Students launch boats into the bay

Posted 7/26/23

On Friday, July 21, students of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding launched...

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Students launch boats into the bay

Posted

On Friday, July 21, students of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding launched multiple student-built boats. 

Joel Schultz (left) and Jack Thorp sail out with their instructor Bruce Blatchley.
Joel Schultz (left) and Jack Thorp sail out with their instructor Bruce Blatchley.
The Marsh Cat is a 15-foot cat boat, designed by Joel White, that includes both composite and live wood construction.  

Boatbuilding Instructor Bruce Blatchley guided students through a broad range of techniques, including strip plank and cold-molded construction, curvy and complicated laminated bench supports, lightweight and hollow spruce spars, fine joinery, and steam bent coamings.

Piper Howeth gives a nervous wave to her friends ashore.
Piper Howeth gives a nervous wave to her friends ashore.

Students also launched a 10.5-foot carbon fiber dinghy, surprisingly lightweight at only 70 pounds. Guided by boatbuilding instructor Korey Ruben, the students employed traditional techniques to meticulously fit and shape the foam core and carbon fiber into the dinghy mold. The project got a boost from Cape George Marine Works, who lent the mold for the students' use.

Joel Schultz lounges on the boat he helped build.
Joel Schultz lounges on the boat he helped build.

These two boats already have places to sail home to. The Marsh Cat will be warmly welcomed to the city of Kennewick on the Columbia River, while the carbon fiber dinghy will act as a tender to the 109-year-old 36-foot raised deck cruiser GloryBe.