The Wood Composite Construction Course is a concentration within the Wooden Boat Building Program. This course instructs students in the construction of both modern boats using wood as the principal material in conjunction with composite materials and resins.

Career Options for Graduates
The curriculum prepares students to work with traditional or modern vessels of any size. A graduate can assume a career as a boatbuilder, boat repairer, boat restoration professional, joiner or finishworker.

Curriculum
Students in the Wood Composite Course are taught construction methods through formal lectures, field trips and hands-on projects. Students are divided into teams to build boats under the supervision of an instructor. These teams are responsible for all aspects of construction from lofting to sea trials.

The boat construction process begins with lofting, or drawing the parts of the boat, and follows at a fast pace through set-up and mold-making. Several different wood types and composite materials are incorporated into the boat based on structural needs and load points.

The hull and deck are cold-molded and incorporates advanced vacuum-bagging technology. Fairing is an integral part of the construction. Students are taught interior joinery and finishwork with an eye toward the high level of quality expected in the workplace.

A variety of finishes and techniques are applied to the interior and exterior of the boat. The fit and finish of the boat includes installation of hardware on the deck and instrumentation on the interior. Students are exposed to the simple electrical, mechanical, steering and propulsion systems that are installed on a small recreational boat.

Syllabus
The following modules are taught both in the classroom and in the lab as part of the Wood Composite Construction Course:

• Tools, safety and shop practices
• Lofting
• Wood characteristics and selection
• Composite materials and selection
• Resins and other glues
• Mold construction
• Vacuum bagging
• Internal structures
• Woodworking techniques
• Joinery
• Surface preparation and fi nishes
• Hardware installation
• Intro to DC electrical
• Installing engines and electrical components

Classroom Size
The maximum number of students enrolled at one time in the Wood Composite Construction Course is 16.

Diploma
A student who successfully completes all requirements of the Wood Composite Construction Course of the Wooden Boat Building Program receives a Diploma in Wooden Boat Building.

Boatbuilding Projects
Instructors of The Landing School’s Wooden Boat Building Program select the designs for the project boats based on the depth of information and skill that students can gain from their construction. Some of the designs built by students in the past include:

The LS-30 performance daysailer           The Arundel 27 powerboat                     The LS-26 cruising daysailer