Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Renowned Dorset Boat Building Academy casts its net wider

by Debbie Granville 2 Aug 2023 13:22 UTC
The BBA's Bursary for Women also aims to dispel the stigma around women in practical skills industries © Boat Building Academy

The world-renowned Boat Building Academy (BBA) in Lyme Regis is casting its net wider with new courses and additional bursaries for students and local people.

The BBA, based on Monmouth Beach, was founded in 1997 by Naval Commander Tim Gedge. Since that time more than 280 boats have been handcrafted at the Academy using traditional and modern techniques, and many graduates have gone on to work at the country's top boatyards.

This summer, the BBA has announced the introduction of new courses in boat building and furniture making and new bursaries to make the skills accessible to even more people.

Director Will Reed explained: "Since attaining charitable status in 2020 the Academy has been able to really spread its wings and explore new ways to promote what we do.

"In addition to our twice yearly, 40-week full time boat building course, we are now offering students a more compact, six-week Build a Boat Course which gives a taste of a broad range of skills, while building a Joel White Shellback Dinghy.

"Our 12-week furniture making course has produced a stream of capable woodworkers who have worked in all aspects of the industry, and we are now running an improved course introducing some new techniques to give students a flavour of boat building."

Also new for 2023 is a two-week build a wooden stand-up paddleboard (SUP) course, with two students studying for the price of one.

Will continued: "People of all ages, walks of life and backgrounds come to the BBA. Many people come to us for our professional training, and some of our graduates go on to secure employment in the most prestigious boatyards in the country. There's a real caché to certification from the Boat Building Academy.

"Others are seeking to make drastic career changes, sometimes leaving high-powered jobs in finance and academia to become boat builders.

"For some, it's simply a chance to follow a dream for the sheer joy of building wooden boats surrounded by like-minded enthusiasts and our expert tutors."

The underlying aim of the BBA is to preserve and promote ancient and modern boat building skills for everyone and the academy's popular bursary scheme is also growing.

"The BBA bursary scheme is open to UK residents and aims to fund a generation of men and women boat builders and woodworkers, who would otherwise be unable to afford their training," explained Will.

The academy's Bursary for Women also aims to dispel the stigma around women in practical skills industries.

The newest bursaries, which have been funded by the Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Charitable Foundation and the Valentine Trust are aimed at people from Dorset and offer the chance to apply for up to 50 per cent off the Academy's 12 and 40-week courses as well as taster days and short courses.

Will continued: "Despite the current financial pressures on businesses and charities we feel our outstanding reputation is helping us to make real headway.

"Our 40-week Boat Building course starting this month (August) is almost full and interest is growing in our other new courses, with students ranging from 17-75.

"When December comes around another cohort of students will sail their newly built boats out into Lyme harbour and begin their journeys as professional boat builders.

"It's a joyous sight of new life being breathed into ancient traditions."

For more information on courses and bursaries available at the BBA visit: boatbuildingacademy.com

Related Articles

Fishing: Patterning brown bass
Post-spawn through summer smallies Whitewater Fishing B.A.S.S. tournament pro, Alex Redwine, talks fishing the transition period Posted on 26 Jun
2025 Bahamas Fly-fishing Tournament Series
Anglers to compete across some of The Bahamas' top bonefishing spots The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation announced the launch of Bonefishing Tournament Series that will showcase diverse pristine flats across four islands - Grand Bahama, Andros, Eleuthera and the championship round will be held in Exuma Posted on 20 Jun
Mote leads seagrass restoration initiative
Florida legislature establishes the Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative Seagrasses play a crucial role in the health and resilience of Florida's coastal ecosystems. They provide nursery habitats for keystone species and stabilize shorelines and sediments. Posted on 20 Jun
Maritimo M50 Flybridge & S60 Sedan Video
We speak to Maritimo's Neil McCabe & Phil Candler We talked to Neil McCabe, Maritimo's Design Office Manager, and Phil Candler, Maritimo's General Manager Operations, to find out more about the M50 Flybridge and S60 Sedan during the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Posted on 17 Jun
“I'm living my dad's dream”
Carl made sure to provide young Kyle the chance to be a seasoned pond hopper Carl Cortiana is about to turn 70, but he still remembers the days four decades ago when he'd cast a practice plug across the living room floor and his toddler son, Kyle, now a highly accomplished Vexus pro on the MLF Toyota Series. Posted on 14 Jun
Stories From The Salt - Ep.6
Insights from PENN's top anglers Whether you're a passionate saltwater angler who eagerly dedicates every spare moment to being out on the water, or you simply enjoy watching the techniques and experiences of others, we invite you to anchor up and learn some valuable insights Posted on 14 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Six
Episode Six is now live - Are boat shows still relevant? Episode Six - asks the question, 'Are boat shows still Relevant?' We also offer some thoughts on changes and updates. The final episode of Series One is now live Posted on 13 Jun
Scania, Viking showcase renewable diesel
Mack Attack shows outstanding efficiency without compromise in performance of Scania V8 Engines Scania, one of the world's leading manufacturers of engines, announced today the successful demonstration of the performance and viability of renewable marine diesel fuel in a Viking 48 Convertible powered by twin Scania 1,150 HP DI16-liter V8 engines. Posted on 10 Jun
Sportfishing industry applauds decision by NOAA
Elimination of proposed South Atlantic bottomfishing closure The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries withdrew the proposed bottomfishing closure from Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic. Posted on 10 Jun
Marine Auctions: June online auctions
Bidding to open on Friday 20th June The Bidding for the June Online Auction will commence on Thursday 20th June and will end on Thursday 26th June at 2pm AEST. Posted on 7 Jun
Maritimo M600Palm Beach Motor Yachts