Build Your Own Wooden Dinghy – A Hands-On Boatbuilding Course

Spend your afternoons and evenings bringing a classic wooden dinghy to life. This immersive course is perfect for beginners and woodworkers alike who are looking to build a practical, versatile boat while learning the art of lapstrake construction.

Course Details:

• Date: June 9 - June 21, 2025

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 12:30 PM with a soft ending time of 6:00 - 7:00 PM
  (Soft end times allow for completing each day's steps before starting fresh the next day.)

• Weekend Schedule:

  • First Saturday (June 14): 12:30 - 7:00 PM workday

  • Second Saturday (June 21): 11:00 - 3:00 PM Boat pickup day

Dinghy Designs:

Choose one of two lapstrake designs to build during the course:

1. The Eastport Pram

2. The Passagemaker Dinghy

Lapstrake construction, a traditional boatbuilding technique where hull planks overlap, offers an enjoyable step-by-step approach for beginners and experienced builders alike.

These are great builds for co-builders and beginners who want a practical and versatile dinghy.

Builder Types:

This course is designed for two types of builders:

1. Main Builder ($850):

   • Responsible for overseeing and completing the boat build.

   • Serves as the primary contact for the project.

   • Likely the individual who will own and care for the completed dinghy.

2. Assistant Builder ($450):

   • Supports the Main Builder during the construction process.

   • Gains woodworking skills, receives instruction, and invests in new knowledge.

   • Often a family member, friend, neighbor, or parent who is assisting with the build.

Both builder roles provide hands-on opportunities to learn and contribute meaningfully to the construction of your wooden dinghy.

What to Expect:

• Guided Instruction:
  A Spaulding Center instructor will guide you through the approximately 70-hour construction process, answering questions and sharing tips along the way.

• What You'll Build:
  By the end of the course, you'll have built the foundation of your dinghy, ready for finishing touches. Please note that painting, varnishing, sanding, and rigging will need to be completed outside of the course.

• Why Build a Dinghy?
  Wooden dinghies are not only functional and versatile but also rewarding to build. You’ll gain hands-on experience, confidence, and a lasting sense of accomplishment from your hard work.

Additional Options – Finish Your Boat Onsite:

Want more time to complete your project? We offer up to 3 weeks of onsite storage and workspace for $200/week. This includes:

• Access to the Spaulding yard to finish your boat.

• Two hours of instructor guidance each week.

• Optional Spaulding tools and materials available for an additional fee.

For more details or to select this package, email education@spauldingcenter.org.

Questions?

Contact Education@spauldingcenter.org for any inquiries.

Join us for this rewarding journey into wooden boatbuilding and create something truly special.