considering boat school

[arrowdog2]

Hi to everyone,
I am sure that I will get some good advice from this site. I am considering giving up my career in the auto industry to try a career in boat building. I am currently browsing the net for wooden boat schools. I know that the mag has a school in Maine, and there are several others. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with any of them. Any info would help out greatly.
Thanks,
Norm

[Venchka]

The Apprenticeshop, Rockland, ME.

I visited the shop and met Michael Newmeyer, the director. Nice facility. Very professional. A hands on school. Great location!

The Apprenticeshop

[B.Marks]

I am a Landing School graduate, many years back now, they teach the skills necessary to be employable through different programs. Their programs have improved greatly since I went there back in the 80's. Good Luck!

[George Roberts]

(We bought a new computer and the keyboard timing is off just enough that most words come out spelled wrong.)

arrowdog2 ---

There is boat building and there is boat building.

Learning to strip build boats using epoxy will not help a lot if need to build plank on frame with caulking.

Unless you are going to go into business for yourself, perhaps you should determine what skills local boat builders need and then go to school to learn those skills. (I suspect that many shops would let you do free labor for a year.)

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Consider doing a search on this forum regarding your future profession. I recall reading not too long ago a thread about becoming a boat builder. Don't recall all the specifics but did walk away thinking that I shouldn't quit my day job!

[Steve Lansdowne]

The WB school offers summer classes on site and off site mostly in the fall. Their classes focus on one area of building, lofting, etc. and the longest is 2 weeks long. You can learn a lot there, but it is not a multi-month course.

[Bob Smalser]

My neighbors up in Port Townsend do pretty well:

http://www.nwboatschool.org/

But remember there's no shortage of other guys with the same idea regarding craftwork....but bet there's always room for an accomplished marine engine mechanic.

[TimH]

Ahhh Port Townsend. I can see it from my house and am only 2 miles from the ferry. Going over there is like entering a different world. Like escaping back to a better time. My favorite city

[ion barnes]

I too can drink to that!

[Barry]

I just started here: Silva Bay Shipyard School

I don't have a dedicated computer, but I'll try to keep people posted if their interested.

Barry

[Dale R. Hamilton]

I wanna be a boatbuilder in my retirement- so here's what I've done in the years leading up to that. Built a 30x60 shop, 18' ceiling, climate controlled, with attached laminar flow paint booth big enough for a 30' project. Bought all my big shop tools, and most of the small tools. Incorporated as a business and acquired appropriate insurance. Then, I went to the OJT school of boatbuilding- also known as Hang the Expense boatbuilding school. I started small- but complex- building mahogany recreational shells. This good practice because your mistakes don't use up a lot of materials. This teaches basic skills- but you must be resolved to do it again and again UNTIL YOU GET IT RIGHT. Finally built a 22' flying bridge cruiser, a 50 mph boat two people can spend the weekend on then haul home.
I have the confidence now, and the plans for my retirement boats, so I think I will be alright. Going to a school to learn all this stuff first, hmmmmmm, - probably a good way to do, but you're still going to have to do all this other stuff. Keep us informed.

[bob goeckel]

i tried to look into the offsite boatbuilding class's here in michigan last year but after 2 attempts without any response i gave up. so i'm not sure i'd go that route