16' Young Poulsbo Boat Inboard Launch (2018)

From 1933 through 1965 Ronald Young constructed his wooden boats in the basement of Ole Berg’s garage in downtown Poulsbo, WA. Those familiar with Young’s workshop often note that during extremely high tides on Liberty Bay, the basement was prone to significant flooding and as such, it wasn’t unheard of for the constituent parts of a Young-built boat to have been anointed in saltwater prior to assembly. Young’s creations became colloquially known as the “Poulsbo Boat” and they earned a good reputation among local mariners for their reliability and the ease with which they handled the waters surrounding the Kitsap Peninsula.

This recently completed “Poulsbo boat” is a slightly modified design lofted by students at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding. Real-world projects like this are carefully selected by instructors to serve as strong teaching platforms: after its construction by the Traditional Boatbuilding students, the Marine Systems students then completed the project by designing and installing the diesel engine, steering and controls and electrical system. From planking to electrical systems, the Poulsbo represents a symbiosis of hands-on education that’s keeping traditions alive while meeting the needs of the trades.