Meet Our New Apprentices
We have 6 new apprentices in the building this fall. They started at the ‘Shop on September 2nd. After orientation and a week-long expedition, they’re finally settling into building their first boats.
Bret
Where are you from?
Milwaukee, WI
What brought you to the Apprenticeshop?
The internet. I was looking for boatbuilding schools and I’ver never lived on the East Coast so I wanted to check it out.
What were you doing before you came here?
Farming; shellfish, vegetables, greenery.
What are you most excited to learn?
How to sail and be self-sufficient on the water.
If you could have any shop superpower, what would it be?
That I could snap my fingers and have a boat built. I would be the Oprah of boats; “You get a boat, and you get a boat…”
Chloe
Where are you from?
Rockland, ME
What brought you to the Apprenticeshop?
That’s a hard question to answer. I really like being on the ocean and making things. I thought it would be really cool to build a boat.
What were you doing before you came here?
Going to school.
What are you most excited to learn?
How to use a chisel. I’d like to learn how to carve things.
If you could have any shop superpower, what would it be?
X-ray vision. I’m working on the transom pattern and I would really like to be able to see through it.
Joel
Where are you from?
Boston, MA
What brought you to the Apprenticeshop?
I wanted a change after everything went remote and I was stuck at home.
What were you doing before you came here?
I was working as a software engineer.
What are you most excited to learn?
How to create physical things and work with my hands.
If you could have any shop superpower, what would it be?
Safety goggles that never fog up.
Tabitha
Where are you from?
I live in Belfast, ME.
What brought you to the Apprenticeshop?
I like sailing and working with my hands so this seemed like a good way to learn more. And there’s no homework.
What were you doing before you came here?
Farming, construction, and caregiving.
What are you most excited to learn?
I’m excited to learn more about carpentry.
If you could have any shop superpower, what would it be?
Instant regeneration of any fingers that get cut off.
Tyler
Where are you from?
Earth
What brought you to the Apprenticeshop?
Taking my first step toward a dream of building a boat to live in/sail around the world. Less concretely, I am seeking whatever transformation comes from spending my days building seafaring vessels surrounded by other humans who love boats and sailing.
What were you doing before you came here?
Mustering up the courage to steer the ship of my life in a completely different direction.
What are you most excited to learn?
Celestial navigation!
If you could have any shop superpower, what would it be?
The ability to mark any measurement with perfect accuracy every time. Instantly. By eye.
Yonatan
Where are you from?
Jerusalem
What brought you to the Apprenticeshop?
A love for boats and sailing, and a desire to learn a craft.
What were you doing before you came here?
I was attending Deep Spring College, studying liberal arts, combined with farm work and community living. Right before coming here I was raft guiding.
What are you most excited to learn?
I am excited to get comfortable with different tools and learn how to care for them. I’m also excited to sail in Penobscot Bay.
If you could have any shop superpower, what would it be?
I’ll have to get back to you.