Boatbuilding & Restoration Faculty

Bill Kenyon '06Dean of Students and Lead Instructor  

After 25 years in the restaurant management business, including many years of sailing and working on his own boats, Bill Kenyon decided it was time to pursue his passion and enrolled in the Boatbuilding & Restoration program at IYRS in 2004. After graduating in 2006, Bill was hired by Hinckley Yacht Services in Portsmouth, RI where he spent three years. Later, at East Passage Boatwrights in Bristol, RI, Bill worked on several complete yacht restorations, including the 1952 5.5 meter Complex II and Skylark, the Sparkman & Stephens sister ship to Dorade. He went on to work on the restoration of the Herreshoff NY 30 Banzai at Wooden Boatworks in Greenport, NY before returning to IYRS and Newport in 2010 as an instructor. Bill's love of yachts and boating are evident in every conversation he has and even a quick chat will provide you with a fascinating piece of maritime information. Bill has taught hundreds of IYRS students the fine craftsmanship and technical skills of boatbuilding - as well as the fundamentals of sailing in preparation for their Graduation & Launch Day!

Warren Barker  | Senior Instructor

Warren Barker remarked to a friend at Williams College that after graduation he was going home to build a boat with his father. Little did he know that over forty years later he would still be building boats. Returning to the Berkshires, he attended a furniture design and woodworking school. Determined that the furniture float, Warren took those skills to Maine to build the 42’ ketch Nia, to Rhode Island to build cold molded and composite sail and power boats, and to his home in Massachusetts to build custom boats under his own shingle. Having taught at IYRS since 2003, Warren has overseen the building by his students of a myriad of boats by multiple designers-instilling in this new generation of boatbuilders the skill and enthusiasm for the trade that have carried him through his career.

David Redero ' 11 & '12  | Managing Instructor

David brings more than 10 years of boatbuilding, marine carpentry, and professional woodworking experience to the IYRS faculty. As a 2011 IYRS graduate of the Boatbuilding & Restoration program and a 2012 graduate of the Marine Systems program, he brings professional skills and his personal experience as an IYRS student to our shop and classroom to support our students' success.

Prior to joining IYRS, David spent 5 years as a Shipwright with McMillen Yachts in Portsmouth, RI. He has worked on many historic wooden yacht restoration projects including a 1954 36’ Italian gondola, a 1905 Herreshoff NY30, and multiple Herreshoff S-boats including Kandahar, Vindex, Surprise, Mischief, Whistler, and Tea Ticket.

David is a US Veteran and served 5 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is an experienced sailor and enjoys bringing professionalism, hard work, and creativity to the boatbuilding program each day.

Bjorn Bakken | Instructor 

Bjorn is a fifth generation master woodworker who is recognized both nationally and internationally for his restoration of mahogany runabout boats. Some of his work includes “gray boat” restorations of a 1940 Chris Craft Deluxe and 1955 Riva Ariston. Bjorn is the treasurer of the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) and has received numerous awards for his boat restorations including “Best in Show” and “Best in Class”. Professionally, Bjorn spent nearly 30 years designing and selling cutting tools for the woodworking industry. His impressive background in both craftsmanship and advanced manufacturing is an exciting skillset that will guide our students through the fundamentals of woodworking as well as prepare them for careers in modern marine carpentry.