Gabe Boylan graduated from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 2013 with a focus on Traditional Large Craft. Gabe was hired onto a research vessel after graduation and then onto the crew of the vessel Kwai in Hawaii.
“This will be Gabriels 4 voyage with the KWAI having joined us as a young man from Nebraska who had never been to sea. He is now a man, a sailor and a very valuable crew mate on the KWAI. We are so happy to have him.”
“The purpose of KWAI is to carry cargo, passengers, and crew in a well found sailing vessel between the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The objectives include:
· To maintain and build further on our strong working relationship with the islands we service, through freight, trade and passengers.
· To finish the refit of the KWAI as a strong safe sailing ship for world voyaging, with accommodations for 8 paying passengers and cadets and 8 professional crew members.
· Incorporate facilities for divers, researchers and scientific personnel to make the ship suitable for expedition charters.
Voyaging under sail
The main goal of this project is voyaging on the high seas. The present service is a packet vessel between Hawaii and the Cook Islands which offers excellent year round sailing across the trade winds in both directions. Adventure travelers and crew immerse themselves in a life at sea, sharing the opportunity to learn seamanship, navigation, rigging and ship and small boat handling. A round trip schedule of two to three months will allow for half the time at sea and half the time in port or at anchor. The ocean passages are memorable, but so are the relaxed stops at very remote islands.
Why a Sailing Vessel?
A powerful sailing ship, driven only by the free energy of the wind, dependent only on nature and the resources she carries aboard is not only a work of art and beauty, she is a proven, economical vehicle of transportation where fuel is expensive and often scarce. Our sails are our the subsidy, and the fuel in our tanks often goes ashore to run island generators, while the ship quietly rides the waves in the timeless tradition of her pedigree.
Trading Opportunities
For centuries these islands were supplied by infrequent ships arriving to sell their cargoes to the local inhabitants. Even in these modern times many of the small islands on our route are still not supplied on a regular basis. With approval and support from the local governments and island councils we provide a comprehensive service. We deliver ordered cargoes from the least expensive sources in Hawaii, and charge a purchasing fee and freight on all goods. We now take back dried seaweed as return cargo to Hawaii and have proposed to carry copra from Washington to Christmas, a much needed service.
Adventure Travel opportunities
Adventure travel remains a lucrative niche in the tourism industry. We offer a unique chance to visit remote islands, most accessible only by ocean voyages. On our vessel, passengers are be able to witness and take part in historical sea travel and trading. Long term, rewarding relationships have been established with the island communities and our passengers will be happy to meet the locals and able to pay for guided fishing, snorkeling, or exploring trips. In the age old island style, bountiful luaus ashore and lively parties aboard will be inevitable. We appeal to the eco-tourist as well as sail power is an environment-friendly way to see the world. The Pacific Islands will continue to offer risk-free destinations where political turmoil can be left behind.”
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The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding is everyone’s wooden boat school!
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