No matter how precise the workmanship and design of modern fiberglass, steel and aluminum yachts, few can rival the beauty of a finely crafted wooden boat.
In 1933, a passionate group of yacht restoration experts – led by Elizabeth Meyer (who took the world stage in the 1980s with her work on the 1930s J-Class Endeavour) and maritime artist John Mecray – founded the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, RI. The goal was to bring along the next generation of restorers, men and women who might develop the talent and dedication needed to build vessels from rough plank.
The vision worked. More than 70 years later, at a time when boatbuilding is dominated by high-tech synthetics and precision machinery, students at the small Rhode Island school are still practicing the art as it was known generations ago. And their work is breathing new life into classic designs by names like Herreshoff and Stephens.
The school accepts 20 students each year into the two-year certificate program, which teaches the history, art and science of boat building and restoration (it also offers weekend classes for hobbyists). The full-time students come from diverse backgrounds – a psychologist, a graphic artist and a pilot are among this year's class. Most are in their late 20s and early 30s (a few have joined in their 40s). About half have college degrees. And many have worked in other fields before enrolling.
IRYSStudents work on the Corsair. The advantage of laying the boat on its side is that it makes sanding the hull much easier.All share a common fantasy among boaters in both power and sail – building classic vessels using traditional materials and techniques.
"Most have no wooden boatbuilding experience," says John Freer, the school's director of admissions. "But all have some connection to boats that tugs at their heartstrings, whether as recreational sailors or those who remember building boats with their grandfathers."
LEARNING THE CRAFT
From the start, students learning restoration are taught to be mindful of a boat's original design. Because the vessels are donated, sometimes without blueprints or drawings, students often begin their work by doing research at the nearby Museum of Yachting, which is also owned by the school.
"Right now, students are working on the Corsair, a 35-foot motor launch once owned by J.P. Morgan," Freer says.
They have also done a Herreshoff 12½, a boat designed in 1914 by naval architect and engineer Nathanael Herreshoff, a man who revolutionized yacht design and produced a series of undefeated sailboats for the America's Cup Race between 1893 and 1920.
Another project is a replica of Cherokee, a 6-meter racing yacht designed by Olin Stephens, of the famous design firm Sparkman & Stephens, in 1928 and built in 1930. The boat, which is being built from plans supplied by the firm, will be the only one of its kind.
Since the program was launched, students have refurbished almost 100 boats in total, vessels virtually born again to grace the waterways. Once the boats are restored they are sold to help support the school.
ON THE JOB
When classes begin in the fall, students begin the restoration of Beetle Cats, 12-foot, gaff-rigged, wooden sailboats first built in 1921 by the Beetle family of New Bedford, Mass.
After World War II, the Beetle family sold the rights to the boats to the Concordia Company in South Dartmouth, Mass. Many years and a few companies later, Beetle Cats are still being built new from an original mold. School administrators say the boat is perfectly suited for educating restorers.
IRYSThe students who've finished planking begin the steady process of fairing their hulls. This starts with planing down the high spots and then sanding.During their first year, students start at the workbench and become skilled using woodworking tools by learning to build a wooden toolbox. They also learn how to measure, photo document and draw a boat in order to create a scale lines plan and a half model. This work becomes a part of their final portfolio.
Coursework includes historic documentation, restoration and the basics of hull shape and lofting. Over the summer, in addition to a sailing and seamanship classes, students work in area boatyards to practice their skills. Students have spent time working alongside shipwrights at the Mystic Seaport Museum, on the USS Constitution and doing research at the Museum of Yachting. Often this summer work leads to employment after graduation.
During their second semester, students learn project management while work begins on a larger restoration project. As they work this year on the Corsair, students have pulled the boat apart nearly down to the waterline, and new frames and planking are installed. Once complete, the boat will be nearly new, but still retain some original material and be true to its original design.
In addition to craft classes, students also learn the business and customer service aspects of the boatbuilding industry. For those more interested in what makes boats tick, the school offers a certificate in Marine Systems. Taught at their Bristol, RI, campus, students spend 10 months learning how to install and maintain all essential systems onboard, including electrical, steering and fuel systems.
This particular part of the program was developed in response to the industry's need for skilled labor, and in partnership with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). Students in this program often work on the restoration and repair of engines and other systems used in restored vessels, such as the Corsair.
IRYSStudents in the first year of the program work to finish planking.SKILLED LABOR
Freer says he is confident that graduates of the program will have success finding work, sighting a shortage of workers in the marine industry. "Many of our graduates have gone on to find opportunities," he said.
One recent graduate of the program is a shipwright on the USS Constitution. Others have landed at prestigious firms like The Hinckley Company, Alden Yachts and Sparkman & Stephens. Many have found work at Mystic Seaport (The Museum of America and the Sea). And some students even banded together to start their own restoration business.
Tom Daniels a 50-year-old former clinical psychologist who ran a side business building furniture, completed the boatbuilding program last year. He now works in Mystic, Conn, at the restoration firm of McClave, Philbrick and Giblin.
Daniels said he made the career change after careful thought about his interests"”sailing and the challenges of woodworking, particularly nuances of wood and the expertise it takes to make a hull water-tight. He advises others considering this career to take a hard look at their own interests and motivations. Once you turn a hobby into a job, he says, it tends to change the nature of the work. He suggests spending a lot of time talking with boatbuilders before making any decision.
"Nobody anywhere is getting rich building wooden boats," Daniels says, adding that the starting salary is about $16 an hour. "Most people in the business either live simply, live with relatives, or have spouses who earn higher wages. I voluntarily took a huge pay cut to do this work, but the quality of life it affords is worth it."
