12-Week Apprenticeship

upcoming START DATES

Below are the dates and availability for programs beginning in 2024. Stay tuned for 2025 program dates!

Winter | January 17th - April 9th - FULL

Spring | April 3rd - June 25th - FULL

Summer | July 22nd - October 11th - 2 SPOTS LEFT

Fall | October 1st - December 20th - 2 SPOTS LEFT

Our 12-week traditional boatbuilding course introduces students to the fundamentals of boatbuilding through the construction of a flat-bottomed lapstrake rowboat, the Susan skiff. The Susan skiff provides an excellent platform for learning the skills needed to build almost any wooden boat.

The 12 weeks spent on this boat are dedicated to the beginner’s learning process, with more direct instruction and guidance to get new builders started and familiarize participants with the tools of the trade. Instructors work alongside apprentices, answering questions, providing feedback, assisting with problem solving, and demonstrating techniques as needed. Each week, there are scheduled demonstrations, group discussions, optional extracurricular opportunities, as well as an abundance of hands-on practice.

The 12-week program allows for the completion of the Susan skiff at a comfortable pace for most students, regardless of prior experience. Please keep in mind, however, that the work is physically demanding and requires full days. Participants take the boat home upon completion. All tools, materials, and supplies are provided, though participants are encouraged to bring whatever tools they may already have.

Boatbuilding

Every 12 week apprentice begins their journey by building a Susan Skiff. One of the things we emphasize in our teaching is that there is no single correct way to build a boat. This is meant to encourage you to try different methods or come up with your own solution to a problem. It is also meant to encourage the development of judgment and decision-making skills as you simultaneously develop your hands and eyes. You must consider when to ask a question or try something on your own first, when something is good enough or when it needs to be pushed to a higher standard, when to use one technique or tool vs. another.

This can be challenging, as there is rarely a “right” answer. The learning process can be riddled with doubt and discomfort as you attempt something and come up against the constraints imposed by the material or the limitations of your own body and emergent skill. Through building boats, you will have to navigate the interplay between your will and the parameters given by the material, the environment, or the other people around you. You will experience failure and learn how to work through it. You will learn how to negotiate uncertainty, gaining tools to draw on when you are tasked with solving a new problem you have never seen before.

Craftsmanship is a lifelong pursuit and the 12 weeks you spend here are just the beginning of your education in boatbuilding. Ultimately, craftsmanship is an attitude, the desire to do something well for its own sake. We aim to support you as you practice the skills required to become a good craftsperson, skills that you can then carry with you for the remainder of your professional life. 

Community

While learning how to build and sail are the end products, the process of becoming a contributing member of the community is integral to our programs. We work together, sail together, cook and eat together, and teach each other. Being a part of the ‘Shop community simultaneously helps you learn how to navigate personal dynamics, provides opportunities to develop leadership skills, and teaches community citizenship. This learning atmosphere is a significant and unique part of the apprenticeship that demands full participation and engagement.

On a daily basis, you work alongside other apprentices, whether as part of a project crew or simply as bench neighbors. Successful group dynamics require good communication skills, respect, trust, flexibility, and commitment. Apprentices must make a communal effort to create a positive work environment, one in which they can look to each other for instruction, advice, or help with solving a problem. If one member of the community is struggling, it is not their issue to grapple with alone. Similarly, the accomplishments of each individual reflect the progress of the group as a whole. 

Living in a community entails learning how to share responsibility. One of the ways in which this occurs is in cleaning and maintaining the spaces we work in. Once a week, apprentices and staff take time to clean the yard and facility. In the fall and spring, we spend time as a community working on our fleet and dealing with our floats. Sometimes, you may be asked to step away from your own project to help a launching crew meet their deadline. Other times, you may be asked to help with moving lumber, launching a boat, changing a vise, manning a show booth, or setting up for an event. While being respectful of each other’s commitments and time, we also want to encourage a culture of asking for and receiving help when it is needed, especially when it goes toward making the organization better as a whole.

As an organization, we strive for open communication between students, staff, and board members. This happens organically in the shop as apprentices work side by side with instructors. There are scheduled checkpoints during the program when we will formally meet with you to check in and solicit feedback. The apprentice group also selects a second-year student to act as the apprentice representative to the board. The apprentice representative participates in quarterly board meetings, bringing the collective voice and perspective of the apprentices to the board.

Our Apprentices

Unlike other educational settings, which tend to be filtered by age or experience, the Apprenticeshop is welcoming and open to you wherever you are in life. There are no prerequisites for participating. The most important qualities we look for in our students are a willingness to learn, an ability to work hard, the desire to be part of a community, and an enthusiasm for boats and the sea. Our apprentices come to us from a variety of places and with all kinds of previous experience. Some have worked in education, architecture, construction, design, or law beforehand; some have recently retired; some have come from the military; some have come directly out of high school. 

What do our apprentices have in common? They arrive with a desire to create something with their own hands. They come wanting to develop or hone their physical skill. They come with a creative spark. They come for a deeper connection to the water. They come to be a part of a community. They come with a willingness to engage in the work of not only building a boat but building themselves. 

Our chosen mediums are sailing and boatbuilding, precisely because these activities place people in challenging positions where they are confronted with failure and individual limitation. Both boatbuilding and sailing require problem solving, care, patience, resourcefulness, teamwork, and an engagement with one’s surroundings. Learning all of these things is as important to our programs as learning the skills of building or sailing a boat. 

While some apprentices do continue to build boats as their chosen vocation, many go on to pursue other passions with the knowledge and skills they take away. They sail away on schooners, crossing oceans and visiting places only easily reached by boat. They build furniture and houses, they teach, they become ferry boat captains, they become social workers, chefs, artists, and farmers. But ultimately, what we strive for is for them to become more confident and self-aware people, unafraid to pursue things they are passionate about, even if the careers they choose don’t easily fit into the title line on a business card. It is our intention that graduates become both physically and emotionally capable of negotiating uncertainty, ambiguity, and resistance. They are not bound by discipline but driven by curiosity. They have examined themselves over the course of their time here, as they have bent over stems and faired hulls, and they have come away with a deeper self-knowledge and sense of self.

Weekly SCHEDULE

You will begin your day at 8 am, have an hour for lunch, and finish at 5 pm. Monday through Thursday, the day is spent working on projects with instructors. On Fridays, after morning meeting, apprentices may head out for seamanship or a field trip (depending on the time of year). At noon, the entire shop community gathers for lunch (apprentices and staff take turns cooking for each other each week). Time after lunch is reserved for Walk Around, an open forum where each crew shares what they have been working on during the week, and All Hands, during which we clean and maintain our campus. Participation in Friday morning activities is optional for 12-week apprentices.

Although regular shop hours allow a lot of building time, apprentices may want or need to work extra hours in the evenings or on weekends. Time management is important when a boat is being constructed for a client. Apprentices are expected to meet deadlines. As launch dates approach, crews sometimes work overtime to ensure that the boats are ready to go in the water. 

Morning Meeting

At the start of each work day, promptly at 8am, students and staff gather for Morning Meeting on the middle floor of the shop. The primary purpose of the meeting is to come together as a community before we break off to work on our respective projects for the remainder of the day. Morning Meeting is a time to discuss the schedule for the week, make announcements, share information about upcoming events, and ask for assistance. We usually begin with a daily weather forecast and tide report and conclude with an interesting reading, sometimes boat-related, sometimes not. Apprentices and staff share the responsibility for leading Morning Meeting, rotating on a weekly basis.

Demos

Monday Morning Demos provide structured time to learn about a specific topic and ask questions. For 9-month and 2-year apprentices, the demos start by walking you through the different stages of the Susan Skiff build. After winter break, when you begin with your second project, they are designed to dive a little deeper into some of the same topics covered earlier in the year or demonstrate more specialized skills in the building process. In the later months of your 9-month and 2-year programs, there is room to make requests for topics you would like to see covered. If you are a 12-week apprentice, demos may not align directly with your building schedule since start times for the program differ. However, they still provide fruitful instruction that will inevitably apply to many different aspects of the Susan Skiff build.

Walk Around

On Fridays, apprentice crews take turns presenting what they worked on over the course of the week. Walk Around provides a time and space to learn from each other, discuss challenges and solutions, ask questions, admire craftsmanship, and share reflections on personal process. Sometimes, instructors or apprentices will demonstrate a technique or circle back to discuss the demo topic from earlier in the week.

All Hands

Being a member of the Apprenticeshop community involves taking responsibility for cleaning and maintaining the shop facility and waterfront. Every Friday, we take time to tidy our bench spaces, clean the stationary tools, put things away, sweep the floor, empty out the dust collection system, and go to the dump.

On some Fridays, we may decide to take on a community project. These projects serve to improve the facility or the waterfront and may include things like cleaning up the beach, installing new vises, repainting walls, replacing trim, or reorganizing tools. We also reserve two weeks each year, one at the beginning of the sailing season and one at the end, to come together as a community to take care of our fleet boats and waterfront infrastructure.

Seamanship/Field Trips

When we have boats in the water, Friday mornings are spent learning or practicing seamanship skills. However, during the months when the weather does not permit sailing, the staff and apprentice group will take trips to learn more about boatbuilding, sailing, or maritime history. Field trips have included joining in a harvest of hackmatack knees, visiting a forge to observe the pouring of a keel, taking a trip to a Maine coast boatyard, or visiting a professional sailmakers’ loft to observe the construction of a sail. Participation in Friday activities is optional for 12-week apprentices.

PROGRAM OUTLINE

The outline below shows the typical construction schedule for a Susan Skiff. Each student’s experience may vary somewhat.

Weeks 1 & 2: Orientation, Safety, and Backbone Construction

1. Rabbeting the stem

2. Putting together the transom

3. Milling and fitting the chines

4. Securing the stem, transom, and chines in place on the construction jig

Skills introduced:

• How to select wood and grain

• How to use a chisel and mallet

• How to use a hand saw

• How to cut a rabbet (translating 2-dimensional patterns to 3-dimensional objects)

• How to spline and glue

• How to use the table saw, chop saw, bandsaw, and thickness planer

• What a bevel is and how to cut one

• How to use and adjust a hand plane

• How to bend wood

• Types of  fasteners and how to use each one

• How to seal, bed, and fasten

• How to set up and true a construction jig

• How to deal with compound angles

• How to put together the basic backbone of a boat

Weeks 3 & 4: Fundamentals of Planking

1. Fitting and fastening the keelson

2. Lining off

3. Installing the garboard

Skills introduced:

• Design and layout

• Fairing by eye

• Fitting

• How to cut a gain

Still have questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or email our Program Director, Caitlin Sackville, at caitlin@apprenticeshop.org.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW TUITION & START DATES FUNDING YOUR APPRENTICESHIP ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS REGISTER

TUITION and Refunds

Tuition

$7,200 (includes the cost of the finished skiff)

Payment

Full payment of tuition must be made on or before the first day of program. Payments can be made via:

• Cash, check, or bank transfer

• Agreed upon monthly payment plan through FACTS Tuition Management Co. Please inquire with us about this option.

12-Week Refund Policy

The purpose of this policy is to assure that each apprentice is provided a fair and equitable refund of tuition when appropriate. If the Apprenticeshop decides to cancel a program on or prior to the first day, a full refund will be issued for all tuition payments made. If a program is canceled after the first day of enrollment, we will refund the unused portion of prepaid tuition and fees on a pro rata basis.

In situations where an apprentice enrolls in the program but, prior to completion, elects to cancel, withdraw, or is dismissed by the school, or otherwise fails to complete the program, refunds will be administered according to the following schedule and terms:

• On or prior to 60 days before the start of program, all tuition paid will be refunded, less $500.

• Within 60 days of the program start, the school will refund all tuition paid less the $1000 deposit.

• After the start of the program, The Apprenticeshop will retain 100% of tuition paid.

In the case of undue hardship, the student can petition for a prorated refund by submitting a written request to the Program Director. If a student is on a payment plan, he/she/they is still responsible for any remaining unpaid tuition or charges.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW TUITION & START DATES FUNDING YOUR APPRENTICESHIP ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS REGISTER

APPRENTICESHOP ASSISTANCE

We know that tuition can be a major barrier to attending any post-secondary program, including our 12-week apprenticeship. We are currently exploring different funding opportunities to make our program more feasible and widely available. Please inquire with us about financial aid and internal scholarship funds available. Below, there is a list of outside scholarship opportunities to apply for to assist with tuition.

OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Berkshire Woodworkers Guild Scholarship

The Berkshire Woodworkers Guild is a not-for-profit association of professional and amateur woodworkers. They award $2,500 scholarships to people planning to pursue a career in woodworking or complimentary fields. Applicants must be 16-30 years old to be eligible. Application Deadline: May 1st. For more information, visit: https://www.berkshirewoodworkers.org/scholarship/

NMRA Scholarship for Students of Marine Trades

Since 2008, the National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) has contributed to the future of the marine industry with scholarships to individuals pursuing education and a career in the maritime trades. They award a $3,000 scholarship to outstanding students. Request an application or information from NMRA at: info@nmraonline.org

The Island Institute Geiger Scholarship

The Geiger Scholarship supports students from Maine’s year-round, unbridged islands who are eager to expand their educational horizons through off-island enrichment and travel experiences. Students are eligible for one Geiger Scholarship award during middle school, one during high school, one during college, and one as a gap year. Application Deadline: November 30th and February 28th. For more information, visit: http://www.islandinstitute.org/geiger-scholarship

The Island Institute Compass Workforce Grant

The Compass Workforce Grant provides financial support (up to $500 per applicant) for young adults from Maine’s unbridged islands to help pay for workforce expenses associated with pursuing a certificate or credential that leads to high-value employment. For more information, visit: http://www.islandinstitute.org/resource/compass-workforce-grant

Youth Maritime Training Association Scholarships

YMTA scholarships are available to high school seniors in the State of Washington who would like to pursue maritime training and education in a community college, technical and vocational program, college, university, maritime academy or other educational institution. For more information, visit: www.ymta.net/ymta-scholarships/

AES Engineering Scholarship

AES Engineering is pleased to be able to continue offering scholarships to motivated students to help in the furthering of their education. Our belief is that achieving a high grade point average should not be the only criteria for determining who deserves to be helped. For that reason we are offering a scholarship that will be awarded on the basis of character, as determined by an evaluation of the essays that are submitted. Scholarships are intended for our future leaders across a wide spectrum of fields of study. Application Deadline: October 5th. For more information, visit: http://www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.php

OutdoorStack Scholarship

At OutdoorStack, we’re passionate about outdoor activities, and we want to help others who are passionate about outdoors. Outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, cycling, water sports, winter sports are all about people sharing common interests and are strongly important for building communities. To encourage students and families throughout America to spend more time outdoors, we have created the Outdoor Stack’s Annual Financial Aid Program for students enrolled in Full-Time, Part-Time or Online education courses. Application Deadline: September 18th. For more information, visit: https://outdoorstack.com/finaid/.

HireAHelper Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships

Growing demand and lack of qualified workers in skilled trades like the moving industry means it’s a great time to go back to school and enter these lucrative and fast-growing industries. To help keep up with demand and assist the next generation of professionals, HireAHelper will award a $2,000 scholarship four times a year to eligible students. For more information, visit: https://www.hireahelper.com/about/scholarships/.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW TUITION & START DATES FUNDING YOUR APPRENTICESHIP ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS REGISTER

Apprentices come to us from all walks of life and from all over the world. The most important qualities we look for in our students are a willingness to learn, an ability to work hard, the desire to be part of a community, and an enthusiasm for boats and the sea. Since our programs are small, there is a lot of opportunity for one-on-one teaching, allowing participants with a wide range of experiences to enjoy and benefit from the same program. Previous experience in woodworking or boating is not required, however we do review any relevant experience listed in your application and award credit as possible. Participants must be 18 years or older or have a high school diploma or their equivalent GED.

We accept applications on a rolling basis. However, you must submit your application at least 60 days in advance of your desired program start. You can click the button below to register. Once you register, we will get in touch with you to discuss enrollment. A $1000 deposit is required to hold your spot in the program. We accept two 12-week students during each session.