Our Story

The Big Bend Maritime Center was conceived in 2002 as the working extension of Florida Foresight, a 501©3 non-profit. Our fully volunteer team specializes in teaching wooden watercraft building, maritime heritage, and culture, in addition to general woodworking techniques.  Today we have stayed committed to teaching the art of building wooden watercraft to youth and adults. This is what keeps our boat afloat!

Our limited-waste woodshop produces unique, handmade woodcrafts using primarily reclaimed wood that is locally sourced, such as sinker cypress and red aromatic cedar. Everything from wood dust to shavings to scrap pieces is assigned a new life; from thickening agent, to animal bedding, to pull toy for a child, we make the most of our resources. Each piece is carefully crafted by our team of volunteer skilled artisans, reflecting our commitment to maritime heritage and sustainability. We stay true to our mission of teaching the importance and value of our region’s natural resources and maritime heritage.