WoodenBoat Sold to Matt Murphy and Andrew Breece

[David Cockey]

From the WoodenBoat Store Newsletter, January 4, 2022:

WoodenBoat founder/owner Jon Wilson has sold the business! The "empire" includes four publications, WoodenBoat, Professional BoatBuilder, the on-line Small Boats Monthly Magazine, and the annual newsstand publication Small Boats magazine. And the sale includes The WoodenBoat School, The WoodenBoat Store (retail store and mail order business), WoodenBoat Books (60+ titles), The WoodenBoat Show, The WoodenBoat Forum, and on-line video membership Mastering Skills with the WoodenBoat School. Who bought all this? Two staffers: editor Matt Murphy, and publisher Andrew Breece. The transfer went into effect on January 1, 2022. Along with Jon's retirement (as the landlord, he will still be around the campus), are two other very long-serving folks: company president/general manager Jim Miller, and WoodenBoat School Director Rich Hilsinger. Jon started this company in 1974, so has been at the helm for 47 years. Jim and Rich hail back to the 1980s. Just wow!

[Dan McCosh]

Great news. Sounds as if nothing much will change. Having spent my working career in the magazine business, I have been both a reader and admirer of the whole concept from its beginning.

[Hwyl]

Good luck.

[Garret]

I sure hope it works out well for all!

[Breakaway]

News about the WB School's new director. He seems to have positive-minded changes in view.
https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/new...e-maine-legacy

Kevin

[Rich Jones]

This is great news that it's been sold to employees rather than to a big conglomerate magazine firm.
I wish for WBM's continued success.
The business sold but I guess Jon Wilson still owns the property.

[LeeG]

Congrats to all.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I thought I should show support by subscribing on line but the “Subscribe Now” button wasn’t working.

[Rich Jones]

I've been subscribing since Issue #16 and will continue until the end of my time.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I used to subscribe but decided to support my local independent newsagent.

[John Gearing]

47 years, oh my. Jon you deserve some time off! I remember when "the phone" was in a box nailed to a telephone pole and he had a bit of a hike to get to it! Back when the magazine was called "The Wooden Boat" or was it "The Woodenboat". No matter; the point is the "The" was in there. Matt Murphy's no kid...I think I remember him from the mid-90's?

[rbgarr]

News about the WB School's new director. He seems to have positive-minded changes in view.
https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/new...e-maine-legacy

Kevin

Eric's a good guy and a good choice to follow Rich.

[StevenBauer]

Interesting news. I wonder if more changes will follow.

[rbgarr]

... when the magazine was called "The Wooden Boat" or was it "The Woodenboat".

Likewise when 'The Facebook' (which began as the annually printed photo book of all Harvard freshmen and Radcliffe first year women served as the 'hunting manual/social register' for upperclassmen) changed its name to just 'Facebook' when it went worldwide.

[rbgarr]

Interesting news. I wonder if more changes will follow.

Eric plans to increase the numbers of women instructors and participants and seek younger instructors from across the country and around the world. I imagine web content will gain importance also.

[John Meachen]

I wish the new owners success and I think Jon Wilson has done a fantastic job over the years.My subscription hasn't been running quite as long as Rich Jones has but will probably run out in the same manner,hopefully some considerable time hence.

[CWSmith]

Oops. I just renewed my subscription and the gift for my dad. I gave them an ear full because their renewal page did not accurately describe the information I needed to provide.

Well, let's hope the little things get fixed. These are good people who I believe will take the magazine into the future.

[C. Ross]

As a twenty-plus year subscriber I wish the new owners continued and increased success.

[Ian McColgin]

Our magazine and community remain in good hands.

[rbgarr]

WB couldn't be in better hands!

I remember reading the first copy I ever saw (with the Peterson Coaster schooner on the cover). I was 24 and had just built my own boat, a Cotuit Skiff, in my wife's uncle's shop and used photos of it to get a job at a great wood boatbuilder's shop here in Maine. Prior to that I'd only been paid to build fg boats. Can you believe what's happened with the 'revival' since then? And now I'll be 70 in a few days. How lucky are we to have lived during these times??

[nedL]

Glad to hear things will be continuing! I have been about a 95% subscriber right since #1 (a few small gaps along the decades). Still have #1.

[Lee.007]

So here is a suggestion for the new owners of the Wooden Boat School that I, and I dare say many of us Southern Souls, would love to see happen. How's about building a branch campus of the wooden boat school down here on the Southern Coast somewhere? Or even a little ways inland on one of the large lakes in the south east? Here are some benefits I think you would enjoy:
1. Year round warm weather. Winter overnight lows dip below freezing only a few weeks in January and February.
2. Increased attendance due to warmer weather, due to increased sailing season months for the fair weather sailors.
3. More interest in the wooden boat community
4. Lots of people retire in the South for the nice weather. Lots of retired people have more time to dedicate to building boats.
5. I think you would find more instructors too. Everywhere I go people see my boat and want me to teach them how to build. I would love to teach, but I am no expert, and I don't have a facility capable of providing quality instruction.
6. Very large kayaking community down here due to many slow moving rivers and creeks. You don't have to be an Olympian certified to class 5+ whitewater to have a nice day out.

Just my 2 cents. And congrats to the new owners!

Edited to add: And if you do build a branch campus down here, I promise to be your first student!

[rbgarr]

There's a boatbuilding course offered here: https://ammfl.org/wooden-boat-building-school/ and there maybe others in the south already. That's not to suggest WBS couldn't have or share 'a winter campus'. I'd think it's largely an issue of facilities, tools, waterfront, boats, lodging and dining, etc. needed for a full range of course offerings and community experience. In the meantime, WBS and other organizations offer classes arranged in concert with CLC: https://www.clcboats.com/boatbuildin...SADEgIcJPD_BwE