Inside the Boat Building Academy

The Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis has been launching talented boat builders and furniture makers for many years. An Open Day in May offers a fascinating insight into ancient and modern craft.

Founded in 1997 by Commander Tim Gedge, the Boat Building Academy is a charitable organisation that has been producing talented craftspeople for a quarter of a century.

Our flagship 40-week Boat Building course gives men and women the professional training, knowledge and confidence needed for a career in the booming marine industry. There is no skill requirement to enrol—all that we ask for is enthusiasm, passion, and dedication. The course brings together a wide spectrum of people of varying ages and backgrounds for one shared goal: to learn how to build boats.

Though famed for our boat building training, since 2009 the Academy (as the BBA Furniture School) has been running a popular 12-week Furniture Making course designed to give students a solid foundation in a wide variety of woodworking techniques—fully equipped for whatever path they take next.

For those wishing to take their existing woodworking skills to the next level, the 12-week Advanced Furniture Making course has been specially developed for makers looking to work to the highest gallery-standards.

If unable to join us for weeks at a time, we run a varied programme of 2-to-5-day short courses in boat building, woodworking, and other ancillary skills such as sail making, marquetry and antique furniture restoration to suit all tastes and experience levels. OPEN DAY To mark our 25th anniversary, the Academy will be throwing open the workshop doors for an open day on Saturday 7th May from 11:00 to 16:00. If you’ve never visited us before, this is the perfect opportunity to get a real understanding of who we are and how we operate. Staff and students will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about our courses. There will be boats under construction as well as finished boats built by graduates on display in the main workshop throughout the day. There will also be live demonstrations from the teaching staff, with opportunities for people to get The Boat Building Academy brings together a wide involved with activities such as copper riveting and spectrum of ages and backgrounds oar making. For further information about the Boat Building Academy and the open day, please contact office@ boatbuildingacademy.com/ 01297 445545 The Boat Building Academy brings together a wide spectrum of people of varying ages and backgrounds and is fully equipped for whatever path they take next