About us

Volunteers with diverse skills work alongside professional shipwrights to build, restore, maintain, and celebrate wooden vessels of historic value and current usefulness.

Who we are.

We are an organization of volunteers with diverse skill sets that contracts professional shipwrights to assist and teach us boatbuilding techniques as we collectively build and restore wooden vessels.

Our volunteer board raises funds, works on projects, orders materials and equipment, pays the bills, coordinates with Town of Oyster Bay officials, and supports every aspect of running capital projects in the yard and in Building J. Many volunteers also maintain CHRISTEEN and IDA MAY at The WaterFront Center, and several serve as volunteer crew.

Wooden Boatshop of Oyster Bay is a DBA of the not-for-profit Christeen Oyster Sloop Preservation Corp., Federal Tax ID #11-3146648.

Wooden Boatshop volunteers gathered for the IDA MAY launch in May 2023

Board of directors.

George N. Lindsay, Jr.President
Connell ByrneDirector
Jamie DemingDirector
Bruce LevinsonTreasurer
Anthony OrchardDirector
Sam MorganDirector
Jack HoytSecretary
Doug NemethDirector
Victor D’AngeloDirector

Wooden Boatshop board members and volunteers gathered inside Building J — Board members and volunteers

Volunteers celebrating the final deck plank during the Rum Plank celebration — Rum Plank celebration

Why we do this.

Involving the community in traditional boatbuilding is an essential part of our mission. Although wooden boatbuilding is a shrinking occupation, hands-on creative experiences shared with other people remain deeply enriching.

We enjoy using our hands to create something of lasting value—particularly boats. We care about preserving our area’s maritime history, using traditional methods alongside modern tools, learning new skills, and building friendships through shared work.

We take pride in what we accomplish together and welcome new volunteers to join us.

Become a volunteer

Wooden Boatshop volunteers working together at a shop bench

What we have accomplished

Restored for education. Built for connection.

We restored this

CHRISTEEN

The 1883 40-foot gaff-rigged sloop is America’s oldest remaining oyster sloop and a National Historic Landmark. After a full restoration by volunteers and shipwrights, CHRISTEEN launched in 1999. We later replaced her original keel and made a new mast.

Since joining The WaterFront Center in 2002, she has served as a floating classroom, carrying thousands of people each year to learn about maritime history, marine science, coastal ecology, aquaculture, and the oyster industry.

We built this

IDA MAY

The 50-foot IDA MAY is a replica of one of the first oyster dredges powered by an internal combustion engine. The original was built in 1925 for local oyster company Frank M. Flower and Sons.

Operated by The WaterFront Center, today’s IDA MAY brings Long Island’s working-waterfront history to life through education, fishing, and community connection on Oyster Bay Harbor.

Students learning aboard CHRISTEEN on Oyster Bay Harbor — Learning aboard *CHRISTEEN*

Two young anglers holding their catch aboard IDA MAY — Fishing aboard *IDA MAY*

Where we work

Building J on Oyster Bay’s Western Waterfront.

The Wooden Boatshop shed—also known as Building J—is located on the site of the former Jacobson’s Shipyard. Next door to The WaterFront Center on West End Avenue, the shop operates in a 4,800-square-foot shed and uses the adjacent yard for a sawmill and wood-storage tents.

The property is owned by the Town of Oyster Bay.

When we work Our workdays sometimes change, but we are currently on a Tuesday and Friday schedule, generally between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. If you see our doors open, come on in.

Building J on West End Avenue in Oyster Bay — Building J today

Historic aerial view of Jacobson's Shipyard on Oyster Bay's waterfront — Historic Jacobson’s Shipyard

Life in the Boatshop and on the water

The work is shared—and so is the experience.

Volunteers celebrating together after the IDA MAY launch — Launch-day celebration

Students gathered on the deck of IDA MAY during an educational outing — Students aboard *IDA MAY*

Passengers and crew aboard CHRISTEEN on Oyster Bay Harbor — Aboard *CHRISTEEN*

Volunteers maintaining the hull of CHRISTEEN on land — Caring for *CHRISTEEN*

You do not need to arrive as a boatbuilder. Bring your curiosity, your hands, and a willingness to learn.

Ask about volunteering