Space constraints often act as a barrier to entry for the would-be hobbyist boatbuilder. It is with this hobbyist in mind that Duckworks and its owner, Josh Colvin, have developed a series of small boat kits and established itself among local boatbuilders as a source for everything they may need to work on their own boat projects, without having to take up space at the boat yard.   

“We supply everything you would need — with the exception of wood — to build a boat in your garage,” said owner Josh Colvin. “We’re actually not just selling our parts that we purchase wholesale, we also develop products as well.”

The exception to the “everything but the wood” bit resides in a series of boxes in the lobby at Duckworks’ warehouse. Contained within each of the long, flat boxes, are the constituent wooden parts necessary to build the company’s best-selling kit boat, the “Portage Pram.”

According to Colvin, the stitch-and-glue construction method used to build the Portage Pram lends itself nicely to stir-crazy COVID-19 isolators looking to keep their hands full safely at home.

“It’s a perfect COVID world project,” Colvin said. “It’s small; people have literally built these in bathroom-sized rooms. Realistically, in two weeks someone could be out on the water in it, if they’re going at a casual pace.”   

The owner noted that a potential boatbuilder would also need to purchase a few other odds and ends to complete the boat, but added that Duckworks has its customers covered there, as well. Epoxy, fiberglass cloth, boat hardware, fasteners, hand tools and rope all line the shelves inside the warehouse and it is for this reason that he has made a name for himself among larger boatbuilders as well, supplying the basic frequent necessities of the trade.

According to the owner, the true magic of Port Townsend comes from the sheer volume of knowledgeable boatbuilders, riggers and other tradespeople whose collective wisdom serves to create a sort of “brain trust.”

The Portage Pram kit, Colvin explained, came as a result of consultation with fellow boatbuilders and Brandon Davis over at Turn Point Design — which uses a CNC machine to cut out the kit’s individual parts.   

Another key part of Duckworks’ product development, Colvin said, comes from just getting out on the water and seeing how he can work to improve the small boat sailing experience for the company’s customers.   

“It’s a fun company to own, in that when I go out sailing and I say, ‘Gosh, I wish I had something that would do this.’ We just go back and we start developing it,” Colvin said. “If there’s a focus for Duckworks, it’s small boats you can build yourself for cruising and adventure. A very high percentage of our customers are actually out there doing stuff with them.”

Colvin added that he and his fellow small-boat sailors enjoy the challenges of sailing in more austere conditions aboard smaller boats. “I always say we’re somewhere between masochists and minimalists. You’re looking for a challenge.”

“Simultaneous to it being difficult, there’s nothing quite like the things that happens when you’re out there on a tiny little boat.”