Category Archives: Publications

If you’re the owner of a classic wooden boat, then you know that proper maintenance is key to keeping it in good condition for years to come. Wooden boats require care, and if you’re not familiar with how to properly take care of them, you could end up doing more damage than good. In this…

Sealing wooden boats is an important part of wooden boat crafting and maintenance. It helps to protect the wood from the elements and keep it looking new for many years. There are a few different ways to seal a wooden boat, and each method has its benefits. In this blog post, we will discuss the…

Show-Stealer The Coeur d’Alene Wooden Boat Festival brings a wealth of intriguing craft to Lake Coeur d’Alene every summer, from antique beauties to modern builds. Boat lovers stroll the docks admiring their favorites, appreciating the look and feel of well-crafted wood. Last summer’s show-stealer literally towered over the rest of the fleet. Her gleaming finish,…

In a distant corner of North America, in Kootenai County, Idaho, is a clear glacial lake, wedged between mountain ranges of ponderosa pine and the western sky. Lake Coeur d’Alene, at 700m elevation, is rimmed by massive trees and rock. It’s hundreds of miles from the Pacific. And its home to one of the most…

A lifelong Coeur d’Alene resident builds a one-of-a-kind sailboat for his favorite lake. EVERY SUMMER evening, just after the sun sets over Coeur d’Alene Lake in northern Idaho, the Wolf Lodge Express gathers steam in an eastern bay and hurtles west across the 50-square-mile body of water. The express – a land breeze that forms…

In a distant corner of North America, in Kootenai County, Idaho, is a clear glacial lake, wedged between mountain ranges of ponderosa time and the western sky and home to one of the most sophisticated performance daysailers ever built. Just launched, the Tony Castro-designed Sizzler is a 60-foot, flush-deck speedster, a blend of cold-molded carbon…

At the helm is Jerry Gilbreath, a legend in the world of boats. Typically, with this guy at the controls, one might want to hang on tight. After all, in his career as a champion offshore powerboat racer, he was known as one of the fastest throttlemen in the business. But today the ride is…

After a long career as an offshore pilot in the U.S., Jerry Gilbreath was finally able to realize the dream of his life by creating his own boat. In fact, the idea came while Jerry was in a villa on Lake Como. He was immediately dazzled by the passage of Riva. Then he decided to…

Jerry Gilbreath made a career out of designing, building, and racing speedboats that were faster than some supercars. By the time he retired from racing five years ago, the powerboat pilot had notched more than 25 speed records and nine world championships in a span of four decades. So even in retirement, Gilbreath would seem…

Assuming that fast boats have been an integral part of your life since you were a preteen, you might wonder what kind of boat you’d want to own when you’re an adult. If you’re like Jerry Gilbreath of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, that answer came in the form of an incredible wooden masterpiece of design, craftsmanship,…