About seaworthy small ships

Welcome to Seaworthy Small Ships—a world of imagination and creativity through building wooden toy boats from our carefully constructed model kits.

Whether you dream of sailing the high seas or simply enjoying the satisfaction of building a beautiful wooden boat, Seaworthy Small Ships is here to make your dreams a reality. Explore our diverse range of wooden toy boat model kits and discover the joy of creating something beautiful with your own two hands and really sailing it in pools, ponds, or puddles! Each model kit we produce is sourced from the finest materials and hand-made and compiled to ensure you have as much fun building your model boat as you do sailing it.

We believe in fostering creativity, learning, and a sense of accomplishment. Building one of our wooden boat model kits is an educational journey, allowing builders to gain valuable insights into craftsmanship, engineering, and history. It's a hands-on experience that encourages problem-solving, patience, and an appreciation for the art of boatbuilding.

But who is Seaworthy small ships?

In 1994, Seaworthy Small Ships set sail with the simple goal of giving kids and adults the opportunity to build a small vessel and put it on the water. 29 years later, new owners Alice Sampson and Julius Spradley have together taken over the captain’s helm. Get to know them below:

Meet the Captains

Click through to find out more about the new owners and their backgrounds.

  • Alice’s love of sailing began early, culminating in a year-long adventure sailing across the Pacific Ocean and through the south seas. She is a retired science teacher, an avid woodworker, even building her own kayak, and currently serves on the board of The Rocky Mountain Wooden Boat School, where she met Julius.

    Currently, Alice also owns Thinker Tinker Workshop, a program teaching children woodworking and craftsmanship, encouraging them to follow their own creativity and guiding them in the skills necessary to make those dreams come true. Seaworthy Small Ships have been a part of TTW courses for years and will continue to be for years to come.

  • Julius began his boatbuilding journey in coastal Maine, combining passions for woodworking, painting, design, and a love for being out on water of any kind. He learned the trade at The Apprenticeshop in Rockland, ME, and, upon completing his apprenticeship in traditional boatbuilding, went to work for Lyman-Morse Boatbuilders in Thomaston, ME, building new, custom yachts and jet boats.

    Now, after moving 1,000 or so miles inland, Julius has opened Denver Custom Boatworks to serve the many beautiful classic runabouts and lake sailers in the region. He joined the board of The Rocky Mountain Boat School, where he met Alice, and has now added designing and crafting these wonderful small sailers to his fleet of wooden boat pursuits.

At Seaworthy Small Ships, your satisfaction and fun is our top priority. We stand by the quality of our products and are dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. Whether you're a seasoned model builder or embarking on your first wooden boat model kit adventure, we are here to support you every step of the way. Our kits come complete with easy-to-follow instructions, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable building process, but please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for choosing Seaworthy Small Ships as your partner in crafting memories and inspiring creativity through the magic of wooden boat model kits.

Fair winds and smooth sailing,

The Seaworthy Small Ships Team