About Us

The Port Aransas Wooden Boat Festival was created by the staff and volunteers at Farley Boat Works eight years ago to provide a venue for showcasing the fine craft of wooden boat building.

The Festival celebrates a heritage that started locally in 1915 when the Farley brothers began making some of the first production fishing boats in the US right here in Port Aransas. The Farleys closed their doors in 1975  In 2011, The Port Aransas Preservation and Historical Association (PAPHA) purchased their last location. After retooling the machine shop, PAPHA gathered and trained a group of volunteers and manager to restart the tradition of building boats on the island.

This festival celebrates the success of Farley Boat Works (about 120 boats have been built there since it reopened) along with other wooden boats built and designed by individuals and kit companies from across the country. 

It also provides an opportunity for prospective boats builders or seasoned boat builders to see what is out there.

One unique tradition of the festival is the Family Boat Build. Every year, four families begin building a boat at the festival start and launch it complete at the end.

Small Boats Magazine

The Wooden Boat Festival is featured on the Small Boats Magazine website! Each issue of Small Boats Magazine includes in-depth boat profiles, as well as rich coverage of gear, technique, adventure travel, and reader-built boats.