Students

Who Our Students Are

SBSS students are a diverse group of men and women from 19 years (our minimum age). They hail from places as far away as Sicily and Japan and as nearby as Gabriola Island. Their prior knowledge of boats or woodworking is equally varied as are their reasons for attending a traditional wooden boatbuilding school, with some interested in careers in boatbuilding or joinery, others in gaining experience to pursue independent projects, and still others in acquiring a set of enriching and challenging skills.

Why They Choose SBSS

Many of our students choose SBSS because they can, by following one of our year-long course cycles, start from the basics of tool use and woodworking and at the cycle's end launch a boat they have built or complete a piece of fine cabinetry. Other reasons our students give for choosing SBSS include our teaching methods, with our emphasis on learning best practices of traditional craftsmanship; the breadth and variety of projects undertaken at the school, with students given the opportunity to choose, within a set of parameters, the subject and design of their projects; our small class sizes; and our location on the waterfront, on a beautiful, rural island.

What Our Students Say About Us

"The pace, quality of instruction and atmosphere met all my expectations." Wooden Boatbuilding, Class of 2006-2007

". . . awesome! Big change in my life for the better." Wooden Boatbuilding, Class of 2006-2007

"Learning lots and having a good time. Great learning environment!" Wooden Boatbuilding, Class of 2006-2007

"I have the confidence to build, loft to launch, my own project." Wooden Boatbuilding, Class of 2006-2007

"Come to class prepared to learn and be inspired . . ." Wooden Boatbuilding, Class of 2006-2007

"I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the Boat School."
Quill Goldman, Silva Bay Shipyard School alumnus, boatbuilder, co-founder of Barefoot Wooden Boats

"Coming here to learn cabinetry~joinery was the best thing I have ever done. I feel confident that I can take my new skills and continue to develop as a quality woodworker and an innovative designer." Ships Joinery, Class of 2003

"...this has been more than just going to school to learn new skills, it has been life-defining!" Wooden Boatbuilding, Class of 2001