Interview: Sean Koomen, Instructor NW School of Wooden Boat Building

Found this and couldn't resist posting it! I haven't included last names or the name of the school I am attending in prior posts, so I guess now you know. I have been impressed by Sean's knowledge and passion for wooden boat building and now know some of the back story from listening to the interview. A couple of things that standout for me is Sean's reference to problem-solving on multiple occasions. I'm sure I have already mentioned this in previous posts but "problem-solving" is one of the global themes here at the school. Sean's love of wood boats can best be summed up by quoting him directly from the interview. "I always equate the lines of a boat to the lines of a beautiful woman, they are very elegant, something you can't really shape in any other medium than wood. It's beautiful."

HOWB 047 – Interview: Sean Koomen, Instructor, NW School of Wooden BoatBuilding

by ADMIN on AUGUST 9, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

PODCAST SHOW NOTES

This past week I interviewed Sean Koomen, instructor at the NW School of Wooden Boat Building.  Sean grew up in Minnesota.  At the age of 14 he discovered one of Dynamite Payson’s books at the library, and was soon falling trees for lumber to satisfy his boat building curiosity.  Fast forward to college and Sean was in serious study mode to become a concert cellist.   Spending 5 hours a day practicing was getting to be a little much, so Sean applied for a grant to start his own wooden boat building business.  With grant money in hand, Sean launched Red Barn Boats where he built and sold 4 small wooden boats while in college.

Sean knew his boat building skills needed some honing, so in 2003 he attended the NW School of Wooden Boat Building in Port Hadlock, WA and graduated 9 months later.  From there it was on to wooden boat gigs in California (Rutherford’s Boatshop) and Maine (Brooklin Boatyard), a couple other stops, and then back to Port Hadlock where he became an instructor this year.  Sean has worked on some fun projects over the years including a wooden 135’ steam yacht built in 1901, a fan tail wooden yacht, a 22’ Shorebird Sloop, and other cool stuff.

Listen to the full interview with Sean by clicking on the green button above.

Here’s some pics to enjoy (click to enlarge):

Sean Koomen aboard the Hanson designed Forest Service Boat recently finished by the school.

A Prothero skiff nearing completion at the School.

My favorite pocket sailor – SCAMP – in action on Port Townsend Bay.

NW School of Wooden Boatbuilding on the shores of Port Hadlock. Attending the school is on my Bucket List!

 Thanks Sean for taking time for the interview.  Best to you with your boats!