The Center for Wooden Boats

The Center for Wooden Boats is a living museum focused on providing equitable access to the water. We encourage our community to experience Northwest maritime heritage in a way that you can sail, build, and explore. We provide hands-on experiences with a historical collection of over 100 wooden boats.

Started as a livery operation off the docks of a floating home in the 1970’s, last year CWB celebrated its 45 anniversary, and four of our historic floating buildings were landmarked by the City of Seattle! The first floating buildings to be landmarked along with The Old Boathouse where our Founding Directors Dick and Colleen Wagner started this West Coast wooden boat sanctuary in Seattle and Camano Island 46 years ago.

Today we are busier than ever- with our new Wagner Education Center we can offer boat building classes in modern boat building techniques in CLC (Chesapeake Light Craft) alongside traditional boat building. Three Lake Union Swifts will be added to our fleet this spring being built by youth internships with local high Schools.

We have added partnerships with US Sailing Seibel Sailors Program to expand our south sailing fleet and are kicking off this spring with restoring three of our Blanchard Junior Knockabouts!

Follow along with our crew with our monthly newsletter, social media, and please come by the next time you are in Seattle and rent a boat!