Blog

Hi everyone, Katie here to give you an update on what's happening behind the scenes here at Duckworks. We're closing in on the end of our third year since Gig Harbor Boat Works acquired Duckworks as a sister company, and we've learned a ton since then -- about the business yes, but also about all of you and the close-knit community of people who are passionate about building and sailing wooden boats.  It has especially been a pleasure spending more time in Port Townsend, and being a …

How I went from not knowing squat about boats (or sailing) -- to designing a little trimaran I can’t pry my friends out of. It all started in 2009. I was in the Gulf Of Mexico, doing a “speed test” in my new kayak. I managed 6 mph…for about 100 feet.  Not far away, I saw a small Sunfish sailboat. Figured I’d paddle over and go check it out. Never got anywhere near it. I’m paddling my arms off, he’s just sitting there sailing lazily – yet leaving me WAY behind. In that mome …

We're excited to share some fun boat builds from this year's Duckworks Takeover at the Northwest Maritime Center! For those of you not already in the know, this annual-ish event is one of the best kept non-secrets out there in the boat building community.  The Duckworks takeover is a month-long event when our community of DIY boatbuilders descends upon the NWMC boatshop in Port Townsend to make progress on their builds. Participants get to keep their boats in the shop, and access the t …

Ahoy there, fellow DIY boat builders! With spring on the horizon, it's the perfect time to set sail on a new project and explore the open waters. If you're a free-spirited adventurer looking to dive into the world of boat building, you're in for a treat. We've got some unique new boat designs and goodies for you to discover and add to your "to build" project list. From simple canoes to sturdy ocean-capable sailboats, there's a vessel waiting for your craftsmanship to bring it to life. Wheth …

There's a well-known folk adage out in the world, 'The proof of the pudding is in the eating.' But I was once told a variation of it this that has stuck with me, ‘The proof is in the winning.’  While it applies in some situations, it isn’t necessarily a universal truth across the board: Sometimes, the most skilled team or passionate competitor doesn’t win.  Sometimes, the sailor with the longest waterline doesn’t cross the line first.  Sometimes, even the best-lai …

Some of you may not know that long before I came onboard at Duckworks, I worked for the Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC) as their boatshop manager for about a decade–working on fleet boats, teaching in and supporting our programs, working with kids and those more “experienced” in life too. I was also lucky enough to have a major role in building SCAMP #1 during my time there. The campus was young and growing, it was an exciting time and it seemed like every month some new program was be …

A lot of potential would-be boat builders ask us, "What’s the best boat for a beginner to build?” There are a lot of ways to answer that, and I’d argue that the #1 factor is, “What boat would you get the most enjoyment out of owning?” But setting that key consideration aside for a moment, a skin-on-frame boat is a good first project for the aspiring boat builder who wants a relatively quick, attainable project. These boats come together pretty quickly, so you can get out on the water and star …

If you’ve done much reading about stitch-and-glue boat building, it’s likely that at some point you have come across someone stating that they used a “blind fillet” for some situation or another. Assuming you’re already acquainted with stitch and glue boatbuilding methods, you likely already know that a fillet is a key structural transition between two parts of a boat that blends them seamlessly together. A pronunciation note here for those who hear words in your head when you read: in b …

If you’ve been tuned in to Duckworks for the last few months, you’ve probably gathered that we are quite fond, and quite proud, of our Scout CNC Kit. Scout was front and center in our space at the Seattle Boat Show, drawing in curious and aspiring boat builders from all over the Pacific Northwest, and for good reason. Her light weight, clean lines, simple construction, intuitive and simple sail rig, and spacious design make Scout an appealing dinghy; sporting both function and style …

Duckworks is thrilled to be making our first appearance at the 2023 Seattle Boat Show, February 3-11! As the largest boat show on the West Coast, the Seattle Boat Show is a huge event that speaks to a wide variety of boaters, and we’ll be there helping to introduce a whole new audience to the unique joys of building your own boat. We have some exciting things planned for our time in the Emerald City! Stop by our booth in the East Hall at Lumen Field Exhibition Hall to get an up c …