Gougeon Brothers

The Gougeon Brothers (Meade, Jan, and Joel) revolutionized boat construction with their development of the WEST System (Wood Epoxy Saturation Technique) for wooden boat construction using epoxy. Founded in Bay City, Michigan, in 1969, they initially built racing catamarans but became famous for advancing epoxy-based construction methods. Their techniques allowed stronger, lighter, and more durable wooden boats while making construction more accessible to amateur builders. The Gougeon Brothers influenced boat construction worldwide through their materials, techniques, and educational programs, fundamentally changing how wooden boats are built.