Youth Boatbuilding Programs

Discovering Wooden Boatbuilding - Carney 8’ Pram

This workshop series centers around the build of a signature Apprenticeshop designed boat, the Carney 8’ Pram! Participants work together alongside our boatbuilding instructors to complete each stage of the project - sign up for one session or multiple! This workshop series is a great challenge for curious, hands-on learners. While the topics of each session vary, participants can expect a thorough exploration of the subject matter through real hands-on building and creative problem solving. 

New Sessions Coming Soon!

  • Participant: Ages 13-17

    Level: Beginner/Intermediate

    Activity Level: Moderate

    Tuition: 

    Standard: $465.00 per session (bundle sessions for 10% off!). 

    Local Rate: $235.00 per session for students enrolled in RSU13, RSU40, St. George MSU and CHRHS or homeschool programs in the greater Rockland area. Please contact us to inquire if your school/program is eligible for the discounted rate. Use code LOCAL2026 at checkout to apply discount.

  • New Sessions Coming Soon!

  • The Carney 8’ Pram is a simple traditional boat designed with our youngest sailors in mind. Equipped with a daggerboard and rudder, it is stable, with ample steerage and is ideal for exploring Rockland Harbor and local beaches. The small spars and small spritsail rig are complex enough to be good educational tools and yet manageable for a 6 year old to rig on their own. For soft wind days, a pair of spruce oars and thole pins will allow a skipper to row anywhere they would like. This compact craft can be outfitted with a small anchor, fenders, and bow line to enable the practice of seamanship abilities. 


    From a boatbuilding perspective, the Carney 8’ is a relatively simple construction that can be incorporated into our boatbuilding curriculum for both our Jr. Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship programs. It is traditionally built with cedar planks on oak frames, and incorporates techniques such as steam bending, clinch nailing, carving gains and bevels, fitting planks and spiling. The rig and sail are simple enough that we can construct them in-house at the Apprenticeshop.

Photo: Erin Tokarz

Junior Apprenticeship Program

Engaging youth in big challenges gives them a glimpse of their own potential.

Building a 40’  traditional Portuguese sailing sardine carrier (Canoa da Picada), is the centerpiece of our Jr. Apprentice program. The Canoa is a multi-year project, and underneath the sweep of its hull, smaller and quicker projects are tucked in — a Carney 8’ pram, toboggans, an ice boat, as well as tools to do the work, like wooden mallets.

Over the course of the academic year, middle and high school students work on all these projects, engaging their head and hands to turn ideas into reality. As the season allows, students spend time sailing and rowing in shop-built traditional boats in Rockland Harbor. Credit towards graduation is gained during the school day.

Regardless of what they build, if they are rowing or sailing, the problem solving, learning by doing, and working through failure is all there. As students practice new skills, they build confidence and become more resourceful, they see what they are capable of and feel pride in their work. These are lessons that last a lifetime. One of our school partners reflected that her students “developed a confidence that they would not have otherwise had, because of what they were asked to do, the challenges they were presented with.”


For inquiries on how to get your school involved, please email our Program Director caitlin@apprenticeshop.org or call the Main Office 207-594-1800.

Photo: Christian Harder

Photo: Erin Tokarz