Dan Leach is one of those gents that makes you feel right at home from the first time you shake his hand – which for me was October 2011 when I went to the Center For Wooden Boats to interview the founder, Dick Wagner for HOWB 004. I had the privilege to interview Dan a few weeks ago – which was a real blast for me (hanging out at the CWB comes natural – haha).

Dan grew up in Seattle, the son of a woodworker and grandson of a home builder. His parents owned a 14ʹ Rhodes Bantam racing class sloop – and his grandparents a 17ʹ ski boat. Dan water skied behind the power boat, but preferred getting out on his parents sailboat and occasionally racing. After studying political science and history at the University of Michigan, Dan moved to Eugene OR, started his news radio career, got married and had a couple kids.

Eventually moving back to Seattle, Dan continued his radio career, and did a marketing stint a Microsoft before deciding to enroll in the 2 year Marine Carpentry Program at Seattle Central Community College to “learn more about boats” and gain some woodworking skills. After graduating Dan went to work at Dunbar Marine in Seattle restoring and repairing wooden vessels.

Dan had been a volunteer at the Center for Wooden Boats for years. One day in 2011, he was talking to Betsy Davis (exec director) and she said “we need you” to lead business engagement and sponsorship development to keep the programs and museum collection of small craft alive and well. Dan agreed, on the condition, that he could work one day a week as a boatwright. Dan enjoys his role and loves having his office on a floating dock. Dan has since moved on.

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You can contact me at [email protected] to share you comments, feedback, stories, and wooden boat adventures.

Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan over and out :D

PS  Please note this podcast was recorded several years ago - some of the links, email addresses, phone numbers, and promos mentioned are outdated and no longer valid.