FAQ

Do I need to have prior woodworking or sailing experience to be an apprentice?

No. We do not require that students come in with previous experience. Our apprentices come to us from a variety of backgrounds with all levels of experience. Some have never used a hammer before while others have spent their careers as house carpenters. 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.

What do graduates of the program go on to do afterwards?

Many of our graduates end up working in the boatbuilding or maritime industry. We have former apprentices working at many of the wooden boat shops around Maine, as well as I would say the rates of employment have less to do with how skilled our apprentices are and more to do with what our apprentices choose to do when they leave. Generally, in addition to the hard skills apprentices learn here, the biggest thing apprentices take away from the program is self-confidence. That applies to pretty much anything you choose to tackle. Want to talk to some alums? Let us know and we’d be happy to connect you with recent graduates of the program so you can speak with them directly about their experience.

What does a typical day look like at the Apprenticeshop?

Monday through Thursday, we start the day at 8am with Morning Meeting. After Morning Meeting, we break to work on our respective boat projects. Apprentices break for lunch from 12-1pm and are done for the day at 5pm. On Friday mornings, we practice seamanship or go on a field trip dpeending on the time of year. After eating lunch together, we do Walk-Around and All Hands, during which we spend time on cleaning and maintaining the shop.

Do you offer scholarships or financial aid?

We know that tuition costs can often be a barrier for enrollment in our programs. We are currently working on expanding the scholarship and financial aid opportunities we offer to allow more people to participate. Please inquire with us if participation in our programs is contingent on receiving some kind of financial assistance. You can call us at (207) 594-1800 or email our Adult Program Director at caitlin@apprenticeshop.org.

Do you offer housing?

We do not offer housing as part of our program but we do have a running list of local contacts who are interested in renting an apartment, house, or room to apprentices. Click here to see the list. We do our best to assist incoming apprentices with finding suitable housing.

What sets your programs apart from other boatbuilding programs?

One of the aspects that sets our program apart is the commitment to teaching seamanship skills in addition to boatbuilding skills. Not many programs combine the two ways of engaging with boats. Another thing that former apprentices point to as being a unique part of the program is the focus on community. The way we teach and engage is very different from typical school. We truly believe in the idea of learning by doing, so participants spend most of their time either in a boat practicing their seamanship skills or on the shop floor working on a boat project.