Dick Wagner (1933-2017)

Founding Director, The Center for Wooden Boats

Dick Wagner Dick Wagner started renting traditional small craft behind his 1909 floating home on Seattle’s Lake Union and, amazingly, made thousands of new friends who called his place a living museum and were expected to play with the exhibits. Over the next 45 years the little backyard marina expanded to become The Center for Wooden Boats, with hands-on programs for all ages and abilities at two sites: Seattle and Camano Island, Washington. He passed away in 2017, but thanks to his contributions to Pacific Northwest Maritime history, his legacy will live on. His knowledge and desire to inspire the next generation will be greatly missed.

Videos

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The Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle — Our Favorite Place in this Great City: The Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle has long set a standard for bringing people to the waterfront and getting them st...

 

Guide Posts

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An OCH-Style Community Boathouse by Dick Wagner: Dick Wagner shares the story of The CWB's first community boathouse...
Three Tricks of the Trade — Some Sage Advice by OCH Guide Dick Wagner: Here are some hard-won tips that may come in handy: Linseed Oil. When I acquired my first sailboat half a century ago, I...
The Yawl Rig – My Favorite Rig and Why by Dick Wagner: The physics of sailing include the wind, the current, the underwater hull shape and the sail area. It is really a battle...
Good Reads: Recommendations by Dick Wagner: OffCenterHarbor.com asked our guides to share their favorite books that should be in every boater’s library… NOTE: O...
The Inside Passage: Exploration of the earth is done. It’s all on the map. There is no place that hasn’t been sailed through, wa...
Learning from Experience; My Biggest Disaster and What it Taught Me.: I was single-handing a Phil Bolger Black Skimmer from Juneau to Seattle. The waters were deep and cold, even when I luck...
The Influence of Colleen and John: My Mentors: I moved to Seattle in 1957 when I was 25 and had just graduated from Yale Architecture School. My first interest in Seat...
The Three Boats I Lust After (and Why) – Rozinante, Beetle Cat and Scow Schooner: Rozinante: A slim, lightweight hull with a well-balanced ketch or yawl rig, this boat keeps on sailing in the lightest...