The Center for Wooden Boats

What The Center for Wooden Boats does

The Center for Wooden Boats (CWB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit living maritime museum and sailing center founded in 1976 and headquartered at 1010 Valley Street on South Lake Union in Seattle, Washington. The organization operates a curated fleet of historic wooden vessels — including seven Blanchard Junior Knockabouts designed between the 1930s and 1960s and a Kitten Class gaff-rigged cat boat reconstructed from 1920 plans — alongside modern sailboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and pedal boats available for hourly rental. CWB delivers US Sailing-certified Basic Keelboat and Performance Sailing instruction, NASBLA-approved Safe Powerboat Handling, OSHA/L&I/USCG-approved Maritime First Aid training, youth summer camps for ages 5–14, woodworking and boatbuilding classes, charter cruises aboard the Bill Garden-designed Boat House No. 5, and field-trip STEM programs for school groups. The 2025 City of Seattle Landmark designation encompasses both the floating structures of the South Lake Union campus and The Old Boathouse (Wagner Floating Home), formalizing the site's heritage status.

The organization runs on a hybrid earned-contributed revenue model. Earned streams include annual memberships bundled with unlimited rental passes ($350 Small Boat, $550 Weekday, $800 Die Hard), pay-as-you-go livery rentals at $20–$100/hour, unit-priced certifications ($625–$950), youth camps at $629–$699/week, and charter cruises at $275–$350 per 90-minute voyage. Contributed revenue derives from individual tax-deductible donations and institutional grants, with 4Culture and King County Parks identified as core funding partners for landmark designation, restoration, and youth scholarship programming. The Young Mariners Initiative extends scholarship access to underserved youth, supported by partnerships with Teens in Public Service, Gibson Ek High School, Evergreen Goodwill, Port of Seattle, and Urban League. Operations are volunteer-powered, with 400+ active volunteers supplementing an 11–50 person paid staff; free programming (Public Peapod rowboat rentals, Sunday Public Sail operating for 28+ years, museum admission) operationalizes the access mission.

CWB's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and community-led, with walk-up livery rentals on a first-come basis, online registration for certifications and camps, and facility-based service delivery from a single Seattle campus. There is no reseller channel, no geographic expansion beyond the South Lake Union site, and no multi-site footprint. Marketing is conducted through earned media (BBC Storyworks, Seattle Landmark coverage), the cwb.org website, a monthly newsletter, Instagram, and event-driven community engagement (Summer Race Series, Norm Blanchard W.O.O.D. Regatta, Spring Fling, Tiny Boat Regatta, Dinner on the Docks). Leadership is provided by Executive Director Josh Anderson, who progressed internally from Lead Boatwright through Maritime Operations Manager to ED, reflecting craft-rooted operational continuity.

Name

The Center for Wooden Boats

Legal name

The Center for Wooden Boats

Website

https://cwb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Center for Wooden Boats is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit living maritime museum and sailing center in Seattle, founded in 1976, that operates a historic wooden boat fleet and delivers sailing certifications, youth camps, charter cruises, and educational programs to individuals, families, schools, and underserved youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Education and Recreational Boating Services

NAICS

Marinas (71393), Boat Building (336612)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Maritime heritage preservation
• Sailing instruction programs
• Wooden boatbuilding classes
• Youth maritime camps
• Recreational boat rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership program offering benefits including boat rental discounts, free enrollment in SailNOW! after 45 hours of volunteering, and free membership after 45 volunteer hours within 12 consecutive months.
2. Boat Rentals: Hourly rental of sailboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and pedal boats from the South Lake Union livery. Season operates March through October. Includes a Public Peapod Program offering free rowboat rentals.
3. Educational Programs and Classes: Revenue from sailing certifications (US Sailing Basic Keelboat, Performance Sailing), powerboat handling courses, youth summer camps, woodworking/boatbuilding classes, and private lessons.
4. Rental Passes: Unlimited rental passes including Small Boat Pass ($350), Weekday Pass ($550), and Die Hard Pass ($800) for CWB members, providing 365 days of boat access.
5. Charter Cruises: 90-minute historic boat charters on Lake Union aboard Bill Garden-designed Boat House No. 5, accommodating 4-6 passengers with USCG Licensed Captains.
6. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting maritime heritage preservation, youth programs, and accessibility initiatives. Funding from 4Culture/King County for landmark designation and preservation projects.
7. Pond Boat Rentals: Hourly rental of hand-crafted model pond boats for the Lake Union Park model boat pond at $20 per hour.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Center for Wooden Boats operates a living maritime museum and sailing center on Seattle's South Lake Union waterfront, offering rental access to a historic wooden and modern boat fleet, US Sailing-certified instructional courses, youth summer camps, boatbuilding classes, and charter cruises. The organization combines maritime heritage preservation with hands-on public access to wooden boats, sailing education, and community programs such as free public sails and scholarship-based youth initiatives.

Product overview

The Center for Wooden Boats is a living maritime museum and sailing center offering a diverse portfolio of educational and recreational programs centered on wooden boats and Pacific Northwest maritime heritage. The core offering combines a rental livery fleet of historic wooden boats with US Sailing-certified instructional programs for adults and youth. The portfolio includes sailing certifications (Basic Keelboat, Performance Sailing), powerboat handling courses, youth summer camps and school-year programs, woodworking and boatbuilding classes, charter cruises, museum exhibits, and free community programs like the Public Peapod Program and Sunday Public Sail. The Young Mariners Initiative provides scholarship support for underserved youth. Programs are delivered at the South Lake Union campus and operate seasonally (March through October for the livery), with the Wagner Education Center serving as the primary instructional and exhibit facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boat Rentals (Livery) Rental fleet of classic wooden and modern sailboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and pedal boats available for public use at South Lake Union. Sailing checkout required for sailboats. Hourly pricing ranges from $25 to $100 depending on vessel type and membership status. Season operates March through October.
• Charter Cruises 90-minute historic boat charter cruises aboard the Bill Garden-designed Boat House No. 5 on Lake Union, accommodating 4-6 passengers with USCG Licensed Captains. Pricing is $275 for members and $350 for non-members.
• US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification Entry-level sailing course enabling participants to skipper keelboats under 27 feet in winds up to 15 knots. Delivered through a formal partnership with US Sailing, with certification upon completion. Member price $650-$800; non-member $800-$950.
• US Sailing Performance Sailing Certification Advanced sailing course teaching sail optimization and boat handling skills for improved performance. Includes 16 hours of on-the-water and classroom learning over two days, with a maximum of 3 students per class. Prerequisite: US Sailing Basic Keelboat or equivalent.
• Safe Powerboat Handling NASBLA-approved 16-hour hands-on powerboat operation course covering boats up to 26 feet, meeting state boating education certificate requirements. Member price $625; non-member $775. Includes textbook, logbook, and certification.
• Youth Summer Camps Age-differentiated sailing and woodworking camps for ages 5-14 running June through August. Includes Junior Sailor, Beginner/Intermediate El Toro, Feva, Opti programs, Intro to Racing, and Quick & Daring boatbuilding. Junior Sailor and Youth Sailing programs priced at $629 for members and $699 for non-members. Scholarships available through Young Mariners Initiative.
• Chesapeake Light Craft Boatbuilding Classes Woodworking and boatbuilding instruction teaching traditional wooden boat construction techniques, including Design & Build and Quick & Daring tracks. Pricing $629 for members and $699 for non-members.
• Maritime First Aid Classes OSHA, L&I, and USCG-approved first aid, CPR, and AED training courses presented by Northwest Response for boaters and maritime professionals. Two-year certification upon completion.
• Sunday Public Sail Free monthly volunteer-operated sailing excursions on Lake Union offering free boat rides to the public. Operated continuously for over 28 years.
• Pond Boat Rentals Hourly rentals of hand-crafted model pond boats at $20 per hour for sailing on Lake Union Park's model boat pond.
• Young Mariners Initiative Scholarship and free programming initiative ensuring underserved youth access to maritime experiences, including summer camp scholarships, afterschool sailing, and internship programs.
• Junior Instructor Program Leadership development program for ages 14-17 providing maritime skills training, with a pathway to US Sailing Level One Instructor certification.
• Field Trips Educational STEM-focused field trips including model boat building, toy boat building, maritime careers exploration, and maritime adventure experiences for school groups preschool through grade 12. STEM Model Boat Building and Maritime Adventure priced at $15 per student.
• Museum Exhibits

Quantifiable outcome

• Free museum admission and Public Peapod Program providing universal water access
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• US SailingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership where US Sailing sets standards for quality sailing instruction. CWB offers US Sailing Basic Keelboat, Performance Sailing, and other certifications. Instructors are US Sailing certified. Partnership provides nationally recognized credentials to students.
• Teens in Public Service (TIPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer internship program hosting teens who produce content and assist with operations, providing youth with maritime career exposure.
• Gibson Ek High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternship partnership providing students with maritime career exploration opportunities. Students have participated in boatbuilding projects and restoration work at the Bill Garden Boatshop.
• Evergreen Goodwill Youth Maritime ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing maritime career pathway opportunities for youth through Goodwill's job training and education programs.
• Port of Seattle Youth Internship ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime career internship program connecting youth with experiences at CWB and other Port-related maritime organizations.
• Youth Maritime Career Launch Internship ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban League program providing internship opportunities in maritime careers for youth, introducing participants to boatbuilding and restoration.
• Northwest School of Wooden Boat BuildingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead instructor Ben Kahn came from this school to lead the Kitten boatbuilding project, representing educational partnership in traditional boatbuilding techniques.
• NW Sails and CanvasminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSailmaker and rigger for the Kitten boatbuilding project, providing custom bronze hardware and traditionally rigged gaff mainsail.
• Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-OpminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBrad Seamans provided caulking services for the Kitten boatbuilding project.
• Port Townsend FoundryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided custom bronze hardware for the Kitten traditional boat construction.
• Seattle Public LibraryminorOthersOriginal Kitten boat design plans (October 1920 issue of Pacific Motor Yacht Magazine) were digitized from the library's archives for the boat reconstruction project.
• Walrus (Boat Recycling Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Waste is a Construct' exhibit transforming derelict boats into environmental storytelling art installations.
• University of Washington MuseologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate program collaboration where UW Museology students curate exhibits as thesis projects, currently featuring 'Waste is a Construct' by Allison Bramblett.
• Kirby Paint Co.minorOthersProvided paint for the Kitten boatbuilding project.
• Ravishing Radish CateringminorOthersCatering partner for special events such as Dinner on the Docks.
• Northwest ResponseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional emergency medical responders presenting Maritime First Aid and CPR/AED classes at CWB, approved by OSHA, L&I, and USCG for Master Mariner License.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park: National Park Service site in San Francisco with a fleet of historic vessels, sailing programs, and visitor exhibits — a larger institutional peer in maritime heritage and public access.

Direct peers

• Mystic Seaport Museum: America's largest maritime museum in Mystic, CT, with a major collection of historic wooden vessels, active preservation shipyard, sailing programs, and youth education — directly comparable to CWB in mission, model, and program mix.
• Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum: St. Michaels, MD museum with a working boatyard, historic wooden boat collection, sailing excursions, and educational programs serving both youth and adults — closely aligned with CWB's living-museum model.
• Alexandria Seaport Foundation: Alexandria, VA nonprofit that runs wooden boatbuilding apprenticeship programs for underserved youth and operates a small craft museum — closely aligned with CWB's youth-access and heritage-preservation mission.
• Lake Champlain Maritime Museum: Vermont-based maritime museum with wooden boat restoration, sailing and boatbuilding programs for youth, and a regional focus on freshwater nautical heritage — comparable in scale, model, and program mix.
• Northwest Maritime Center: Port Townsend, WA-based maritime heritage and education center offering wooden boatbuilding classes, sailing programs, and community events on the Pacific Northwest waterfront — a strong regional parallel to CWB.
• Herreshoff Marine Museum: Bristol, RI museum dedicated to the Herreshoff boatbuilding legacy, with classic yacht regattas, model boat building, and youth STEAM programs — a focused peer on wooden-boat heritage and youth education.
• The Wooden Boat Foundation (WoodenBoat School): Brooklin, ME-based foundation operating WoodenBoat School with hands-on boatbuilding and seamanship courses, plus a community sailing center — a direct parallel in wooden-boat education and heritage programming.
• Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building: Port Hadlock, WA accredited school focused on traditional wooden boat construction and restoration, supplying craft talent and partnering with CWB (e.g., lead instructor Ben Kahn) — closely comparable in mission and Pacific Northwest footprint.

Emerging players

• International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS): Newport, RI school offering accredited programs in marine systems, composites, and yacht restoration — overlaps with CWB's boatbuilding and certification programs but with a more vocational/credentialing orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/centerforwoodenboats
• Xx.com/CWBheritage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Center for Wooden Boats