Here we are in the middle of a global pandemic, where everything is retracting and shutting down, and we’re expanding.”

program lead Kevin Ritz

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding

42 North Water St.
Port Hadlock, WA 98339

While other businesses are rethinking their business models and closing altogether, the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding recently broke new ground at its Port Hadlock campus. 

The new marine systems shop will occupy some 4,800 square feet, offering students a dedicated space to participate in the highly sought-after program. Currently, the program is run out of the boat school’s Hammond Building, which it shares with the wooden boatbuilding program.  

Limited space currently forces the marine systems program to move large instruction materials, like diesel engines, in and out of the building from nearby storage containers using a forklift. 

The program sees students trained in marine electrical, diesel engines, marine plumbing, and as program lead Kevin Ritz said, “working on pretty much everything other than the hull and the deck [of the boat].”

The new facility, Ritz added, will allow for the program to at least double its capacity, which would be 12 students under normal circumstances but with social distancing guidelines, that number has dropped to eight. 

After the new shop is constructed, it will be able to house 16 students if social distancing continues and 24 if the restrictions have loosened.

“Here we are in the middle of a global pandemic, where everything is retracting and shutting down, and we’re expanding,” Ritz said. “I think that is a testament to the administration here and to our vision of continuing to provide this type of education.”  

While he remains humble about his own involvement with the program, there are few better suited than Ritz to handle the task of properly training students in the safe installation, maintenance and service of marine systems. Prior to heading up the program at the wooden boat school, Ritz was the chief instructor for the American Boat and Yacht Council, a nonprofit that develops voluntary global safety standards for recreational boats.

The boat school’s executive director, Betsy Davis, said the marine systems program has far exceeded administrators’ expectations, “all while meeting a critical need for skilled workers in the maritime trades from Port Townsend to Port Angeles to Seattle and beyond.”

“In combination with the school’s boatbuilding programs, the new building expands the school’s capacity to provide accredited vocational training to over 700 students over the next decade, along with providing shorter-term advanced skill training to over 300 local tradespeople in the same period,” Davis added. 

Sean Koomen, chief instructor at the school, said the project is the culmination of a need he and others noticed, even when he was a student at the school.  

“This was something that when I first came to the school as a student in 2003, we’ve always wanted a systems program,” Koomen said. “Now that we finally have the program, it’s grown to the point that it’s so strong with Kevin’s leadership, now we need more space.”   

When asked for a possible completion date for the new shop, Koomen was careful to note the impermanence of plans in a world clouded by a pandemic.

“We’re hoping for early next year,” Koomen said. “That’s all dependent on COVID. If the construction crews can keep going, uninterrupted, I think we’d be good for spring or summer of 2021.”

Brent Davis Construction has been tapped by the school to tackle the construction project, the same local company responsible for refurbishing the boat school’s waterfront shops last year. Brent Davis also happens to be a 1997 alum of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding. 

Also at the event, toting a ceremonial golden shovel, was Rep. Steve Tharinger, who represents Washington’s 24th Legislative District. 

After a prior visit to the school in 2018, the lawmaker noted the need for staff to move heavy equipment and training tools in and out of the Hammond building. 

“It was clear the school needed a more workable space,” Tharinger said. “As House capital budget chair, I am grateful to be in a position to help direct some funding for part of the project.”  

Some $464,000 in funding for the project was allocated from the Legislature, another $235,000 came from the Norcliffe Foundation, and $70,000 was awarded from Duke and Jeanne Shold. Including the new marine systems shop, since 2015 the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding has invested more than $2.5 million into its 7-acre campus.