The Landing School

[Cornish]

I am seriously considering changing careers and studying boatbuilding at The Landing School from next year. I am 37 years old and have been working as a high school teacher for the last 10 years. I am being naive thinking that there will be employment opportunities for someone graduating from The Landing School at 38 years old?
Any constructive advice would be greatly appreciated.
George

[bobothehobo]

Hey Cornish,

I will throw my experience at you. I am 32 years old, worked on Wall Street in Finance until I was 29, burnt out and decided to try to make my hobby/sport into a career. Did some research and decided The Landing School would by my best choice--i already have a degree, and at this stage in life felt I could only give up one year. I also decided that before I became a designer it would be a good idea to get some building experience. So, I walked out of my office at 40 Wall, found a job at CH Marine working for an awesome mentor type fella (who is now a good friend), who knew my intention of going to school to study design and really taught me a ton while i worked for him building semi-custom power yachts. Then I attended The Landing School's Design program last year (graduated June 24, 2006).

Finding a job wasn't easy, as there are not that many design positions out there, but if you look hard (ie: contact everyone you can possilbly think of) it works out. I am now working at S&S in NYC and really enjoying the new career.

From my observations the other programs (systems and boatbuilding) at the school are top notch.

If you are determined, I say go for it, the career change is possible....

[DavidJ]

I worked with a guy(at a wooden boat repair/building shop) who was a computer programmer for over ten years and then decided to give it up and become a boatbuilder. I think he was 37 when he started the program at the Port Townsend wooden boat school. He is 40 now and seems to be enjoying his work. He definately has no interest in going back to an office.

[Cornish]

Thank you very much to bobothehobo and DavidJ for you replies. I appreciate you taking the time out to write these.
I am hoping to do the Boatbuilding Program however my biggest fear is that boat yards will not consider me because of my age (37). I have enough money to take a year out and study at The Landing School however would need to find a job fairly soon after graduation for financial reasons.
Is there anybody else out there who has completed the Boatbuilding Program in their mid to late 30s and who wouldn't mind sharing how they found life post-The Landing School?
Thanks again for the advice so far.

[bobothehobo]

Cornish, contact Dennis Collins in The Landing School's Administrative Office and perhaps he would provide you with some graduates to speak with.