Winter Talks: Boatbuilding, with Will Read

Will Read will be introducing us to the Academy and its fabulous work teaching traditional boat building and furniture making techniques. (This is where our very own Commodore built his Shunting Proa!) A must for those with a love of woodworking, boat building and boats in general.

Will runs the Boat Building Academy day-to-day and co-chairs the board of trustees. Having started woodwork as a child, Will remains a passionate maker and has spent many years working professionally as a furniture designer/maker and boat builder. Teaching has always been an important part of his life, and through the BBA Will helps to pass on the knowledge through first-class training. On a good day, Will can be seen sailing his Lateen daysailer in Lyme Bay.

He will be introducing us to the joys of woodworking and an array of courses where young and old hobbyists and professionals congregate to learn and hone their woodworking skills. Will's talk covers a variety of skills, from sharpening tools properly to making dovetail joints, spars, or solid paddle boards, through to designing and building finished boats with clinker, hard chine, cold-moulded or other hulls, decks, sails, and engines.

In 2020 the Boat Building Academy was awarded charity status, offering bursaries to those unable to fund their training in boat building and furniture making. Many of our graduates have gone on to work in the marine industry, including work at Spirit Yachts, T Nielsens, Cockwells, and many more

Last updated 8:35am on 9 May 2024