The Boat Geeks #17 - Betsy Davis (Executive Director, Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding)

Recorded 06.26.24

Betsy has been at the helm of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding for many years, and has helped chart tremendous growth and expansion including the new Marine Systems Program. She also happens to own the classic MV Glory Be, a 110-year old piece of Pacific NW history.

Recorded aboard their floating studio in Port Townsend, WA, in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, Daeron and Darren take a deep dive into the world of boating.

This episode: Daeron and Darren are amazed at the life (or, as Betsy puts it, the "nine lives") of 'Glory Be', a 1914 bridgedeck cruiser built by the grandfather of the Grandy Boat Co. in Seattle, WA. After an eventful first few years, 'Glory Be' settled in as a typical family cruising boat. That is until 2002 when she burned and sank in a marina fire! Hear Betsy describe the incredible scenes in the aftermath, as well as the three-year restoration process.

Betsy is the Executive Director of the famed Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock, WA. Founded in 1981, the School has taught wooden boatbuilding and marine systems skills to more than 1,600 students from around the world. They offer a full-time 12-month Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree in Wooden Boatbuilding; a 9-month diploma program in Marine Systems; and 5-day Intensives in Marine Electrical, Corrosion, Diesel Engines, Plumbing, and Outboard Engines.

For more information on the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding: https://nwswb.edu/

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkXxrnlmi9LrlrKa5bvGmFg

John Sabella (Producer of "Throwbacks to a Golden Age of Northwest Boats"): https://www.youtube.com/@UCyddKlRAFc4ZNE-NA0mX-_g

The Boat Geeks are brought to you by the Boater's Guide, a free mobile app for PNW boaters. Available on iOS and Android devices, The Boater's Guide is information and adventure right at your fingertips, right when you need it. Download for free in the App Store or Google Play: https://www.pnwboatersguide.com/boaters-guide

Look for new episodes of The Boat Geeks on the 1st and 15th every month. Be sure to like and subscribe, and tell your boating friends! For more information on The Boat Geeks, visit https://www.theboatgeeks.com/

The Boat Geeks #16 - Rick Henson (ValvTect/MRT Products)

Recorded 05.29.24

As Regional Sales Manager for ValvTect Marine Fuels, Rick knows a lot about the gas and diesel we put in our boats.

Recorded aboard their floating studio in Port Townsend, WA, in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, Daeron and Darren take a deep dive into the world of boating.

This episode: The two Ds, who have always used ValvTect fuels in their vessels and outboards, learn exactly what makes ValvTect a superior product for boats. Throw in our Pacific NW climate, and good fuel becomes even more important. That holds true whether you use your boat frequently or it sits at the dock for extended periods.

For more information on ValvTect Marine Fuels: https://www.valvtect.com/markets/marine-fuel-products/

Locate a ValvTect Fuel Dock: https://www.valvtect.com/certified-valvtect-marinas/

The Boat Geeks are brought to you by the Boater's Guide, a free mobile app for PNW boaters. Available on iOS and Android devices, The Boater's Guide is information and adventure right at your fingertips, right when you need it. Download for free in the App Store or Google Play: https://www.pnwboatersguide.com/boaters-guide

Look for new episodes of The Boat Geeks on the 1st and 15th every month. Be sure to like and subscribe, and tell your boating friends! For more information on The Boat Geeks, visit https://www.theboatgeeks.com/

The Boat Geeks #15 - Kevin Ritz (ABYC Master Technician)

Recorded 05.23.24

Kevin, an ABYC Master Technician and Marine Systems Program Director at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, turned his own family tragedy into a mission to prevent other tragedies and save lives. After losing his son to Electric Shock Drowning in 1999, he became a world renowned expert in marine electrical systems and founded the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association.

Recorded aboard their floating studio in Port Townsend, WA, in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, the two Ds take a deep dive into the world of boating.

A personal message from Daeron and Darren regarding this episode: This is our 15th full podcast and 100th video, and we don't think we'll ever do another one this important. When we started The Boat Geeks, education was the driving force. Both in terms of educating other boaters and ourselves. In this show, we discuss with Kevin what happened to his son Lucas and the causes of Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) starting at the 29:30 mark of the video. Leading up to that, we get to know Kevin and his background, as well as his boat and current position as Marine Systems Program Director at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock, WA.

Electric Shock Drowning claims new victims every year, most recently claiming an 18-year-old in Virginia on July 4th ( https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/08/jesse-hamric-electrocuted-smith-mountain-lake-virginia/74329714007/ ). What makes it even more heartbreaking is it's an otherwise avoidable tragedy. It is our sincere hope that this video helps spread awareness about ESD, and that it might help save lives.

For more information on the Electric Shock Drowning: https://www.electricshockdrowning.org/

Electric Shock Drowning Educational Resources: https://www.electricshockdrowning.org/esd-resources.html

U.S. Coast Guard Study mentioned by Kevin: https://www.electricshockdrowning.org/uploads/4/8/5/6/48564375/uscg_grant_2008.226165406.pdf

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding: https://nwswb.edu/

The Boat Geeks are brought to you by the Boater's Guide, a free mobile app for PNW boaters. Available on iOS and Android devices, The Boater's Guide is information and adventure right at your fingertips, right when you need it. Download for free in the App Store or Google Play: https://www.pnwboatersguide.com/boaters-guide

Look for new episodes of The Boat Geeks on the 1st and 15th every month. Be sure to like and subscribe, and tell your boating friends! For more information on The Boat Geeks, visit https://www.theboatgeeks.com/