56 students at Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding spent 3 years creating classic craft
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New wooden boat Sea Beast hits the water
Charlie Duerr paints a small section of the Sea Beast’s exterior that had been used for cribbing. The motor sailor was designed by Carl Chamberlain and built by the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding’s classes of 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Around 100 people walk behind a 75-ton Travelift hoist as the Sea Beast is hauled toward the water. More than 56 students learned hands-on skills while building the Sea Beast. The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding invited the public to attend the noontime boat launch on April 28.
Boat co-owner Meredith Roberts waves a bottle of Mumm Napa Brut Rose on the bow of the Sea Beast a moment before the boat is lowered into the water at the Port of Port Townsend on April 28. She took a celebratory swig of the beverage after dousing her boat. Roberts said the boat was named after her husband’s late dog, Beast. They now have a new puppy named Jack Sparrow. She said the boat was beautiful and a long time coming. “It’s sort of a ‘pinch me’ moment,” she said. “We’re going to go all over the San Juans.”
Terry Albrecht applauds as the 36-foot, 22,000-pound Sea Beast touches water for the first time at the Port Townsend Boat Haven on Friday, April 28. Aboard the boat at right is the master boat builder, Ben Kuhn. “I feel like I just gave birth,” Kuhn said. The boat had a 1950s-era Gardner motor that generated around 50 horsepower. The boat was described as being pretty dry after it sat in the water for a few minutes.
Around 100 people watch as the Sea Beast is lowered into the water.
Gleaming metal steering and throttle controls and elaborate woodwork make up the boat.
Posted
Photos by Chris Tucker
56 students at Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding spent 3 years creating classic craft