...
06/23/2026

We're hiring for two instructors to help shape the next generation of marine tradespeople:

Marine Systems Instructor & Boatbuilding Instructor

Some benefits include:
- $65,000–$75,000 salary
- 100% employer-paid medical, vision & dental
- 14 paid holidays, 3 weeks paid vacation, 2 weeks sick, built-in breaks every 11 weeks
- Small, on-site housing available your first year, if needed

You'll mentor students through real builds, practical skills, and career-ready training near Port Townsend, in one of the most beautiful corners of the Pacific Northwest.

Sound like your kind of work? Learn more at nwswb.edu/employment or send your resume to [email protected].

Tag a woodworker, boatbuilder, or marine tech who could be a good fit!

06/20/2026

Haven’t you heard? On the Best Coast, everybody gets an award! 🏆
Navy veteran John got “Side Quest King” for his extra projects, including becoming a Marine Surveyor during his time here. John learned a lot, and shared his own expertise with others. Now a graduate of both programs, he’s already been hired by - Congrats, John! 🫡👏🏼🤘🏼

06/18/2026

Ever wonder what’s actually happening behind that glowing screen on the helm? Our 3-day In-Person, Hands-On Marine Electronics workshop (July 8-10) pulls back the curtain. You’ll install and wire real depth sounders, GPS units, chart plotters, radar, AIS, and VHF radios, then bring them online yourself. In this class you’re calibrating live equipment, hunting down why two instruments are telling you different things, and learning the mistakes that quietly sink confidence (and sometimes boats). By the end, you won’t just operate marine electronics, you’ll understand them. Be THAT PERSON on the boating adventure - the one everyone that makes everyone feel safer because you know your sh*t!

06/15/2026

We don’t pat you on the back and close the door behind you the day you graduate; we continue to provide resources to help launch your career. Thanks to all of the employers who spoke at our career fair on Thursday. Marine Systems Graduation is this week!

06/14/2026

Navy Veteran Arthur graduates from the Marine Systems Program this week. He’s a creative, resourceful marine tradesperson who will be basing his business on Vashon Island. He’s been rebuilding and living aboard a classic Chris Craft motor yacht while attending school. Arthur met his wife at NWSWB while attending the Boatbuilding Program in 2019 & 2020, up until the pandemic paused in-person classes. He was able to apply veteran’s benefits again in 2025 for his current program. Congrats on graduating, Arthur! Follow Arthur:

06/10/2026

A brisk June-uary Tuesday at Boat Haven Marina in Port Townsend. A solid third of the days in a Pacific Northwest spring will have you wondering if summer came early and the rest of the time it’s 60 degrees and a little breezy. Our surface waters never freeze, so boats can stay at their moorages year-round.

Not every student attends with the goal to work on wooden boats, but the plethora of such boats in our area has encouraged many to stick around long after graduating.

06/06/2026

EP38 will be the best painting video you’ll ever see. New video on YouTube, link in bio. Major thanks to and .vale for all your support.

And to all the volunteers in this video! .tanner.f and

To see everyone come together to make@this happen - it takes a village and the energy has been awesome to see. I’m so happy to be a part of it.

06/06/2026

The invited current students out for a ride and tour today! A little rainy, but we’re channeling the Steinbeck-era Baja vibes anyway.

Between 2015 and 2024, the Western Flyer Foundation led the extraordinary restoration of the iconic fishing vessel made famous by John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts in their book, The Log from the Sea of Cortez. When Foundation founder John Gregg found Western Flyer, it had been through a lot — decades of neglect, several dramatic sinkings, and plenty of barnacle buildup.

Working with expert shipwrights, craftspeople, engineers, and a passionate crew of supporters, the Foundation brought the Flyer back to life — not as a museum piece, but as a working vessel with a new mission: inspiring the next generation of scientists, artists, and explorers.

This wasn’t your average boat repair. The restoration aimed to:

Recreate the vessel’s 1937 look and feel
Use sustainably sourced wood
Install a hybrid-electric propulsion system
Outfit the Flyer for modern education and research
Future-proof the design for tech upgrades
Build for another 50 years before she needs major work again

They recruited the Port Townsend Shipwrights Cooperative — a team of skilled craftspeople (these included many grads) who took on the painstaking rebuild of the vessel’s wooden structure. Over several years, they replaced nearly 90% of the hull and 10% of the wheelhouse, helping restore the Flyer’s historic form while preparing her for a new chapter.

The vessel was relaunched in June 2022. In 2023, the Western Flyer was honored with the Classic Boat Award for Best Restored Power Vessel — a testament to the extraordinary work of everyone involved.

Thanks to Instructor Korey for the trip clips!

05/31/2026

Hadley arrived at the school about a year after graduating from high school in Homer, Alaska. She is part of the Boatbuilding program. We asked her how that transition went for her, and what she likes most about the culture of the school and this area.

Shipwright and NWSWB grad Nellie Sorensen working on their latest project- the restoration of the SUSAN CONSTANT. The ve...
05/31/2026

Shipwright and NWSWB grad Nellie Sorensen working on their latest project- the restoration of the SUSAN CONSTANT. The vessel belongs to the state of Virginia as one of their flagships, and is currently undergoing restoration at Mystic Seaport. In the picture, Nellie is working on fitting the massive knee after constructing it from live oak. There’s more info on the restoration undertaking on Mystic and Jamestown’s website. Nellie says “It’s a pretty rad project to be on 🤘🏼”

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Address

42 N Water Street
Port Hadlock, WA
98339

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13603854948

Website

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