Gig Harbor BoatShop
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The rich history of the Eddon Boatyard began when the buildings were constructed in the 1940s. The boatyard was a place where boom tugs, yachts, fishing vessels, and, most notably, the first iconic Thunderbird Sailboats were built and where a variety of commercial fishing boats and locally designed pleasure boats were launched. The Hoppen family owned it for nearly 30 years, and it was here that Guy Hoppen grew up, immersed in the cultural landscape of Gig Harbor’s working waterfront.
After receiving his graduate degree from Goucher College in Baltimore, Guy spent much of his working career operating commercial fishing vessels in Alaska and working alongside Gig Harbor fishing families. In 2003 when Guy heard that his childhood home the Eddon Boatyard was going to be demolished and sold, he, along with three others, formed a grassroots advocacy group to save the site and secure Gig Harbor’s maritime heritage and future. They were overwhelmingly supported by the community and in 2010, the Gig Harbor BoatShop was established.
Gig Harbor BoatShop is a multi-use waterfront educational gathering space whose purpose is to conserve a vital regional resource, perpetuate maritime skills, and celebrate working waterfront traditions. The non-profit offers a wide array of public programs designed for all ages that focus on boat restoration and repairs, boatbuilding, and boat use. They include South Puget Sound trips aboard a 63-foot classic wooden fishing vessel, Family Boat Building workshops where you build your own 12-foot salt bay skiff in a weekend, Maritime Summer Camps for ages 4-18, Santa’s BoatShop, Nautical Knot-Tying classes, community boat restoration projects, and a crew member training program aboard a purse seine commercial fishing vessel. Along with hands-on workshops, the Gig Harbor BoatShop hosts educational programs and maritime presentations and events like Nautical Storytelling for Children, Music at the BoatShop, and community meet & greets. Small craft rental services from row boats to electric launches are available at The BoatShop Livery.
Gig Harbor BoatShop’s ongoing efforts to educate the community and preserve the occupational trades and traditions of boatbuilding and commercial fishing not only honor our community’s rich history but also ensure the future of our working waterfront for years to come.
3805 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor
(253) 857-9344
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