Wooden boat hulls today are built much as they were during the Bronze Age.

“BOAT – Break Out Another Thousand." "A hole in the water you throw money into." "High-priced yard art.” To boat owners, these are common. Wooden boat owners, however, refer to their boat as family, love, inspiration, life.

Wooden boat hulls today are built much as they were during the Bronze Age; planks are milled and shaped to fit then bent over stiff wooden frames and pinned into place. Most of this work is still done by hand with planes, shapers, adzes, drills, mallets, chisels, and irons. The materials — hardwoods, hemp, bronze, pitch, and cotton, haven’t changed much either.

Wooden hulls are carvel or clinker. Carvel hulls are made from planking laid edge to edge and caulked. A clinker hull is when the planks overlap, not unlike house siding. Caulking is common regardless of hull type. Above the waterline, the decks and houses need be sealed from the weather; oakum, cotton or general rope fibers are pounded into the gaps and sealed.

The cost to build a wooden vessel can run into thousands per foot. Mahogany from South America or the Philippines is commonly used on hulls, though angelique (heavier, harder, weather and bug-resistant South American hardwood) is used below the waterline, and for the keel and frame.

Learn more about wooden boats this weekend when Koehler Kraft hosts the San Diego Wooden Boat Festival, mostly well preserved vintage boats, but some new vessels that have been hand crafted.