Courses run on a rolling schedule and all courses are open for expressions of interest. If you don’t see a date on the course below please contact us for more information.

Multi day

Marine Ply Canoe

This is a great course for parent and teenager or for you and a mate, with the finished canoe weighing only 15 kgs. Work together to build a boat to take home to finish. You even have time to make your own paddle(s). If you are a local, you could work on it over 3 weekends. All materials provided other than paint. This course runs on demand (with a few weeks’ notice to get the materials), so let us know when you would like to make one.

All materials and tools are provided and no previous wood-working experience necessary.

5-7 days (depending on size) or over 3 weekends

Cost

14’ Canoe $2,500

16’ Canoe $3,500

NEXT COURSES:

16’ Canoe on 13 January 2025

14’ Canoe on 20 January 2025

ENQUIRE NOW FOR FURTHER DATES

Clinker Dinghy Program

Build your own dinghy over 7 weeks. You will be guided through the entire process start to finish.

Full Course Detail ->

Haven 12 ½ Carvel Sailing Dinghy

Do you want the chance to gain some skills and experience working on a unique Tasmanian timber carvel-planked sailing dinghy?

We have opportunities for one, two or three day participation in traditional boat building and timber work skills.

Full Course Detail ->

Oar, Paddle & Spar Course

Learn the technique of oar, paddle or spar construction whilst making a set of your own. Oars, paddles and spars are to be made from selected timbers of varied lengths and customised to your preference and specifications.

3 Days - $1,300.00

Next Course: February 2024 - Enquire now

Skin on Frame Canoe

Can you imagine a lazy paddle on the tranquil Huon River or a quiet spin around a calm waterway in your own handmade canoe?

Join us to make a fully completed Skin on Frame Canoe. Construction of this vessel will introduce you to skin on frame building and hone your fine woodworking skills. Allow one extra day to build a custom timber paddle if required.

The course will finish on Saturday with a paddle on the Huon River.

Course Length: two weeks.

Tuition and materials: $5,500

Lofting Course

Learn the art of lofting where we start to build a boat and convert a designer’s scale plans to full size and make patterns to build the boat.

All the information required to build a boat can be included in the lofting process.

This very rewarding and this course will enable you put your new skills into practice by building a half model based on those first principles.

Course Length: 1 Week

Cost: $1,500

ENQUIRE NOW

Lashed Canoe Frames for Ornamental/Light Features

Create a unique piece of art with Tasmanian timber. Learn how to build one of these beautiful canoe frames, from small scale to full size models as a display piece for your home. They look fantastic suspended and lit or mounted on a wall. Take home a stunning handmade artwork!

The course covers three days and uses the building principles of a traditional Canadian skin-on-frame boat construction. All materials supplied.

We can also offer kayak or dinghy frames. Prices will vary depending on the frame type and type of timber used.

Not enough time to come and learn yourself?

Ask us about commission pieces.

Course Costs $1,750.00

Contact us now to enquire about learning how to build one

Week Courses

multi week

Build your own Skin on Frame kayak to explore the hidden beauty in Tasmania’s lakes and rivers. The design is impressively lightweight and manoeuvrable, and makes portage a breeze.

The kayak will be built using a modern twist on tradition skin on frame techniques, with marine plywood frames and ballistic nylon covering. We use strong and lightweight timbers to build a remarkably robust frame, which will be illuminated in the sunlight through the semi-opaque skin.

Construction of this vessel will introduce you to skin on frame building and hone your fine woodworking skills. Allow one extra day to build a custom timber paddle if required.

Tuition and materials: $5,500

Whitehall Skin on Frame Dinghy

Based on a classic New York "Whitehall" in the Mystic Seaport collection, the Shenandoah Whitehall is far lighter, faster, easier, and less expensive to build in skin-on-frame.

Constructed in marine ply with Celery Top Pine stringers and plywood seating and skinned with extremely tough industrial weight nylon or polyester. with full floatation for safety. The Whitehall is easy for one person to carry and cartop. Weighs 27kgs.

Course Length: three weeks

Tuition and materials: $8,500

Enquire now about course dates