For those that want to get their hands dirty, an everchanging schedule of classes taught by craft professionals is offered throughout the summer in the Edward John Noble Historic Stone Building. Explore the 2024 Boatyard classes below. All classes except for Bird House Building for Children are best suited for individuals 16+.
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*Tuition pricing does not include 6% registration fee charged by FareHarbor.
Bronze Casting
Michael Saari will be returning to Clayton in 2024 to teach Bronze Casting for Marine Hardware at the Antique Boat Museum. Basic patternmaking, sand molding, and bronze casting will be covered, as well as information on how to build an inexpensive furnace and necessary tools for sand-casting molten bronze. Making of cores (for casting hollow forms) will be addressed, as well as important safety practices and resources. In this hands-on class, each student will make a wooden pattern, learn to use a sand mold, pour bronze, and finish castings. Possible projects include cleats, row locks, hooks, chocks, small hand tools, fair leads, and more. Students are encouraged to bring item(s) to reproduce, favorite hand tools, and suitable work wear; expect to take home 3-4 completed pieces.
September 23-27, 2024 | 8-4pm
Class Size: 8
Cost: $500 includes tuition and materials
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Michael Saari is a master metalsmith with 40 years of experience in forging, fabricating, and casting metals for hardware and sculpture. He was the lead shipsmith in the restoration of Mystic Seaport’s whaleship CHARLES W. MORGAN and was selected to crew on the Morgan’s 38th voyage along the New England coast in 2014. Michael was part of the winter crew on the USCG Barque Eagle, travelling from New London, CT to Jacksonville, FL. He has studied abroad and in the U.S., completing a master’s degree in Fine Art.
Commissions have included a 20′ eyeglass sculpture commemorating American Optical, restoration of historic hardware at major museums, and demonstrations for educational purposes at numerous conferences. Having taught workshops in schools of handcraft in Scandinavia and the U.S., Michael most recently left a position with the City of New York as Parks Department Blacksmith, to resume private commissions and take a position as adjunct professor of art at Nichols College in Dudley, MA. A lifelong sailor, he has competed in the Star Class, restored a wooden Firefly, and has enjoyed teaching bronze casting at Wooden Boat School in Brooklin, ME.
Bird House Building for Children
ABM is partnering up with Save The River to build housing for Terns and other flyway birds. Come with your kids to hear from STR’s Educator about terns and other flyway birds while introducing them to a shop setting. This class will be adapted to all ages interested with parents attending. Time will be set aside mid class for a snack break. Tern houses will be set in the habitat by STR while other houses will be taken home by families to hang at their property.
July 12 | 9-12:00pm
Class Size: 10 families
Cost: $35
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Canoe Canvassing
Canvassing a wooden canoe using traditional techniques. We will teach how to prepare, stretch and fasten the canvas and apply the traditional silica based filler to it. We will also discuss other types of materials and techniques that are used as well as the rest of the process after the filler has cured ( priming, painting etc.). Class will be taught by Andy Derby & Mark Giovannetti from Itchydog Boatworks. This is a hands on participation class, please dress accordingly. Techniques taught in this class is geared towards canvassing at home and will not require special jigs that most do not have.
August 10-11, 2024 | 9:00-4:00pm
Class size: 8 students
Cost: $100
Book online now!Canvas Boat Bucket/Ditty Bag
Spend two evenings making a canvas boat bucket or ditty bag in the Stone Building. These canvas items are indispensable on a boat. Either holding tools or an iced down bottle of champagne, they will not scratch your varnish and can store flat.
October 1 & 3, 2024 | 4:00-7:00pm
Class size: 8 students
Cost: $50
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Hand Plane Making
Students will leave with a fully functional hand plane. These planes are made in the style that James Krenov championed and made famous. Ergonomic, comfortable and easily customized, making your own plane is a far better tool than those mass produced for the same price. Included with all the materials to fabricate the plane is a Hock blade and chip breaker. Hock Tools blades are the finest quality and will last a lifetime.
Lapstrake Toolbox
Spend two days learning the different elements of lapstrake construction in the Stone Building. The outcome will be a handsome tool carrier for shop use. If you are considering building or repairing a lapstrake boat, then this will be a great intro to all the techniques used in producing a beautiful craft. Elements of lapstrake covered will be lining out, cutting gains, beveling planks and clench nailing. All tools and materials provided.
October 10-11, 2024 | 9:00-3:00pm
Class size: 8 students
Cost: $100
Book online here!
Lofting
Students will spend two evenings learning how to draw out a boat full size. This is the first and most important step to building your own boat. Students will learn to set up the grid, read a table of offsets and draw the three views.
July 23 & 25, 2024 | 4:00-7:00pm
Class size: 8 students
Cost: $50
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Making Half Hulls
Spend two days in the historic Stone Building making a half hull model. This class will focus on the lift method of building a half hull of the Thousand Island One Design, currently under restoration at ABM. The sailboat half hull will be mounted on a board and ready to hang at your cottage or workshop. This class will be good for anyone wanting to better understand boat plans, hand tool use, or just build something beautiful by hand.
July 27-28, 2024 | 9:00-3:00pm
Class size: 8 students
Cost: $200
Book online here!
Paddling Chair Making
These collapsible wooden chairs originally were intended for back support while double paddling a small craft, and sit on the sole of a canoe. While the ones we build in this class will do excellent at the intended job, they are equally suited for around the campfire, on the beach, reading a book in the yard or watching kids at the sports field in style. This two-day evening class will include all the wood and hardware to bring home something that can pass down for generations of good use.
Tool Sharpening
Bring your edge tools or knives to this night class on sharpening. Students will be given the opportunity to learn how to sharpen planes, chisels, spokeshaves or their favorite knife. There will be enough grinders, stones and materials for all to use through out the night. This would also be a good opportunity to bring that yard sale or “garage find” edge tool to get it cutting well. Shop tools will be available to practice on as well.
June 19, 2024 | 4:00-7:00pm
Class Size: 10 students
Cost: $35
