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Applications will open in January 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year. Submit an inquiry below to be notified and receive updates.
ONE POWERFUL PROGRAM
The 12-month Boatbuilding Associate of Occupational (AOS) Degree program offers a compact and comprehensive curriculum that takes time-tested traditional skills mixed with modern wood composite techniques to offer you the best program and get you into the workforce quickly. This hands-on training follows industry standards and techniques and provides effective and efficient boat building and woodworking techniques through a combination of hand and power tool use. You will learn on a wide range of boat projects ranging from 8 to 36 feet, constructed through carvel, lapstrake, and composite construction techniques on power, sail, and row boats.
The Boatbuilding program gives you the opportunity to start from your own foundation – no prerequisites other than a high school diploma or GED or required. All skill levels and backgrounds are accommodated in this comprehensive program.
Program Overview
The 12-month, accelerated Boatbuilding AOS Degree program revolves around a full-time Monday – Friday daily schedule. Students are able to complete the AOS degree within a 12-month period. This program starts once annually in October.
Fall Quarter: October to December
BASIC SKILLS FOR BOATBUILDERS
110 Classic Woodworking
This course teaches you how to care for and use hand and power tools, provides knowledge of important woodworking techniques, and develops your skills in executing typical joinery found in wooden boatbuilding.
120 Drafting
The drafting course teaches you how to develop the shape of a hull on paper using a lines drawing. You learn how to visualize the three-dimensional shape of a hull described by two-dimensional drawings.
125 Lofting
The lofting course teaches you how to lay down the lines of a boat and make developments from which you will make patterns to transfer to building stock.
130 Skiff Construction
This course introduces you to basic wooden boatbuilding by integrating the skills and joinery techniques practiced in Class Woodworking 110 into basic flat-bottom boat construction.
>>Next: Winter Quarter
Winter Quarter: January to March
Part I – 140 Boatbuilding
You will take part in the building of sail and power vessels in the range of 8 to 36 feet in carvel, lapstrake, stick and glue, glued lap and strip planked construction. During this quarter, you will be focused on the lofting of your shop’s boat projects and setting up the backbone, planking, and framing of the hull. Some topics to be covered are spiling and building of complex components, reading and analyzing plans, building and set-up of molds, framing and planking, caulking and fairing of the hull, and the use and safe handling of adhesives and related products.
Next: Spring Quarter
Spring Quarter: May to June
Part II – 240 Boatbuilding
During this quarter, you will take part in the construction of the deck, house, and spars for sail and power vessels in the range of 8 to 36 feet. Some topics to be covered are house and cabin construction, building the rudder, spars, standing and running rigging, engine and related systems installation, and advanced techniques used to build round bottom craft that will incorporate vacuum laminating, diagonal hull planking, core materials, and sheathing/coating materials.
>> Next: Summer Quarter
Summer Quarter: July to September
Part III – 340 Boatbuilding
In this final quarter, you will learn how to plan, lay out, build, and install the components that are required to complete the interior partitioning and finish joinery on motor and sailing vessels, as well as the rigging and hardware of the vessel. Learning to select appropriate materials for interior joinery as well as procedures for determining complex component shapes unique to the interior construction of the boat will also be covered in this course.
>> This is the final quarter of the Boatbuilding program.
The Perfect Location
The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding is located in the heart of more than 50 maritime businesses on Port Townsend Bay and surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Students have access to the Port Townsend working waterfront providing networking with talented and experienced marine craftspeople.
The Boatbuilding program is 12-months long and starts once annually in October with graduation the following September. School days are from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Students are awarded an Associates of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree upon completion.
View the 2023-2025 School Catalog for more detailed information on scope, sequence, and program description.
To be eligible for enrollment, all students must have:
• Earned a high school diploma or recognized equivalency certificate (GED) prior to the first day of class.
• The physical and health capacity to undertake the day-to-day work.
• The ability to understand written and oral instruction given in English.
Enrollment in programs at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding do not require prior woodworking, boatbuilding, or marine systems experience.
>> Click here to learn about the Admissions Process <<
The 12-month Boatbuilding program is approved for Federal Student Aid including Direct Student Loans and Pell Grants. This program is approved for the use of Veterans Education Benefits.
>> Click here to learn more about financial aid <<
>> Click here to learn about scholarship opportunities <<
Students are awarded an Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) Degree upon completion. Our programs are accredited through the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and licensed by the State of Washington.
The 12-month Boatbuilding program prepares students for entry-level employment. Career opportunities are varied and include jobs in boat shops, ship yards, vessel manufacturing, cabinet shops, and in related woodworking trades such as architectural woodworking, furniture making, finish carpentry, and recreational vehicle remodeling.
>> Click here to learn more about what graduates go on to do <<
Although the school does not offer on-campus housing, staff is dedicated to supporting students in finding accommodations. The school provides a local housing list to all enrolled students consisting of property owners who want to rent to Boat School students. Staff also sends out dedicated housing availability emails to enrolled students and works one-on-one to connect you with accommodations. The school is constantly networking with local property owners to grow available housing.
