ABOUT US

My name is Rob Sanderson. I'm the owner of Port Townsend Boat Company. I have been working in the maritime industry, on land and afloat, for over 30 years. I graduated in 1996 from Elon University with a B.A. in Sociology, and I have held my USCG 100-ton Captain's License since 2001. I also hold instructor-level certifications with American Sailing Association, US Sailing, and the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA). 

 

Boats have brought me some of my happiest moments, and I love introducing the world of boating to others. Buying a boat is one of life’s greatest excitements. It’s a thoughtful process to find just the right one. I know because I’ve taught boating to hundreds of people and helped many of those people identify their dream boat. The process is invigorating. Boats are the conduit through which I have seen the world, and I love seeing where they can take others.

 

I grew up Sailing and Powerboating with my family on the Chesapeake Bay, worked on schooners in the Caribbean and the coast of Maine, and drove power  boats for the America’s Cup OracleBMW team in New Zealand. When I moved to Port Townsend in 2004, I worked for the Wooden Boat Foundation and Northwest Maritime Center as a head adult sailing instructor and then program director for over seven years. I helped design and implement programs that got all ages out on the water. In 2011, my wife, Kai, and I sailed our Ingrid 38', Velella velella, south from the Puget Sound, to Banderas Bay, Mexico. We sold that boat in 2017 in Mexico and shipped it to Bellingham, WA to the new owners who continue to take good care of her. We have slew of other boats locally and always have our sights on the next vessel to adventure upon. 

 

Life on land moves fast. It moves slower on the water. Being on the water puts us in touch with the moment and makes us feel more alive. When you’re ready to add that sense of excitement, adventure, and tranquility into your life or change from one type of adventure to another, let us know. We'll help you find your perfect boat, and you'll have full access to our select group of captains and instructors for skill strengthening and any assistance you need to get your boat home or heading for the horizon. 

 

A Salty Life Is a Great Life!

​