In this episode, we’re joined by Blaise Holly, a commercial fisherman turned shipwright, now the owner of Haven Boatworks in Port Townsend, Washington.

Blaise grew up back east, studied literature at Middlebury, and detoured through Mystic Seaport to help build the topsail schooner Amistad before spending years fishing salmon and halibut aboard the 48-foot FV Alaska.  For the past 19 years, he’s been at Haven, first on the tools, then leading the crew — and since 2022, he’s owned the yard, guiding a 35-person team restoring some of the country’s most notable wooden vessels.  We’ll trace his path from the fishing grounds to the boatyard, swap a few sea stories, and talk about the realities and deeper rewards of wooden-boat ownership.

Contact Blaise @ https://www.havenboatworks.com/

Beyond the Boat is an independent, listener-supported project.

Listener support helps preserve and share the stories of wooden boats, their caretakers, and the communities that surround them. Support sustains the listening, but it never steers the stories.

If you’d like to help keep the show afloat, you can contribute as a supporter or become a monthly member at:

www.buymeacoffee.com/beyondtheboat

There are no paywalls, no exclusive content, and no obligation to contribute. The stories will always remain free to listen to.

Special thanks to Todd Powell for ongoing monthly support, and to Peter McGraw, Charlie Syburg, and Jim & Margie Paynton for their generous contributions to the project.

Have feedback or know someone who should be on the show?  Email me at:

[email protected]

In this episode of Beyond the Boat, host Leroy Lewis speaks with Todd Powell about the complexities of owning, buying, and selling wooden boats. They explore the myths surrounding wooden boat ownership, the changing attitudes of buyers, and the unique challenges faced by sellers in the current market. Todd shares his extensive experience in the boating world, discussing memorable trips, the importance of community, and the role of brokers in navigating the wooden boat market. The conversation highlights the passion and practicality that come with wooden boat ownership, as well as the need for proper maintenance and care.

Contact Todd Powell at [email protected]

Beyond the Boat is an independent, listener-supported project.

Listener support helps preserve and share the stories of wooden boats, their caretakers, and the communities that surround them. Support sustains the listening, but it never steers the stories.

If you’d like to help keep the show afloat, you can contribute as a supporter or become a monthly member at:

www.buymeacoffee.com/beyondtheboat

There are no paywalls, no exclusive content, and no obligation to contribute. The stories will always remain free to listen to.

Special thanks to Todd Powell for ongoing monthly support, and to Peter McGraw, Charlie Syburg, and Jim & Margie Paynton for their generous contributions to the project.

Have feedback or know someone who should be on the show?  Email me at:

[email protected]

David Miller—longtime steward of Sea Nymph II, a 1946 Monk Senior 46-footer—joins Beyond the Boat to trace a Puget Sound classic’s lineage and life. We cover the Coast Guard roots behind the name, decades with the Wilhelm family (including escorting the USS Missouri), and the careful restorations: mahogany cabinetry, Port Orford cedar planking, and period-true upgrades. David shares the learning curve of early dockings, the hunt for covered moorage, and favorite stops from Clam Bay to Fossil Bay. Now at 80, he and Karn are ready to pass the baton to the next caretaker of this storied Northwest cruiser.  For photos of David’s boat, go to ClasicYachts.org, CYA Yacht Register.  Sea Nymph II is currently listed with NW Yacht net at www.nwyachtnet.com.

Beyond the Boat is an independent, listener-supported project.

Listener support helps preserve and share the stories of wooden boats, their caretakers, and the communities that surround them. Support sustains the listening, but it never steers the stories.

If you’d like to help keep the show afloat, you can contribute as a supporter or become a monthly member at:

www.buymeacoffee.com/beyondtheboat

There are no paywalls, no exclusive content, and no obligation to contribute. The stories will always remain free to listen to.

Special thanks to Todd Powell for ongoing monthly support, and to Peter McGraw, Charlie Syburg, and Jim & Margie Paynton for their generous contributions to the project.

Have feedback or know someone who should be on the show?  Email me at:

[email protected]

Jeff shares the story of his family’s 1935, 18-foot Reinell runabout—its history, their adventures aboard, and the famous guests who once joined the previous owners on guided fishing trips.

Beyond the Boat is an independent, listener-supported project.

Listener support helps preserve and share the stories of wooden boats, their caretakers, and the communities that surround them. Support sustains the listening, but it never steers the stories.

If you’d like to help keep the show afloat, you can contribute as a supporter or become a monthly member at:

www.buymeacoffee.com/beyondtheboat

There are no paywalls, no exclusive content, and no obligation to contribute. The stories will always remain free to listen to.

Special thanks to Todd Powell for ongoing monthly support, and to Peter McGraw, Charlie Syburg, and Jim & Margie Paynton for their generous contributions to the project.

Have feedback or know someone who should be on the show?  Email me at:

[email protected]