Course: Introduction to Boat Building
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Ever wondered what thwarts or cold moulding are?
This introductory course looks at how boats are shaped and why, terminology, construction methods, materials, propulsion, and sails and rigs/rigging. This is a classroom-based course, but workshop walkabouts and a visit to the gig shed mean that legs are regularly stretched.
On day one we will typically cover:
The basic terms used to describe boats, such as which side is port and which is starboard, and what are draught and freeboard.
Once you are happy with this basic terminology, we will move on to what the structural elements are, where they are and what their purpose is. For example, what makes a deck strong, and what are all the components than make up the supporting structure of a hull, such as frames and floors.
How are boats propelled, are they sculled, sailed, driven by a motor, be that inboard or outboard, and what impact does that propulsion method have on the hull form. Not all hulls sail well and not all motor power boats are alike.
We will discuss methods for producing wooden hulls, both traditional, such as carvel and clinker and modern such as strip-planked and cold moulded. You will understand the differences in build set-up and why traditional boats are built the right way up and modern boats are built upside down. We will also discuss alternative construction materials such as aluminium and fibre reinforced plastics.
For day 2 we’ll typically cover:
The range of boatbuilding tools, from commonly used and familiar ones such as smoothing planes and hand saws, to lesser-known tools such as bollow planes and boring bars.
Discover the array of materials, processes, and techniques used to produce a successful and durable boat. Understand why one timber might work better than another, why this adhesive is better for this specific job than any other. What tool is best to cut the specific joint you need or to finish the woodwork to a highest standard.
It is fine building a boat, but how about the plans, where do they come from? We will introduce you to boat plans and lofting and describe how the drawings evolve to the point where the moulds and jigs needed to build the full-size vessels can be produced.
Before the end of the two days, we’ll also talk about mast and spar making, the build process from start to finish, fitting out, painting and finishing and a plethora of other boat building related techniques that are used in the process of constructing the range of boats we build here at the Academy.
If you are thinking about joining a short course we are always happy to discuss which course or series of courses are appropriate for you.
The first day the course starts at 0900.
After the first day all courses run to the normal workshop times of: 0830 to 1730
- Tea breaks at 1030 and 1530
- Lunch 1300 to 1400
- 1730 on the last day
COURSE DATES:
8-9 January 2026
2-3 July 2026