OUR MISSION
Harnessing the unique craft of wooden boat building and maritime-centered exploration, we inspire young people to uncover the confidence, skills, and courage to chart pathways to success in and outside the classroom.
OUR STORY
Two naval architects. One boat. An idea that still guides us today.
Brooklyn Boatworks was founded in 2005 by Brooklyn-based naval architects Carl Persak and Jeremy Wurmfeld, who believed that building a real, seaworthy boat could be a powerful way for young people to learn.
Drawing on their experience as naval architects, they created a hands-on program centered on the craft of wooden boatbuilding. Students learn to read blueprints, work with marine tools and materials, and turn three sheets of plywood into a boat they can actually launch and sail.
But Carl and Jeremy saw something bigger in the process. Building a boat required students to solve problems, work together, persevere when things didn’t go as planned, and take on a challenge that might initially seem beyond their reach.
The goal wasn’t simply to build a boat. It was to show young people what they were capable of building, and becoming.
Brooklyn Boatworks founders Carl Persak and Jeremy Wurmfeld with students and their first boat, 2005.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Brooklyn Boatworks’ first boat was built by students in the hallway of a New York City public school - entirely without power tools. They named the 7-foot Optimist Twin Flames and, when it was finished, brought their boat to the waterfront for its first launch.
From there, the idea began to grow. Boat builds expanded to additional schools, and in 2009, Erin Shakespeare joined Brooklyn Boatworks as its first Executive Director, helping lead the organization through an important period of early growth. In 2010, Brooklyn Boatworks officially became a 501(c)(3), creating the foundation to reach more young people across New York City.
Over the years, Brooklyn Boatworks continued to grow - reaching more schools, building more boats, and creating new ways for students to stay connected beyond their first boat build.
Today, that journey extends from boatbuilding into STEM, sailing, maritime exploration, career exposure, and leadership, giving young people opportunities to keep learning, exploring, and discovering where their skills can take them.
