2-year Apprenticeship

We are currently accepting applications for our 2 year program beginning in 2025. Applications submitted today will begin being reviewed in September 2024.

For those of you who are looking for a longer course of study, our 2-year apprenticeship program builds on the curriculum of the 9-month program, providing the opportunity to work on more challenging projects, as well as gain more extensive experience in boatbuilding. A 9-month apprenticeship can teach you the basic skills you need to enter a professional boatbuilding environment. However, 9 months is just the beginning of one’s education in the discipline. Craftsmanship is not learned overnight, or even in a few months. It takes years of experience to ingrain the practices of any craft in the body and mind.

As a 2-year apprentice, the first year of your apprenticeship will follow the same schedule and format as the 9-month apprenticeship from September through the end of June. While 9-month apprentices graduate at the end of June, you will have a three week summer break before returning to continue your apprenticeship in mid-July. Click here to read the description of the 9-month program.

As a second year student, you will take on more responsibility within the ‘Shop community. You play a vital role in mentoring new apprentices and modeling standards of craftsmanship, work ethic, and participation in the community. You continue to take part in the fall and summer expeditions, helping to prepare for the trips beforehand and, during Expedition, teaching newer apprentices the seamanship skills you have already learned. While first years are working on their Susan Skiffs, you will offer support and guidance since you have already completed and launched your own skiff. In January, project crews may change so that first year apprentices are teamed up with second years. Some second year apprentices will act as project leaders, helping to establish a positive work environment, managing tasks to keep the crew on schedule, and offering assistance or advice when needed. You will also take on contributing to and leading some of the demonstrations, testing your understanding of a topic as you learn to present material to others.

As a graduate of the 2-year program, you can expect to have a solid working knowledge of wooden boat construction, experience using a variety of hand and power tools, and seamanship skills that will allow you to confidently walk aboard a boat and set sail. During the course of the 2-year program you will work on anywhere from 2 to 4 boats depending on the size and scope of each project.

Craftsmanship

Learning boatbuilding is a demanding pursuit, one that requires focus, patience, care, and fortitude. When you start with the lines of a boat on a lofting table and carry the project through all the subsequent stages of mold-making, framing, planking, decking, and finish work to produce a fully rigged boat, a great deal of learning happens in a relatively short amount of time.

Almost every apprentice begins their journey by building a Susan Skiff. In the 12-week program, this is the only boat participants build. In the 9-month program, apprentices get experience working on a second boat after they complete their skiffs. Our 2-year apprentices gain the most experience with the craft, working on anywhere from 2 to 4 boats depending on the size and scope of the projects.

We typically build traditional plank on frame (carvel) boats or clinker (lapstrake) boats. Since we rely on customers to commission boats, there are often several different designs being constructed side-by-side in the ‘Shop at any given time. This gives all apprentices the opportunity to learn a great deal from other projects and apprentice crews. Commissions are chosen on the basis of their educational benefit. Projects range from 8-foot tenders and 24-foot lobster boats to 30-foot class boats. Most projects are new builds, but sometimes we may work on a major restoration.

Project crews are determined by ‘Shop staff based on project needs, as well as individual goals and experience levels. We often try to pair newer students with more experienced ones, creating an environment where builders are mentoring their peers and working together to solve the challenges presented by their project.

One of the things we emphasize in our teaching is that there is no single correct way to build a boat. This is meant to encourage you to try different methods or come up with your own solution to a problem. It is also meant to encourage the development of judgment and decision-making skills as you simultaneously develop your hands and eyes. You must consider when to ask a question or try something on your own first, when something is good enough or when it needs to be pushed to a higher standard, when to use one technique or tool vs. another.

This can be challenging, as there is rarely a “right” answer. The learning process can be riddled with doubt and discomfort as you attempt something and come up against the constraints imposed by the material or the limitations of your own body and emergent skill. Through building boats, you will have to navigate the interplay between your will and the parameters given by the material, the environment, or the other people around you. You will experience failure and learn how to work through it. You will learn how to negotiate uncertainty, gaining tools to draw on when you are tasked with solving a new problem you have never seen before.

Craftsmanship is a lifelong pursuit and the 9 months you spend here are just the beginning of your education in boatbuilding. Ultimately, craftsmanship is an attitude, the desire to do something well for its own sake. We aim to support you as you practice the skills required to become a good craftsperson, skills that you can then carry with you for the remainder of your professional life. 

Seamanship

Seamanship encompasses the knowledge and skill pertaining to the operation, navigation, management, safety, and maintenance of a ship. We view craftsmanship and seamanship as complementary values and believe that a boatbuilder should have an understanding of how vessels perform on the water. During the sailing season, you will spend supported time out on the water, learning how to handle different boats under the guidance of our staff. You will also participate in two, 5-day expeditions, one in September and one in June. During Expedition, apprentices and staff members sail around Penobscot Bay, visiting different islands and areas of the coast in our traditional open boats. Expedition can be a challenging experience, but it is also an important community-building activity, allowing everyone to get to know each other in ways that the daily shop routine doesn’t always provide for. 

Through our seamanship curriculum, you learn basic knots, sail theory, paper chart navigation, boat handling techniques, as well as how to be a prudent mariner. Over time, you will begin to recognize different boats based on their hull shape and sail plans, and bring your boatbuilding knowledge out onto the water with you.

Community

While learning how to build and sail are the end products, the process of becoming a contributing member of the community is integral to our programs. It starts with Expedition, which sets the stage for learning how to be together as a group. It continues as we work together, sail together, cook and eat together, and teach each other. Being a part of the ‘Shop community simultaneously helps you learn how to navigate personal dynamics, provides opportunities to develop leadership skills, and teaches community citizenship. This learning atmosphere is a significant and unique part of the apprenticeship that demands full participation and engagement.

On a daily basis, you will work alongside other apprentices, whether as part of a project crew or simply as bench neighbors. Successful group dynamics require good communication skills, respect, trust, flexibility, and commitment. Apprentices and staff must make a communal effort to create a positive work environment, one in which they can look to each other for support, advice, or help. If one member of the community is struggling, it is not their issue to grapple with alone. Similarly, the accomplishments of each individual reflect the progress and well-being of the group as a whole. 

Living in a community entails learning how to share responsibility. One of the ways in which this occurs is in cleaning and maintaining the spaces we work in. Once a week, apprentices and staff take time to clean the yard and facility. Apprentices also have designated areas of responsibility within the shop. In the fall and spring, we spend time as a community working on our fleet and maintaining our pier and floating dock system. Sometimes, you may be asked to step away from your own project to help a launching crew meet their deadline. Other times, you may be asked to help with moving lumber, launching a boat, changing a vise, manning a show booth, or setting up for an event. While being respectful of each other’s commitments and time, we also want to encourage a culture of asking for and receiving help when it is needed, especially when it goes toward making the organization better as a whole.

As an organization, we strive for open communication between students, staff, and board members. This happens organically in the shop as apprentices work side by side with instructors. There are scheduled checkpoints during the program - after the Susan Skiff and midway through the second project - when we will formally meet with you to check in and solicit feedback.

Our Apprentices

Unlike other educational settings, which tend to be filtered by age or experience, the Apprenticeshop is welcoming and open to you wherever you are in life. There are no prerequisites for participating. Our apprentices come to us from a variety of places and with all kinds of previous experience. Some have worked in education, architecture, construction, design, or law beforehand; some have recently retired; some have come from the military; some have come directly out of high school. 

What do our apprentices have in common? They arrive with a desire to create something with their own hands. They come wanting to develop or hone their physical skill. They come with a creative spark. They come for a deeper connection to the water. They come to be a part of a community. They come with a willingness to engage in the work of not only building a boat but building themselves. 

Our chosen mediums are sailing and boatbuilding, precisely because these activities place people in challenging positions where they are confronted with failure and individual limitation. Both boatbuilding and sailing require problem solving, care, patience, resourcefulness, teamwork, and an engagement with one’s surroundings. Learning all of these things is as important to the program as learning the skills of building or sailing a boat. 

While some students do continue to build boats as their chosen vocation, many go on to pursue other passions with the knowledge and skills they take away. They sail away on schooners, crossing oceans and visiting places only easily reached by boat. They build furniture and houses, they teach, they become ferry boat captains, they become social workers, chefs, artists, and farmers. But ultimately, what we strive for is for them to become more confident and self-aware people, unafraid to pursue things they are passionate about, even if the careers they choose don’t easily fit into the title line on a business card. It is our intention that graduates become both physically and emotionally capable of negotiating uncertainty, ambiguity, and resistance. They are not bound by discipline but driven by curiosity. They have examined themselves over the course of their time here, as they have bent over stems and faired hulls, and they have come away with a deeper self-knowledge and sense of self.

Weekly Schedule

You will begin your day at 8 am, have an hour for lunch, and finish at 5 pm. Monday through Thursday, the day is spent working on projects with your crew and with instructor coaching. On Fridays, after morning meeting, apprentices head out for seamanship or a field trip (depending on the time of year). At noon, the entire shop community gathers for lunch (apprentices and staff take turns cooking for each other each week). Time after lunch is reserved for Walk Around, an open forum where each crew shares what they have been working on during the week, and All Hands, during which we clean and maintain our campus.

Although regular shop hours allow a lot of building time, apprentices may want or need to work extra hours in the evenings or on weekends. Time management is important when a boat is being constructed for a client. Apprentices are expected to meet deadlines. As launch dates approach, crews sometimes work overtime to ensure that the boats are ready to go in the water. 

Outside of the regular shop schedule, there are a variety of extracurricular opportunities you may choose to engage in, as well as the space and flexibility to take initiative and create something new. You will have 24/7 access to the shop facility. During your off-hours from the ‘Shop, you are encouraged to work on small personal projects, related or unrelated to boats. We have a well-stocked library of reference books, as well as access to Off Center Harbor’s online video library. Sometimes, apprentices, staff, and volunteers form small evening study groups to discuss or learn about a specific topic. We also have a wide network of alums and friends of the ‘Shop community who are close by and willing to share their experiences and knowledge. 

Morning Meeting

At the start of each work day, promptly at 8am, students and staff gather for Morning Meeting on the middle floor of the shop. The primary purpose of the meeting is to come together as a community before we break off to work on our respective projects for the remainder of the day. Morning Meeting is a time to discuss the schedule for the week, make announcements, share information about upcoming events, and ask for assistance. We usually begin with a daily weather forecast and tide report and conclude with an interesting reading, sometimes boat-related, sometimes not. Apprentices and staff share the responsibility for leading Morning Meeting, rotating on a weekly basis.

Demos

Monday morning demos last for 30 minutes to an hour. They provide structured time to learn about a specific topic and ask questions. For 9-month and 2-year apprentices, the demos start by walking you through the different stages of the Susan Skiff build. After winter break, when you begin with your second project, they are designed to dive a little deeper into some of the same topics covered earlier in the year or demonstrate more specialized skills in the building process. In the later months of your 9-month and 2-year programs, there is room to make requests for topics you would like to see covered. If you are a 12-week apprentice, demos may not align directly with your building schedule since start times for the program differ. However, they still provide fruitful instruction that will inevitably apply to many different aspects of the Susan Skiff build.

Walk Around

On Fridays, apprentice crews take turns presenting what they worked on over the course of the week. Walk Around provides a time and space to learn from each other, discuss challenges and solutions, ask questions, admire craftsmanship, and share reflections on personal process. Sometimes, instructors or apprentices will demonstrate a technique or circle back to discuss the demo topic from earlier in the week.

All Hands

Being a member of the Apprenticeshop community involves taking responsibility for cleaning and maintaining the shop facility and waterfront. Every Friday morning, we take time to tidy our bench spaces, clean the stationary tools, put things away, sweep the floor, empty out the dust collection system, and go to the dump. Every apprentice has a specific area of responsibility within the shop that they oversee. In each of these areas, apprentices work with staff to procure needed supplies, fix broken tools, and improve shop systems when needed. 

On some Friday mornings, we may decide to take on a community project. These projects serve to improve the facility or the waterfront and may include things like cleaning up the beach, installing new vises, repainting walls, replacing trim, or reorganizing tools. We also reserve two weeks each year, one at the beginning of the sailing season and one at the end, to come together as a community to take care of our fleet boats and waterfront infrastructure.

Seamanship/Field Trips

When we have boats in the water, Friday mornings are spent learning or practicing seamanship skills. However, during the months when the weather does not permit sailing, the staff and apprentice group will take trips to learn more about boatbuilding, sailing, or maritime history. Field trips have included joining in a harvest of hackmatack knees, visiting a forge to observe the pouring of a keel, taking a trip to a Maine coast boatyard, or visiting a professional sailmakers’ loft to observe the construction of a sail. As with demos, there is room for you to request particular field trips. 

Still have questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or email our Program Director, Caitlin Sackville, at caitlin@apprenticeshop.org.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW TUITION & START DATES FUNDING YOUR APPRENTICESHIP ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS APPLY

Tuition And Refunds

Tuition

Year One - $10,000

Year Two - $5,000

Total - $15,000 (includes instruction, reference materials, tools, consumable supplies, and student activities. It does not include room and board, personal tools, or transportation.)

Additional Expenses

The Apprenticeshop does not have a communal living situation or on-campus housing for our participants. Some of our apprentices live together, sharing rent and utilities and preparing meals together to keep expenses minimal. Based on the cost of living indices, Rockland falls into the average for most living costs. Housing falls slightly under the national average and utilities and groceries are just over the national average.

The Apprenticeshop has contacts with local people who own houses and rent short term or offer winter rates for occupancy. Please inquire—we may be able to help you find reasonably priced housing options. Rockland is also a great walking town. Even in winter, it is not difficult to get from one end of town to the other, so a car might not be a necessity. Many apprentices bike or walk to the ‘Shop.

9-month boatbuilding participants are responsible for the following expenses in addition to tuition:

• Personal tools and reference books - The ‘Shop provides tools for apprentices to use (aside from required personal protective equipment) and has a library full of reference books.  However, many apprentices elect to purchase some personal hand tools during their time here.  These can often be purchased second hand, reducing the cost significantly.  In general, apprentices may spend anywhere from $300 - $1,000 on tools and reference books.

• Food - Average food costs vary depending on preference.  Most apprentices spend roughly $250-$400 per month on groceries. 

• Housing and utilities - The average cost for a shared apartment or room rental is $300-$700 per month, plus utilities. For a one bedroom apartment, costs average $800-$2,000 per month, plus utilities. Housing costs in mid-coast Maine can often be higher in the summer months because of tourism.  

• Transportation - Living in Rockland significantly reduces the cost of transportation as a car is not necessary to get to and from the ‘Shop. However, many apprentices opt to have cars, which could mean spending several hundred dollars in gas and maintenance costs per month.

• Incidentals - Most apprentices spend an average of $200 per month on additional expenses.

• Cost of health insurance for the duration of the program

Payment

Full payment of tuition is due at least 60 days prior to the first day of program. Payments can be made via:

• Cash, check, or bank transfer.

• Agreed upon monthly payment plan through FACTS Tuition Management Co. Please inquire with us about this option.

General Refund Policy

The purpose of this policy is to assure that each apprentice is provided a fair and equitable refund of tuition when appropriate. If the Apprenticeshop decides to cancel a program on or prior to the first day, a full refund will be issued for all tuition payments made. If a program is canceled after the first day of enrollment, we will refund the unused portion of prepaid tuition and fees on a pro rata basis.

In situations where an apprentice enrolls in the program but, prior to completion, elects to cancel, withdraw, or is dismissed by the school, or otherwise fails to complete the program, refunds will be administered according to the following schedule and terms:

• On or prior to 60 days before the start of program, all tuition paid will be refunded, less $500.

• Within 60 days of the program start, The Apprenticeshop will retain 100% of tuition paid.

In the case of undue hardship, the student can petition for a prorated refund by submitting a written request to the Director of Student Affairs and Outreach. If a student is on a payment plan, he/she/they is still responsible for any remaining unpaid tuition or charges.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW TUITION & START DATES FUNDING YOUR APPRENTICESHIP ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS APPLY

APPRENTICESHOP ASSISTANCE

We know that tuition can be a major barrier to attending any post-secondary program, including our 2-year apprenticeship. We are currently exploring different funding opportunities to make our program more feasible and widely available. Please inquire with us about financial aid and internal scholarship funds available. Below, there is a list of outside scholarship opportunities to apply for to assist with tuition.

OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Berkshire Woodworkers Guild Scholarship

The Berkshire Woodworkers Guild is a not-for-profit association of professional and amateur woodworkers. They award $2,500 scholarships to people planning to pursue a career in woodworking or complimentary fields and have supported apprentices previously. Application Deadline: May 1st. For more information, visit: https://www.berkshirewoodworkers.org/scholarship/

NMRA Scholarship for Students of Marine Trades

Since 2008, the National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) has contributed to the future of the marine industry with scholarships to individuals pursuing education and a career in the maritime trades. They award a $3,000 scholarship to outstanding students. Request an application or information from NMRA at: info@nmraonline.org

The Nautical Research Guild

The Nautical Research Guild is proud to support the next generation of nautical historians, archeologists, architects, and builders. Their Academic Scholarship Program is open for applications to individuals who are currently pursuing or plan to pursue these areas in a post-secondary or trade school setting. Applicants must be under 25 years of age. Application Deadline: June 1st (for fall semester) or November 15th (for spring semester). For more information, visit: https://thenrg.org/resource/scholarship

The Island Institute Geiger Scholarship

The Geiger Scholarship supports students from Maine’s year-round, unbridged islands who are eager to expand their educational horizons through off-island enrichment and travel experiences. Students are eligible for one Geiger Scholarship award during middle school, one during high school, one during college, and one as a gap year. Application Deadline: November 30th and February 28th. For more information, visit: http://www.islandinstitute.org/geiger-scholarship

The Island Institute Compass Workforce Grant

The Compass Workforce Grant provides financial support (up to $500 per applicant) for young adults from Maine’s unbridged islands to help pay for workforce expenses associated with pursuing a certificate or credential that leads to high-value employment. For more information, visit: http://www.islandinstitute.org/resource/compass-workforce-grant

Youth Maritime Training Association Scholarships

YMTA scholarships are available to high school seniors in the State of Washington who would like to pursue maritime training and education in a community college, technical and vocational program, college, university, maritime academy or other educational institution. For more information, visit: www.ymta.net/ymta-scholarships/

AES Engineering Scholarship

AES Engineering is pleased to be able to continue offering scholarships to motivated students to help in the furthering of their education. Our belief is that achieving a high grade point average should not be the only criteria for determining who deserves to be helped. For that reason we are offering a scholarship that will be awarded on the basis of character, as determined by an evaluation of the essays that are submitted. Scholarships are intended for our future leaders across a wide spectrum of fields of study. Application Deadline: October 5th. For more information, visit: http://www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.php

OutdoorStack Scholarship

At OutdoorStack, we’re passionate about outdoor activities, and we want to help others who are passionate about outdoors. Outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, cycling, water sports, winter sports are all about people sharing common interests and are strongly important for building communities. To encourage students and families throughout America to spend more time outdoors, we have created the Outdoor Stack’s Annual Financial Aid Program for students enrolled in Full-Time, Part-Time or Online education courses. Application Deadline: September 18th. For more information, visit: https://outdoorstack.com/finaid/.

HireAHelper Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships

Growing demand and lack of qualified workers in skilled trades like the moving industry means it’s a great time to go back to school and enter these lucrative and fast-growing industries. To help keep up with demand and assist the next generation of professionals, HireAHelper will award a $2,000 scholarship four times a year to eligible students. For more information, visit: https://www.hireahelper.com/about/scholarships/.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW TUITION & START DATES FUNDING YOUR APPRENTICESHIP ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS APPLY

Apprentices come to us from all walks of life and from all over the world. The most important qualities we look for in our students are a willingness to learn, an ability to work hard, the desire to be part of a community, and an enthusiasm for boats and the sea. Since our programs are small, there is a lot of opportunity for one-on-one teaching, allowing participants with a wide range of experiences to enjoy and benefit from the same program. Previous experience in woodworking or boating is not required, however we do review any relevant experience listed in your application. Participants must be 18 years or older or have a high school diploma or their equivalent GED.

You can fill out an application by clicking the button below. In addition to the application, you must submit at least two letters of recommendation from employers, teachers, mentors, professional contacts, or other non-relatives who can speak to your character and work ethic. Please submit an application and all supplemental materials by May 31st to be considered for enrollment in the same year.

Once you submit your application and recommendations, we will schedule a volunteer week. You must come and spend a week working at the ‘Shop to be considered eligible for entrance. The volunteer week is an important opportunity for you to assess whether The Apprenticeshop is a good fit and whether you are truly interested in and committed to the program. After the volunteer week, we will discuss your candidacy as a shop community and decide whether to admit you to the program. A $1000 deposit is required to hold your spot in the program. We will admit up to 6 new apprentices into the program each year.