About

IYRS: A Premier Maritime Trades and Modern Manufacturing School

IYRS School of Technology & Trades is a non-profit, post-secondary experiential learning institution in Newport, Rhode Island and is the premier marine trades and modern manufacturing school in the United States. IYRS offers education & training programs for people with a passion for thinking and working through their hands.

Our students are aspiring craftspeople, designers, makers, and technicians who come to IYRS to learn advanced craftsmanship and technical skills to create successful careers and richer lives. IYRS students go on to careers across a wide range of industries, including yacht building, historic restoration, fine furniture making, wind energy, aerospace, consumer goods prototyping, and more.

IYRS was founded in 1993 as the International Yacht Restoration School on the Newport harborfront. It was originally founded to teach students the fine craftsmanship and restoration skills necessary to preserve maritime heritage through the restoration of historically significant wooden sailing yachts. Since that time, IYRS has grown into a world-class learning institution offering four full-time, ACCSC-accredited experiential programs:

Boatbuilding & Restoration 
Composites Technology 
Digital Modeling & Fabrication 
Marine Systems 

The IYRS student body is diverse, comprised of women and men, high school and college graduates, veterans, career changers, and up-skillers. Our students come from across the United States and the world and range in age from 18-78. The unique viewpoints of IYRS students and faculty contribute to a rich learning culture and educational experience.

Is IYRS Right for You?

Do you want to engage your mind and your hands at the same time? Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you want to work hard and see the results unfolding tangibly in front of you? Maybe you haven't found your fit in the traditional academic environment. Perhaps you're in the process of searching for a career change in order to pursue a bigger vision. Maybe you've found yourself more at home on the water than in a classroom.

Our faculty are just as technically skilled as they are caring and committed. They're here to help you learn both in the classroom and on the shop floor. And you’ll learn from your classmates, whose diversity and background in all walks of life ensure there's always a new perspective to gain.

IYRS places a high value on teamwork. You'll learn the power of working together from others who have a similar approach to education and a shared love for hands-on learning. You'll become adept at using the resources around you to analyze, plan, and build. You'll push yourself to succeed, and no matter what academic or working background you come from, we'll equip you with the tools you need.

When you complete your studies at IYRS, you'll find that graduation isn't the end — it's the beginning. You'll be prepared to step into a fulfilling career full of creation and discovery. You'll have new opportunities and career growth — stemming not only from a certificate from a nationally renowned school, but from a sense of confidence and accomplishment as well.

If this vision resonates with you, there's a place for you at IYRS, where our students learn to Build Beyond Ordinary.