Discover the hidden gem of Seattle's waterfront at The Center for Wooden Boats, where you can sail, row, or kayak on Lake Union—even for free!
Spoiler Alert: You don't need to own a boat to set sail, but you might leave wanting to build one!
The Center for Wooden Boats (www.cwb.org), located at South Lake Union next to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is one of the best-kept secrets in the center of Seattle. It’s a “living museum,” with some old wooden boats that are museum pieces and others that are available to use on Lake Union. It’s a great way for people who want to get out on the water to do so, even if they don’t have a boat. You can come and take sailing lessons, then once you are “checked out” as capable, you can rent a sailboat. Or if you prefer human-powered craft, we have rowboats, kayaks, and canoes available to rent. CWB is open year-round.
But the real secret is that you can get out on the water on Lake Union for free! How to do so?
First, each month, between April and October, we have a “free public sail” on the last Sunday of the month. These public sails – in sailboats, rowboats, or motorized wooden boats -- provide folks with free trips on the water, with sign-ups first come, first-served. It’s a great first step to get introduced to what we do.
Second, if you want to take a rowboat out, we have a Peapod Program, wherein you can sign-up online for a one-hour free use of a “Peapod” rowboat. The boats take up to 4 people.
Third, if you volunteer with CWB, you can earn one hour of free boat use for every three hours of volunteer work that you do. We’ve got a huge range of volunteer activities that you can do, helping on the docks, helping with events, repairing boats, making sails, greeting visitors, helping to raise money, or teaching sailing. If you volunteer 45 hours in one year, then you are eligible for free sailing lessons.
CWB is a great place to meet people who share your interest in the water and boats, and to make new friends. You can learn new skills, take classes in woodworking, or other topics. We have monthly talks on various topics, and periodic get-togethers and events, especially for volunteers. It’s a place where folks of all ages, whether in their twenties or eighties, feel at home. CWB also has youth programs and summer sailing camps.
Women on the Water (WOW) is an initiative by a group of women CWB volunteers, to encourage women to meet other women and to get women out more on the water, whether they are beginning boaters or well-experienced. Come see us at the Women’s Outdoor Connection event and learn more!
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