Boatbuilding Schools

[PatrickD]

Could someone give me an impression of the following boat building schools:
the Northwest School,
the Landing School,
the International Boatbuilding Training College, and the International Yacht Restoration School.

Or if you could tell me how these four compare to each other, that would be excellent too.

Thanks!

[gary porter]

Patrick, not sure why this post hasn't gotten more attention but I'll just put my two bits in for the Northwest school at Port Townsend. I've been there , taken a short class , and have talked to the folks there and the instructors . I'd like to go there sometime myself just to spend time with people like that . There is always something to learn and especially if your just getting started then thats a great place. I also think the Landing School from everything I've read and heard is top notch. It is a bit expensive but sometimes you get what you pay for right. Don't really know anything about the others.
Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can be of some help here.
What is it that your wanting to learn most?
Good Luck

[Rik DS]

I work at a great boatbuilding and design school in West Wales. Similar to IBTC but we take 2 years to cover the curriculum as we are a publically funded College.
Visit our web site pembsmaritime.com and e-mail me for more details at R.Davies@pembrokeshire.ac.uk

[Ed Harrow]

Patrick, I can't compare, but I have been impressed with the work of IYRS, and have found the several courses that I have taken at IYRS to have been valuable and done well.

Perhaps you might gain valuable insight by talking to those in the boatbuilding industry and see which schools are mentioned the most.

[Venchka]

There is something to be said for starting out close to home. That would make the Northwest School and Port Townsend a natural choice.

If you are determined to go East, I would add The Apprentice Shop in Rockland, Maine to your list. Good people, good facility, GREAT location and they build a wide variety of boats in a wide variety of construction methods. One of their recent launchings:

http://www.atlanticchallenge.com/IMG_0376.JPG


The Apprenticeshop (http://www.atlanticchallenge.com/apprenticeshop/apprenticeshop.html)

[Mike Newmeyer]

There are some good schools out there. There are schools overseas such as, the Atilier d'Enfer in France, that have good programs. I am a graduate of the Landing School and It is without question the best school if you are looking for a career in working with wooden boats or marine systems. With the training you would receive there you would be able to start at an entry level position in most any boatyard or production facility. I have also visited IYRS and they have an incredible facility with some great projects. For me the only drawback was that you did not work on new builds. Though with the majority of work in the woodenboat market being restorations you would well trained coming from there.
But by far my preferred institution would have to be the Apprenticeshop in Rockland, Maine. If you are passionate about maritime traditions, seamanship and traditional wooden boats I don't think you could go wrong. The Apprenticeshop is a place where you learn because you are permitted to find the solutions yourself, and are not just told how to do it. Each Apprentice is responsible for his or her own education. At the Apprenticeshop you are part of a communtiy that works together in a field where everyone shares the same passion. You will find yourself working on a wide varity of extermely interesting watercraft during you 2 year apprenticeship. There is no other boat building school in which the ideal of experiencial education is so firmly adheared to. I have developed this predjudice for the Apprenticeshop because I once held the postition of Director of the Apprenticeshop, and I can tell you that I shared in that passion with most every apprentice that came through our program. Look in to it. I don't think you can go wrong.

[Venchka]

Mike,

You will be missed at the Apprenticeshop. I didn't know that you were in France. Good luck in your new endeavors!

Cheers!

[Jon Etheredge]

Originally posted by Mike Newmeyer:

But by far my preferred institution would have to be the Apprenticeshop in Rockland, Maine.
I can agree with the recomendation by Mike. I graduated from The Apprenticeshop (1989) and it was a terrific program. The website shows that Kevin Carney is the lead instructor now and he is very good.

[PatrickD]

Thank you all so much for your recommendations. Though I would love to attend many of the schools you've mentioned above, for either time or monetary contraints, I've chosen to attend the International Boatbuilding Training College (IBTC) in England. If anyone has any additional recommendations regarding my decisions, I would love to hear them. Other than that, I look forward to joining the world of wooden boatbuilding, and having all of you as colleagues one day. Take care, and thank you!
Patrick