Seattle Washington Classes
Center for Wooden Boats
We're excited to be offering build-your-own-boat classes in the Pacific Northwest. Hosted by the Center for Wooden Boats, you'll build boats in CWB's brand-new Bill Garden Boatshop, part of the sparkling new Education Center in Lake Union Park. It’s a beautiful glass enclosed shop in the heart of Seattle’s booming South Lake Union neighborhood. We’re in a public park directly facing a host of rapidly growing Amazon skyscrapers.
Accommodations
Classes at the Center for Wooden Boats are held in the new Bill Garden Boatshop at CWB's new Wagner Education Center in South Union Park.
Located adjacent to the South Lake Union campus, stay aboard an historic vessel built in 1909:
M/V Lotus
www.mvlotus.org
phone: 425-243-9641
The South Union Park classroom site is centrally located and easily accessible by public transport, and there are numerous offerings through AirBnB and VRBO.
Build Your Own Shearwater or Wood Duck Sea Kayak
May 4 - 9, 2026 - In this 6-day class you will build your own Shearwater 14, 16, 17, or Shearwater Sport kayak from a Chesapeake Light Craft kit. Additional options include the Wood Duck 10, 12, 14, and Wood Duck Double.
Build Your Own Lapstrake Dinghy
June 1 - 6, 2026 - With the help of the instructor, each student will assemble his or her own dinghy from a Chesapeake Light Craft kit. The hull utilizes CLC's patented LapStitch construction method, in which stitch-and-glue techniques are used to create lapstrake hulls of traditional appearance.
Build Your Own Northeaster Dorry
July 13 - 18, 2026 - Graceful round-sided lapstrake dories like this 17-footer were once the primary recreational craft on the New England coast. You’ll assemble a faithful reproduction in just a week, using plywood and epoxy.
Build Your Own Annapolis Wherry
August 3 - 8, 2026 - In this six-day course, each student will build an Annapolis Wherry or an Annapolis Wherry Tandem from a Chesapeake Light Craft kit. The Annapolis Wherry is modeled after the graceful 19th century livery boats used on the River Thames.