Boatbuilding & Restoration Curriculum

First Year

Fall

The first term begins with shop safety and tool and machine use. Students will progress from a series of bench projects designed to develop tool-use skills directly into the restoration of a small boat. In addition to the restoration work, students will measure a small boat, loft the lines, and create a scale lines plan and half model. Portfolio items completed by the end of the semester will include several small tools, a toolbox, a lines drawing, a half-model, and photo documentation of restoration projects. Subjects covered will include hull shape, lines drawings, and the fundamentals of wooden hull construction, materials and technology.
Courses: Shop Safety, Hull Shape and Lofting, Historic Documentation I, Restoration Practicum I.

Spring

During the second term students will measure a small boat, loft the lines, develop construction details on the lofting, and create a scale lines plan and construction plan. Project documentation techniques are introduced. Students continue the restoration of their project boat. Portfolio items for the second semester will include a second lines plan and construction drawings and photo documentation of restoration projects. Subjects covered will include hull shape and lines drawings, construction drawings, basic structural marine engineering, fundamentals of wooden hull construction and materials and technology.
Courses: Documentation and Drafting, Restoration Practicum II.

Summer

The final term of the first year builds on restoration skills developed in the previous semesters as well as basic boat handling, seamanship and navigation. The summer term also includes an Independent Study, which allows students to complete self-selected projects that address their individual interests and proficiencies. Portfolio items will include photographic documentation, and the end product of the Independent Study.
Courses: Sailing and Seamanship, Independent Study.

Second Year curriculum.

Every week is a new challenge. It brings new problems to solve that are only trumped by the following week's challenges" Kark Cressotti, Class of 2008