Apprenticing is a time honored tradition that has been practiced through the centuries, and we continue this style of education in the 'Shop today. Learning boatbuilding is a demanding natural discipline which involves decisions, care, patience, forethought, and time. Apprentices receiving a traditional boat building education at our Maine school learn through boatbuilding as much as they learn the actual technology of construction.

Apprentices are guided by instructors through all stages of traditional wooden boat building, and each can expect to build 2 to 4 boats during their time here. Boats are typically traditional carvel or lapstrake construction. Because we are commission dependent, we occasionally work on projects that require modern boatbuilding technology, but this is not our focus. We do not have specific boats that we build repeatedly, but instead rely on customers to commission a boat. This leads to many different designs side-by-side in the 'Shop, and the opportunity to learn a great deal from other apprentice crews.

New build commissions account for the majority of work here, but we do try to incorporate restorations into the apprentice program. All boat restorations that are taken on as apprentice projects at the school have been carefully considered by the staff, and have educational value.

The philosophy behind our two-year apprenticeship is simple: learning to do anything is best accomplished through direct experience. When an apprentice starts with a mere concept of a boat on the lofting floor and carries it through all the subsequent stages of mold-making, framing, planking, decking, and finish work to a fully rigged boat ready for launching, a great deal of learning happens in a relatively short amount of time. It is a process that not only fosters a high level of craftsmanship, but also sharpens one's problem solving skills and sense of aesthetic proportion and detail.

Each apprentice has responsibilities, called beagleships, and is in charge of this realm of the 'Shop. For instance, the fastenings beagle orders and checks inventory to ensure that all boats have the rivets and screws they need, while the truck beagle keeps the shop truck running smoothly.

Incoming apprentices generally range in age from 18 to 35. Currently the average age of the apprentice population is 26. Some people come with extensive woodworking experience, while others have none. This 2-year program is designed to give the graduating apprentice knowledge and understanding of a wide variety of building techniques, and confidence in unique situations that require thorough problem solving.

Pursue the time-honored tradition of wooden boat building in Maine. Apply to our 2-year apprenticeship program today!