Judging by her enthusiasm and passion for her work at the NW School of Wooden Boat Building, you’d think Katie Whalen had been a hard core wooden boat devotee since her childhood. Quite to the contrary, Katie grew up in southern California as a complete land lubber. It wasn’t until she visited Washington state as an adult that she got a on “boat” for the first time – a Washington state passenger ferry. Katie was first introduced to the Boat School in the early 1990’s, fell in love with it, and immediately began volunteering. She was fascinated by the school’s mission and the dedication of the small staff, including shipwright Jeff Hammond. Katie was working in Port Townsend in 2006 when she heard the School’s business manager position was being vacated. Katie applied and has loved her dream job ever since. In Katie’s own words, the Boat School “is the real deal”! In 2011 Katie couldn’t pass up the opportunity to purchase her first wooden boat – a 26ʹ William Atkin’s designed gaff rigged cutter – Barakah. She is a traditional plank on frame carvel planked beauty that was built by the School in 1995. ------------------------------------------------ You can contact me at [email protected] to share you comments, feedback, stories, and wooden boat adventures. Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan over and out :D PS  Please note this podcast was recorded several years ago - some of the links, email addresses, phone numbers, and promos mentioned are outdated and no longer valid.