Gig Harbor BoatShop

The Gig Harbor BoatShop is a 501(c)(3) non-profit situated at the historic Eddon Boatyard on Gig Harbor's working waterfront. Its mission is to perpetuate working waterfront skills, uses, and traditions from the historic Eddon Boatyard and aboard classic vessels of Puget Sound. The organization focuses on preserving and interpreting the area's maritime heritage through various programs and community engagement.

Visitors can rent classic electric launches or rowboats to explore Gig Harbor Bay; no prior boating experience is necessary, and life jackets are provided. The BoatShop also offers a range of hands-on educational experiences. These include boat restoration and repair, boatbuilding workshops like the Family Boat Building program where participants construct a 12-foot skiff, and maritime summer camps for ages 4-18. Other programs cover nautical knot-tying classes and community boat restoration projects.

The BoatShop hosts various events and presentations, such as Nautical Storytelling for Children and Music at the BoatShop. It is also recognized as the birthplace of the Thunderbird sailboat. The facility is open to the public every Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, inviting guests to engage with maritime crafts and history.