Driftwood Boatbuilding is located east of Slidell, Louisiana on Hwy 190. Large jobs, are performed on-site.

Charles Ross has a deep commitment to the health of our forests worldwide, therefore prefers to use domestic timbers to perform construction and repairs. However, it is understood that some craft do not traditionally allow substitutions, (such as mahogany runabouts). Wherever exotic woods are required, smartly harvested woods (with documentation) will be used, if possible.

Charles Ross is a graduate of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding. Studying traditional wooden boatbuilding, he earned his degree in 2000, and immediately started building boats. Starting with a Scottish “scaffie”, built by eye out of driftwood, his boatbuilding career was launched. He has since built numerous small craft, designed to meet the demands of their local environment and use, and has restored many craft in the Lake Ponchartrain basin and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He takes particular interest in keeping our heritage afloat, and our proud history alive and working. Charles is a sailor, so he designs and builds boats with an intimate knowledge of how they work and react to the elements, and to the special challenges of local environments.

A very deep knowledge of different timbers and their properties accompanies the skills and love of traditional boats. Driftwood Boatbuilding has a passion to keep our naval history (local and national) alive and in good working order. With Driftwood Boatbuilding, the craft and the customer’s needs take priority.