Ensuring the future for boats made of wood.

In June 2024, the WBTA organised the 2nd Wooden Boat Gathering at the Jetty Museum in Windermere.

The theme for the weekend was ‘Ensuring the future for boats made of wood’ and this was superbly captured by the 4 eminent speakers:

Gabriel Hemery

An author, tree photographer, and forest scientist who writes, lives and breathes trees. Watch the talk.

Abbey Molyneux

A Norfolk based boatbuilder specialising in the restoration and preservation of historical wooden boats. Watch the talk.

Gail McGarva

A traditional wooden boat builder who is passionate about working boats and the stories they hold. Watch the talk.

James Dodds

A British Artist. His painting and prints are inspired by boats and boat building. Watch the talk.

The weekend also included museum and conservation workshop tours along with discussions about wooden boats and the building of them. On Saturday evening we enjoyed a Cumbrian buffet and carried on the conversation of the long-lasting boatbuilding material - wood. 

Thank you to Colin and Luice Henwood for putting on such an amazing event. Look forward to the next one in 2026!