Boatbuilding Course

Lesson 1 • Boatbuilding Materials Overview

Introduces wood, fiberglass, aluminum, and composite materials at a conceptual level. Students match material properties to appropriate vessel applications.

Lesson 2 • Reading Plans and Specifications

Teaches interpretation of lines drawings, construction plans, and written specs. Students extract dimensions and material lists from standard boat plans.

Lesson 3 • History of Boatbuilding Traditions

Traces construction methods from ancient craft to modern production yards. Connects historical techniques to materials and methods still in use today.

Lesson 4 • Shop Safety and Tool Orientation

Establishes safe working practices and introduces hand and power tools used throughout the course. Proper habits formed here underpin all practical work.

Lesson 1 • Milling and Dimensioning Stock

Teaches jointing, planing, and ripping lumber to precise dimensions. Accurate stock preparation is essential for tight-fitting joints and fair hull surfaces.

Lesson 2 • Bending and Laminating Wood

Introduces steam bending and cold-molded lamination for curved structural members. Students produce bent frames and laminated beams to specified radii.

Lesson 3 • Understanding Wood Species for Marine Use

Examines rot resistance, weight, and workability of species used in boatbuilding. Students select appropriate species for structural and finish applications.

Lesson 4 • Marine Plywood and Sheet Goods

Distinguishes marine plywood grades from standard construction panels. Students evaluate bond quality, void content, and face veneer for structural suitability.

Lesson 1 • Setting Up Frames and Molds

Positions and braces frames or molds on the strongback to the lofted centerline. Students verify alignment before planking begins.

Lesson 2 • Building the Strongback

Constructs a rigid, level strongback to support molds during construction. A true strongback prevents twist and hogging in the finished hull.

Lesson 3 • Developing Mold Patterns

Extracts mold shapes from lofted lines and transfers them to plywood or MDF. Accurate molds define the hull's cross-sectional shape at each station.

Lesson 4 • Fairing Lines with Battens

Uses flexible battens to fair waterlines, buttocks, and diagonals into smooth curves. Students identify and correct unfair points before cutting any wood.

Lesson 1 • Strip-Plank Construction

Applies edge-glued cedar or pine strips over molds to form a monocoque shell. Students fair the hull inside and out before applying fiber reinforcement.

Lesson 2 • Structural Members and Backbone

Installs keel, stem, transom, and floor timbers as the hull's primary structure. These members carry loads from the hull skin to the ballast and rig.

Lesson 3 • Lapstrake Planking Technique

Teaches overlapping plank construction for lightweight, stiff hulls. Students fit and rivet or glue laps to achieve a fair, watertight surface.

Lesson 4 • Carvel Planking Technique

Covers spiling, fitting, and fastening edge-to-edge planks over frames. Students produce a smooth, caulkable hull surface with tight seams.

Lesson 1 • Resin Systems and Their Properties

Compares polyester, vinyl ester, and epoxy resins for strength, adhesion, and moisture resistance. Students select the correct resin for each application.

Lesson 2 • Vacuum Infusion and Bagging

Introduces vacuum-assisted resin infusion and vacuum bagging for higher fiber-to-resin ratios. Students set up infusion lines and achieve void-free laminates.

Lesson 3 • Hand Lay-Up and Wet Lamination

Teaches wet lay-up over a mold using rollers and brushes to achieve full wet-out. Students build up laminate schedules to specified thickness and weight.

Lesson 4 • Core Materials and Sandwich Construction

Covers balsa, foam, and honeycomb cores bonded between fiber skins for stiffness and weight savings. Students laminate sandwich panels and test bond quality.

Lesson 1 • Bulkheads and Structural Partitions

Fits and bonds structural bulkheads that stiffen the hull and define interior spaces. Tabbing bulkheads to the hull shell transfers loads effectively.

Lesson 2 • Deck Planking and Sheathing

Applies teak, plywood, or fiberglass deck surfaces with proper bedding and fastening. Watertight deck construction prevents moisture intrusion into the hull.

Lesson 3 • Cabin Trunk Construction

Builds the cabin sides, coamings, and roof structure to resist racking and water ingress. Students integrate portlights and hatches into the cabin structure.

Lesson 4 • Interior Joinery and Cabinetry

Constructs berths, settees, galley units, and storage using marine-grade materials. Joinery must be lightweight, strong, and tolerant of a marine environment.

Lesson 1 • Marine Electrical Systems Basics

Covers DC wiring, battery banks, circuit protection, and bonding for corrosion control. Students wire a basic 12-volt panel following marine wiring standards.

Lesson 2 • Plumbing and Through-Hull Fittings

Installs seacocks, bilge pumps, freshwater systems, and holding tanks. Proper through-hull installation prevents flooding and meets safety requirements.

Lesson 3 • Rig and Deck Hardware Installation

Installs chainplates, cleats, winches, and standing rigging attachment points. Hardware backing plates distribute loads into the deck structure.

Lesson 4 • Steering Systems Installation

Installs tiller, cable, and hydraulic steering systems with correct geometry and feedback. Students align rudder, quadrant, and helm for smooth, responsive steering.

Lesson 1 • Surface Preparation and Fairing

Fills low spots and fairs the hull to a smooth, fair surface using epoxy fairing compounds. A fair hull reduces drag and improves the final paint finish.

Lesson 2 • Launch Checklist and Sea Trials

Conducts a systematic pre-launch inspection and documents sea trial results. Students verify all systems function correctly before the vessel enters service.

Lesson 3 • Antifouling Paint Application

Selects and applies antifouling systems appropriate to the vessel's operating environment. Correct application prevents marine growth and hull degradation.

Lesson 4 • Primers and Barrier Coats

Applies epoxy barrier coats and tie coats to seal the substrate and promote topcoat adhesion. Barrier coats prevent osmotic blistering on fiberglass hulls.