Wooden Boat Festival in Photos

A visual recap of the 2025 Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend

Photos and captions by Nathan Lunstrum

The 22’ steam launch Uno signals her whistle. Built by Michael Norman in 1894 and owned by Stephanie Hylton since 1973.

A detail of Yolinda, a 16’ Melonseed skiff recently launched in 2025 by Joseph Castaldi, complete with toasting cork(?)

Learning the ropes aboard the Festival longboats.

A detail of 24’ Dolly, designed and built in 1990 by John Guzzwell. Designed as a larger version of Trekka, Guzzwell’s earlier sloop that he circumnavigated in.

A detail of Saga’s twin electric motors, propelling a 31’ open Mackinaw ketch. Built in 2019 by Ken Bowen.

Festival attendees are interested in many forms of alternative transportation, not just wooden boats.

70’ Carmelita’s Thompson runabout.

How many boats can you count in this photograph?

Sea shanties aboard schooner Martha.

Jean Alden, a 14’ catboat by designer/owner Mike Higgins from Palo Alto, CA.

A 16’ Sid Skiff (in the foreground) built in 2025 at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding. Behind it is a 16’ Poulsbo Boat, also built by the school in 2016.

Getting a close up view of Marianita, an Iain Oughtred designed 27’ canoe yawl. Built by Steve Borgstrom and launched in 2015.

Owner Clayton Wright demonstrates the pedal propulsion system on Clatawa which he designed. The skiff is 9’ and built from 1940’s plans by Ed Monk.

Waterwoody, designed and owned by Kerry Elwood of Salem OR. Built in 2018 and powered by twin propane outboards.

Joshua Colvin (center) answers questions about Old Salt, the 15’ catboat currently being built in the Northwest Maritime shop (hull #1). Judging by the number of people around the boat during the festival, Old Salt is already a big hit.

Baby Blues, a 31’x5’ Phil Bolger designed wooden powerboat.

Bliss, an 11’ sailing dinghy.

28’ Draiodoir, an Ed Monk Sr design built in the Ballard shipyard in 1935. The bowsprit and boomkin were added in the 1970s.

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