GREAT LAKES BOAT BUILDING SCHOOL

Comprehensive Boat Building Program

Overview

The Great Lakes Boat Building School’s Comprehensive Boat Building Program is carefully designed to give our students a broad course of study in the methods and materials required of today’s wooden boat builder.  In the first year of study students will learn the woodworking skills required to build vessels in the traditional carvel and lapstrake methods. They will also work with the modern techniques and materials used in the construction of wood/epoxy composite craft. The second year advanced course will focus on the areas in the boat building industry where students will find additional opportunities for pursuing a marine trade career such as wood/epoxy composites, yacht joinery, and systems.

Year One

First Section: Classic Woodworking and Small Boat Building

Second Section: Traditional Wooden Boat Building

Third Section: Composite Wooden Boat Building

At the start of the first year the student will be guided through the disciplines of hand tool woodworking and then the safe and efficient use of power woodworking machines. In-depth lectures are coordinated with hands-on projects that increase in complexity as the student’s skill and confidence grow. A lofting segment will give the student an understanding of this complex phase of boat building and introduce basic boatbuilding theory. Lofting is followed by a group boat building project constructing a flat bottom skiff. The skiff project will develop the student’s woodworking skills, introduce simple boatbuilding concepts and help the student develop as a team member. The second course section will be devoted to an in-depth study of traditional wooden boats and the methods of building them. Lapstrake and carvel construction will be taught through lectures and project boats and advanced lofting techniques will be incorporated throughout this section. Project boats will be selected for their appropriate size and complexity.

In the final section the class will explore, in lecture and practice, modern wood/epoxy construction methods including cold molding, strip plank, glued lap, and plywood. Safe and appropriate use of adhesives and coatings will be emphasized during the construction of a project boat.

Year Two

Fourth Section: Wood/Epoxy Composite Boatbuilding

Fifth Section: Marine Systems

Sixth Section: Yacht Joinery

The second year of study builds on the student’s repertoire of woodworking and boat building skills with the construction of a modern medium size boat. Students will be guided through the boatbuilding process using the state of the art practices found in sophisticated shops today. Students will work with the woodworking machinery found in the industry today and construct projects that are reflective of the quality and style of the modern wood yacht interior. Through classroom lectures and hands on projects students will learn the techniques of installing structural bulkheads, partitions and built-in furniture. Production methods for the construction of cabinets, various types of cabinet doors, trim, countertops, passage doors and furniture will be taught. Interior finishing materials and methods will be practiced as students finish their joinery projects.

Those building small to medium size cruising boats (and even those specializing in yacht interiors) should have an understanding of the basic systems that are installed in most boats today. Through class work and hands-on experience students will also learn about simple electrical systems, domestic plumbing, engine and propulsion installations and vessel safety requirements. Industry standards as recommended or required by ABYC, NFPA and the USCG will be used in these studies and practices.

Course Objectives

Basic Boat Building

• To become proficient in the use and maintenance of traditional hand woodworking tools and be capable of producing complex joinery projects.
• To become competent in the use of power woodworking machinery.
• To understand the lofting process and be able to accurately produce a full scale lofting of small and medium size vessels.
• To understand the structure of the traditional wooden boat and be skilled at producing any of its parts.
• To have knowledge of the epoxy/wood composite boat building techniques and materials and their application.
• To have an awareness of the safety and health issues associated with the machinery and materials used in the marine trades industries and develop work habits that minimize these hazards.

Career Boat Building 

• To understand the construction sequence involved in the building of a modern yacht
• To gain an understanding of the function of the yacht interior.
• To be capable of producing the complex joinery required for the yacht interior using hand and power woodworking tools.
• To have an understanding of the basic mechanical systems found on the small to medium size cruising yacht and the process of installing them.