Help Josh Become a Boatbuilder

Hello! My name is Michelle Tipton. This is my husband—Josh. He has recently been accepted into the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding (NWSWB) located in Washington State.


Over the last eight years, I have had the privilege of watching him develop his interest in woodworking. His first foray into the trade was volunteering at a local vintage lumber workshop where he learned the basics of the craft, and from there, his interest exploded. He started pouring over books and YouTube videos, absorbing all information and tips that he could find. He started making his own tables and art pieces, and while they were beautiful, he wasn’t quite satisfied. He wanted to make something that was still beautiful but served a bigger purpose.


That’s when he discovered wooden boatbuilding. To him, it was the perfect union of art and function.


We had talked about moving as a family to the coast since early 2018, because Josh has wanted to live by (and on!) the ocean for a long, long time. It’s been a tough decision to make, mostly because we have so many friends and family here that leaving is a difficult choice, but as each year passes, his longing grows, and so does my longing to see his dreams fulfilled.


Another reason we prolonged this decision is the root of all problems: funding. Josh has never wanted to take out student loans, and so we’ve been saving up as much as we can these past four years to help him pay for his school. Unfortunately, money comes in slowly sometimes but bills never do. The classes at NWSWB are M-F from 9-5, so Josh won’t be able to continue having a full time job while he’s enrolled; however, he will work as many hours as he is able. If it was just Josh, it would be a different story, but we have two boys to take care of, and my teaching income alone isn’t enough to support us all.


That’s why we are humbly asking for your help to turn his dream into a reality. Josh has never found it easy to ask for help, and it was rather like pulling teeth to convince him to try this avenue rather than high-interest student loans, but I know that he deserves this slice of happiness from life. He worked full-time, sometimes with a second evening job, so I could study for my teaching degree, and now that I’ve achieved my goals I know he deserves a chance to pursue his. He wants to show our sons that achieving their dreams is possible, even if they find that passion later in life than some. Josh not only wants to help preserve the traditional boatbuilding methods used by humans for hundreds of years, but he also hopes to perpetuate that knowledge in future generations. He wants to spread his love of boatbuilding and sailing to younger people in any way possible, giving back as thanks for the opportunity to learn the trade himself.


Thank you so much for taking the time to hear our story. If you would like to learn more about Josh, his passion, and our family, you can check out his Instagram and YouTube channel “Canoe to Cutter.”