Boatbuilding & Restoration
COVID-19 UPDATE
Are you a recent high school student who is developing a revised post-secondary plan due to the impact of COVID-19? Or perhaps you are a career professional with uncertainty in the stability of your job, company, or industry.
If so, a hands-on education at IYRS will provide you with in-demand skills that last a lifetime and can prepare you to successfully enter or re-enter the job market.
Explore our programs and see how IYRS can help you forge a new path forward.
Boatbuilding & Restoration | Accredited 20 month program | Enrolls in September
Master the craft and fundamentals behind restoring, building, and finishing classic wooden boats.
The IYRS Boatbuilding & Restoration program will immerse you in the complete boatbuilding process where you’ll have the opportunity to learn from expert woodworkers and boatbuilders and work alongside fellow craftspeople. This program sets up students to thrive as highly skilled craftspeople in today’s job market.
Experience the Boatbuilding & Restoration program
YEAR ONE
The first year focuses on the restoration of a traditional plank-on-frame wooden boat. Students will restore and launch a Beetle CatTM, executing every element from research and documentation to hull measurement, lofting, drafting and half-model making, all while developing essential teamwork and project management skills. The highlight of the first year is Launch Day when students launch and sail their newly restored Beetle Cats in Newport Harbor.
YEAR TWO
The second year offers a larger challenge: restoring legends of American yacht design including Lawley, Herreshoff, Alden, Hunt, Stephens, and others. During this year, students refine their craftsmanship skills, undertake project management of the restoration, and work in teams to achieve the important goal of restoring a beautiful classic wooden yacht to the water.
Curriculum
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SHOP SKILLS
- Craftsmanship & Artistry
- Hand & Power Tool Use
- Woodworking Processes & Techniques
- Shop Safety
- Material Properties
- Manual Drafting
- Introduction to CAD
- Lofting
- Steam-bending
- Plank-on-frame Restoration
- Joinery
- Photographic Documentation
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
- Business Acumen
- Project Management
- Entrepreneurialism
- Teamwork & Communication
- Survey & Assessment
- Time Management
Recent Employers
At IYRS, you’ll go beyond boatbuilding to receive a comprehensive education in marine woodworking. By mastering traditional and contemporary boatbuilding skills, you’ll be ready to tackle any woodworking challenge, from fine furniture making to historic restoration and preservation to home construction.