Fiberglass Boatbuilding Schools?

Hello everyone-

New guy with a question...

I live in Massachusetts. I am interested in learning about how to build, refinish and repair fiberglass boats. Years ago, Cape Tech used to have a Boat Building shop in which students learned all facets of boat building. I wish I had been a student of that shop, but I was not... Now the shop concentrates mainly on marine mechanics, outboards more specifically.

So, can anyone help me? I have been around boats most of my life, but as far as building, repairing and advanced glasswork, I am in the dark.

Thank you in advance!

Fiberglass and Gelcoat repair classes

I have done this in the past but interest had sort of dwindled. I have a shop here in Milw WI where I build trimaran sailboats and do as much retail repair work as I can. We always have stuff to do that could be set up as teaching projects, both simple and advanced.
Bill
TBC

Go to The Landing School in Kennebunkport, ME, not too far from you.

www.landingschool.org

Their boatbuilding program covers composite construction.

Eric

Schools not a bad idea but if you have some skills or experience you may be able to get a job in a shop nearby. I see you're on Cape Cod, there are lots of yards and shops out there. That way you can learn and make some money while you're at it. I was in a similar situation about 6 or 7 years ago. I was studying theatre at Boston University and towards the end of my time there decided I'd rather build boats. I build a stick and glue kayak for a class and that fall I started working for Boston BoatWorks. I learned a heck of a lot in the time I was there and I got paid for it too. So I'm not sure of the specifics of your situation but figured it might be something worth considering. Otherwise as Eric said the Landing School would likely be my first choice.

Bill Dunn said:

I have done this in the past but interest had sort of dwindled. I have a shop here in Milw WI where I build trimaran sailboats and do as much retail repair work as I can. We always have stuff to do that could be set up as teaching projects, both simple and advanced.
Bill
TBC

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Bill,

Many thanks for the offer, I would love to spend a few weeks sweeping the shop and learning a few things while I helped out. Wish I lived nearby! It would be one heck of a commute!

Eric W. Sponberg said:

Go to The Landing School in Kennebunkport, ME, not too far from you.

www.landingschool.org

Their boatbuilding program covers composite construction.

Eric

Click to expand...

Eric-

Thanks for the referral, I had looked at their site before but I was under the belief that they are a wood boat only shop, but it seems they are not. I think the three day courses may be just what I need. Though it would be nice to move to Maine for 10 months to learn boat building, my wife and my boss might think otherwise... But I think three days would be possible, lots of good topics too!

Thank you Eric!

-Gordon

Jratte said:

Schools not a bad idea but if you have some skills or experience you may be able to get a job in a shop nearby. I see you're on Cape Cod, there are lots of yards and shops out there. That way you can learn and make some money while you're at it. I was in a similar situation about 6 or 7 years ago. I was studying theatre at Boston University and towards the end of my time there decided I'd rather build boats. I build a stick and glue kayak for a class and that fall I started working for Boston BoatWorks. I learned a heck of a lot in the time I was there and I got paid for it too. So I'm not sure of the specifics of your situation but figured it might be something worth considering. Otherwise as Eric said the Landing School would likely be my first choice.

Click to expand...

Jratte,

Another great idea. Your story is funny, I would guess that many on this site are or were in a career that just had grown stale and decided that it was time to do somehting that they felt excited about.

At the boatshow recently, I spoke with a builder who bought a mold for a small boat and would build one in the winter, sell it in the spring. Now he builds about four a year, really high end work too, very classic. I could see myself doing something similar someday. Something wonderfully simple about it.

Here's a link to his boat and site: http://www.greybarnboatworks.com/Content/home.htm

Thanks for the response Jratte!

-Gordon

NC Marine Technology

Hooper,

Allow me to introduce NC Martec. The program occupies a state of the art facility built specifically to provide training to the marine industry.

I've included a link to the web site below. The college offers training in the following areas:

Composite Fiberglass Production
Custom Composite Fiberglass "One-Off" Construction
Cold Molded Composite Wood Construction
Vacuum and Infusion Lamination
Blueprint Reading and Lofting
Yacht Joinery and Cabinetry (including light weight honeycomb panel cabinetry)
Computerized (CNC) Routing
Marine Coatings and Spray Systems
Marine Diesel Propulsion
Outboard Engine Propulsion
Anodized Aluminum and Stainless Steel Welding
Marine Electrical and Electronics Installation and Service
Marine Plumbing Installation and Service
Marine Mechanical Installation and Service
Marina and Boat Yard Management

Unlike some of the other schools, NC Martec strives to specialize in cutting edge boat building technology, while including such subjects as cold molded boat building to cater to our local builders.

If you would like to pursue a career in the marine industry and want to be trained by industry veterans in a scenic waterfront setting, NC Martec is the place.

http://www.ncmartec.org

ps
FYI, high and low temps today for some US cities with boat building programs:

Kennebunkport, ME: High 29º Low 2º
Morehead City, NC: High 56º Low 27º

Hooper, on my links page is a list of boat building and design schools http://newboatbuilders.com/pages/links.html. Scroll down. It's in the right column just below the top categories on the page.

Here's another page that lists schools http://www.newavesys.com/MarineSchools.htm

Get out of the cold and build your boat in NC!

Anyone interested in learning how to build a boat should check out the boat building programs at Cape Fear Community College in North Carolina. They have a traditional wooden boat building program and a fiberglass boat manufacturing program that covers every aspect of boat building - including electrical systems and finishing techniques.

Classes start in August and each program is three semesters long - Fall, Spring and Summer.

The instructors are fantastic! I took both programs part-time for five years. I didn't know a thing about boat building before I started and now I have my own 19' center console. It was a lot of hard work, but totally worth it. Wilmington is a great place to live - about 10 minutes away from the beach. The shop is located right on the Cape Fear River.

Jason Rogers is in charge of the Marine Technology department. His email is jrogers@cfcc.edu or you can call him at (910) 362-7403. The website is www.cfcc.edu.

Good luck!

dereksireci said:

.....
Kennebunkport, ME: High 29º Low 2º
Morehead City, NC: High 56º Low 27º

Click to expand...

Comparison, including humidity, for mid-July?

It gets hot and humid here in the summer. There is usually a nice sea breeze around that helps.

From weather.com:
Jun - hi 87, low 69
July - hi 90, low 73
August - hi 88, low 71

The good news is that you are never alone in the summer in Wilmington. The humidity will keep you company.

IYRS has a composites course in Bristol, RI. http://www.iyrs.org/TrainingPrograms/CompositesTechnology/tabid/680/Default.aspx

Based on coversations I've had with staff at several boatbuilding schools, most students are older than college students, and many are looking to change careers.