A Sailor at Heart.
The story behind Nashville Boat Works
My love of sailing began long before Nashville Boat Works existed. It began as a boy in upstate New York, aboard my parents' sailboat, where I discovered something that has stayed with me ever since: there is nothing quite like being on the water, feeling the wind fill the sails, and realizing that the boat beneath you can carry you somewhere wonderful.
I was hooked.
I read everything I could get my hands on. Books about sailing, boats, navigation, seamanship, and the extraordinary people who ventured across oceans. I loved learning how boats worked, why they behaved the way they did, and how seemingly small adjustments could make such a remarkable difference. Sailing was part science, part craftsmanship, part adventure, and part art. I loved all of it.
That fascination followed me to Boston, where I attended the New England Conservatory of Music. While studying trumpet and preparing for a career in classical music, I spent four years working at Boston Sailing Center. I operated launches, maintained sailboats, helped keep the waterfront running, and spent as much time around boats as I possibly could.
It was a wonderful education, both on and off the water.
A Different Course
My professional life eventually took me in another direction.
For more than twenty years, I had the privilege of leading professional symphony orchestras and performing arts organizations across the country, including the Nashville Symphony, Spokane Symphony, Marin Symphony, and Quad City Symphony Orchestra.
It was a remarkable career. I worked alongside extraordinary musicians, built organizations, restored historic facilities, solved difficult problems, and helped create experiences that brought people together.
I am proud of that work, and especially grateful for the people who shared it with me.
But sailing never left my life.
Wherever I lived, I found my way back to boats and the water. And over the years, I came to recognize something important: the satisfaction I found in teaching, building, maintaining, problem-solving, and helping people grow was not unique to the world of music.
Those things were simply part of who I was.
Eventually, I began imagining what it would look like to bring those passions together.
Nashville Boat Works is the answer.
Helping People Discover What I Love
I founded Nashville Boat Works because I want to devote this next chapter of my life to something that has brought me joy for as long as I can remember.
I want to help people fall in love with sailing.
I want to help the beginner discover that wonderful moment when the sails fill, the boat heels gently, and everything suddenly makes sense. I want to help the hesitant sailor become confident at the helm. I want to help boat owners understand their vessels, develop their judgment, and discover that they're capable of far more than they imagined.
I love teaching. Not simply showing someone how to do something, but helping them understand why it works. I believe good instruction should develop curiosity, independent thinking, practical skills, and confidence. The best moment is when someone no longer needs to be told what to do because they've learned to recognize the answer for themselves.
I've continued developing my own skills through American Sailing, completing ASA 101, 103, 104, and 110, along with the ASA 201 Basic Keelboat Sailing Instructor evaluation. I've documented more than 570 days of sea service and am pursuing my U.S. Coast Guard OUPV credential.
I believe learning should be a lifelong pursuit, and I intend to keep learning, too.
Taking Care of the Boats We Love
There's another side to sailing that I've always loved: the boats themselves.
A sailboat is an extraordinary collection of ideas, materials, engineering, and craftsmanship. And every boat, particularly an older one, has a personality and a story.
I take enormous satisfaction in bringing neglected brightwork back to life, applying a beautiful coat of varnish, fixing an irritating problem, or making a small improvement that transforms the experience of being aboard.
I know what it's like to arrive at the marina, excited to go sailing, only to confront a list of unfinished projects. A sticking fitting. A weathered handrail. A dirty cockpit. Something that doesn't work quite the way it should.
Individually, those things may seem small. Together, they can get between an owner and the very reason they bought a boat in the first place.
That's where I hope Nashville Boat Works can make a difference.
Whether I'm refinishing teak, cleaning a deck, helping with seasonal maintenance, or working through a list of small projects, my goal is the same: to help owners enjoy their boats more fully.
I want the boat to be a source of pleasure, not frustration. I want its beauty, usefulness, and character to shine through. And I want its owner to arrive at the dock looking forward to the day ahead, rather than dreading the chores waiting aboard.
A Small Business Built on Simple Principles
Nashville Boat Works is a small, independently owned business. I don't pretend to know everything, and I don't believe anyone should.
What I can promise is curiosity, care, good judgment, clear communication, and a willingness to roll up my sleeves and do the work. I'll be candid about what I can handle and equally candid when a project calls for someone with more specialized expertise.
I've spent much of my life helping organizations and people become better versions of themselves. Now I hope to bring that same spirit to the Nashville boating community — one sailor, one boat, and one project at a time.
Because, ultimately, this isn't just about maintaining boats or teaching someone to sail. It's about removing the obstacles that keep people from doing something they love. It's about building confidence, sharing knowledge, honoring craftsmanship, and helping others discover the freedom and wonder I've felt on the water since I was a boy.
Jeff vom Saal
Founder, Nashville Boat Works
Training & Credentials
When You Call Nashville Boat Works, You're Calling Me.
Nashville Boat Works is owned and operated by Jeff vom Saal — a lifelong sailor who personally communicates with every customer and performs the work he accepts. There's no crew, no subcontractors, no one else picking up the phone.
You get direct access to the person doing the work. Honest assessments. Clear communication. Careful workmanship. And genuine respect for your boat and your time.
“This is my work, my reputation, and something I care deeply about.”
Flexible scheduling. Early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Reach out anytime.
Ready to get started?
Whether you're looking for boat care, sailing lessons, or brightwork, I'd love to hear about your project.