SBSS offers three full-time courses that can be taken either independently or consecutively through a one-year period: Introduction to Marine Woodworking, Wooden Boatbuilding, and Ships Cabinetry.
Students are awarded a certificate for each full-time course on its successful completion.
The Course offerings page was lasted updated May 14, 2007.
Courses
What We Offer
SBSS offers three full-time, certified courses that can be taken either independently or consecutively through a one-year period: Introduction to Marine Woodworking, Wooden Boatbuilding, and Ships Cabinetry.
As well, depending upon availability, a variety of short-courses may be offered over the year.
Our Course Cycles
If you are new to marine woodworking and want to take all three of SBSS's full-time, certified courses, you may want to follow one of our year-long cycles:
- April-May--Introduction to Marine Woodworking
- May-August--Ships Cabinetry
- September-April--Wooden Boatbuilding
- September-April--Wooden Boatbuilding
- May-August--Ships Cabinetry
How We Teach
Typically, our full-time courses are described by 20% to 30% theory work and 70% to 80% hands-on projects, with theory and hands-on work integrated through the duration of the course. Course components include:
- Theory--texts, reading, written assignments and exams
- Projects--Small teams under the guidance of a faculty instructor
- Guest lecturers and field trips
Requirements
Our basic requirements for admission to our courses are that students are at least 19 years of age; are physically fit for manual work; have no seriously limiting allergies to wood materials or marine adhesives; and have a sincere interest in traditional boatbuilding and cabinetry.
Our basic requirement for admission to Ships Cabinetry and Joinery is that students have taken Introduction to Marine Woodworking or have equivalent skills. The Wooden Boat Building course now includes the core material from Introduction to Marine Woodworking. This means it is no longer necessary to take the one-month long Introduction to Marine Woodworking before doing Wooden Boat Building.
All students are expected to supply some personal hand tools and and safety equipment: A complete list of the tools and materials that students are expected to supply themselves is available from the School Administrator.
On our Links page we have links to some well known woodworking suppliers to help with pricing or comparison shopping for the equipment you will need to buy.
Our Certificates
SBSS's full-time courses are registered and certified by PCTIA, the Private Career Training Institutions Agency of British Columbia, and are recognized by the boatbuilding industry.
Students are awarded a certificate for each full-time course on its successful completion which is determined by the faculty instructor's evaluation of course work and woodworking projects.