Courses

The impact of hull shape on the overall aesthetic of a boat cannot be overstated. Before the advent of computers and modern drafting technology, boat builders and shipwrights used half hull models to determine a boat’s lines and symmetry. In contemporary application, half model building is more decorative as a…

With more than just aesthetic appeal, cedar-strip boats are known for being lightweight, strong, and quick to build. Gain the know-how and confidence to complete a boat project in your own backyard through seven days of hands-on instruction building a tandem canoe with other students. Techniques involve setting up the…

Enjoy the contrast of light and dark wooden strips, the quiet lapping of water on wood and the pride of craftsmanship that stems from building your own cedar-strip boat. From start to finish, cut thin cedar planks and learn to assemble an appealing pattern for your canoe. Students may choose…

Enjoy the contrast of light and dark wooden strips, the quiet lapping of water on wood, and the pride of craftsmanship that stems from building your own cedar-strip boat. You'll undertake the process from start to finish—cutting thin cedar planks and assembling an appealing pattern for your canoe or kayak,…

Learn the basics of wooden boat building while helping to preserve the North Shore’s boating culture. The herring skiff is the traditional workboat of Lake Superior’s North Shore, but its rugged and practical design make it a great choice for a wooden fishing or pleasure boat today. This stout vessel…

In this class students will build one laminated paddle, similar to the fancy wooden paddles often seen in canoe outfitters shops. Not just show pieces, laminated paddles have several unique qualities that make them highly functional on the water. The lamination of several types of wood makes the shafts strong…

We're getting ready to embark on an ambitious community boat building project: a replica of the 1950s herring skiff, the classic boat of the North Shore fishing industry. Construction of the boat will be done in courses during the winter of 2020. Lend a hand with step one: lofting the…

Take this one-of-a-kind opportunity to build a custom-sized, traditionally built wooden lapstrake boat, originating in design and construction from the fjords and fishing villages of Norway and Sweden. Over 12 days, students will complete the Norse Pram, an inshore craft that makes an excellent tender or rowboat at the lake,…