The 40 week professional boat building course at The Boat Building Academy is something many of us would like to do, but it is a big investment in both time and money.
In terms of intensity and teaching time it is about equivalent to 2 years at University*, which explains why it is now over £18 000 in course fees.
*The 9 months is continuous and full time, with only a short break at Christmas. Whilst the course is run Mon-Fri, many students work at the College workshops at weekends too, especially as launch day draws close.
So how do you fund such a ‘hands on’ career course that includes joinery and woodwork skills, traditional and modern construction techniques, spar making, engines and propulsion systems, sail making, ropework, painting and finishing, all the theory for a City & Guilds level 3 exam.
“I wanted to do the course for years but the Covid Pandemic was my tipping point for signing up. I used some money my husband and I had borrowed to fix a wall on our house. We repaired the wall ourselves during lockdown, and I used the money we would have paid the builder to pay for part of my course accommodation and fees. As a wooden boat charter skipper who was unable to work due to social distancing rules, I also was furloughed and allowed to use the money for training.”
(2020 student Debbie Purser – now Pilot Cutter Tallulah skipper)
This was a one off opportunity, but what are more recent students doing now to pay for their course?
2024 Student – Sophia Harding from Portsmouth is just 17.
Determined to enter a ‘practical’ career she dropped out of sixth form, taught herself to sail and bought an old boat, which she single-handedly restored last winter. The BBA’s new women’s bursary scheme has now enabled her to join the 40-week course.
She said: “I enrolled on the one-week workshop out of curiosity. I enjoyed it, but had to see how feasible it would be to get a place on the 40-week course, which would require funding the course privately and moving away from home.
“The interview with the BBA involved them ascertaining my commitment, and the game changer was when they announced that I had won a 50 per cent bursary.
“During the summer I worked for Urban Truant, a charter boat company, where I saved every penny towards the outstanding fees. They also sponsored a portion of the fees, and in addition, I gained sponsorship from the William Price Trust.
“The hard work paid off and I’m absolutely loving it. It’s incredibly challenging as you would expect. It’s inspiring to be part of a group of men and women of all ages, from all over the world and with varying capabilities, who are each equally passionate about learning to build beautiful wooden boats.”
2024 student – Hannah Lovett, 38 was a restauranteur
Hannah from Calderdale in West Yorkshire, came to the BBA after leaving her career as a restauranteur.
She said: “I knew that working with my hands was the only way I wanted to work, and I was initially thinking joinery. But one day a friend who works with boats sent me a link to Women in Boat Building which I found completely inspiring. A couple of weeks later, I woke up at 3am, sat bolt upright in bed and knew that’s what I should do.
“I’m so happy to be on the first course to be predominantly women. I love that the Academy is making a conscious effort to balance gender diversity.”
The cohort started the course ‘upstairs’ at the Boat Building Academy learning the skills which eventually enables them to move ‘downstairs’ and begin the long and challenging process of building four wooden boats from scratch.
These boats will be proudly launched, in line with tradition, into Lyme Regis harbour next June.
.
