As our most flexible program, participants can schedule an Internship anytime, and can create their own program around their own goals and interests. We encourage participants to come to us with ideas for projects if there is something specific that they would like to accomplish and can arrange Independent Internships of any length. We will review the feasibility of completing the project in the allotted time and our instructors will be on hand to support the process of research and construction.

For those participants who need some ideas for getting started with a boat building project, we have designed our 6 and 8-week Internships around the Susan Skiff, a 12' flat bottom lapstrake rowboat. We suggest that interns who do not have a specific project in mind work on this projects for ease of setup, support, and instruction.

 

 

 

 

For the cost of materials, Interns can take their boat home upon completion of the program, though there is no obligation to do so. If not purchased by the builder, intern-built Susan skiffs are sold to support 'Shop programs.

There is no need to bring any tools for an Internship.

 

 

6-week Internship: Building a Susan Skiff
This program is the classic Internship, and is most intensive Internship that we offer. We have been running this program for over 20 years, and believe that it gives a solid overview of boatbuilding basics. The time given for completing a Susan Skiff is limited, and this course requires students to come in on nights and weekends if their goal is completion. As a 6-week intern, you will learn backbone construction, planking, framing, interior joinery, and finish work. We have designed this course to be shorter so that it is more accessible to students, but recommend that if you have the time, you consider enrolling in our 8-week course.

8-week Internship: Building a Susan Skiff
After years of running the 6-week internship, we have found that finishing a Susan Skiff in that amount of time requires work on nights and weekends. Many interns have chosen to stay an additional week or two to complete their boat, or take it home to finish later. To encourage completion at a pace which most people feel is comfortable, we now offer 8-week internships. The design and basis of the program is the same, but the pace is quite different. This program allows for more time reflecting on what is being learned, and trying many methods instead of relying on one. Skills learned are the same.

4-week Internship: Building a Greenland Kayak
This internship is markedly different from the 6 and 8 week courses. Building a traditional lapstrake or carvel boat takes quite a bit of time, so we have created a course to cover the more expedient skin over frame construction. For those who cannot take 6 or 8 weeks out of busy schedules, we offer the opportunity to build a very specific type of traditional craft, the Greenland kayak. This internship will teach frame structure construction, canvas stretching, and general woodworking.

Pursue the time-honored tradition of wooden boat building in Maine. Apply to begin an Independent Internship and complete your boat building project.