New date confirmed for Monday the 20th of July 2026
ONE WEEK HALF MODEL & LOFTING COURSE
Come and join us for a traditional boat design course. Learn to make a half model the traditional way and how to turn this into a proper lofting plan to build your own boat.
The Half Model
We will give you the tools and materials to make your own half model. No CAD programs or computers here, we will go back to the traditional craft and shape our half model with wood and hand tools. You get to take your own half model home at the end of the course.
The Lofting Process
The next step is the lofting. Traditionally done in large, open upper floors called the loft, we will instead take up the upper workshop for a couple of days and make the all important full size drawing based on one of the half models we just created.
We’ll set up a grid with baseline and waterlines and transfer the measurements of our half model on the lofting board. We’ll plot the curves of the sheer and buttocks using flexible battens and nails and make a life size visualisation which will allow boat builders to lift the precise and correct measurements for all parts for the the later construction.
Key Skills You'll Learn:
Essentials of Boat Design
Working safely with hand tools - using draw knives and spoke shaves and making your own half model.
Transferring the measurements of a half model into a full size lofting plan.
You will be working in a dynamic workshop with multiple projects going on around you and we hope you will embrace the friendship and atmosphere of this very special place. There will be boats being built, restoration projects on the go and all sorts of other activities. We love to see new people come into the workshop and welcome all skill levels, all genders and ages 18 to 180.
If there was ever a place where you could come to join in and be part of a community of like-minded people who simply love wood, love wooden boats and want to preserve traditional skills, this is it.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Dates: Monday the 20th of July 2026
This course will take you from start to finish! First you will shape a boat design out of Tasmanian timbers, creating a beautiful piece of art that can be mounted on the wall and taken home. In the second half we will take the measurements of a half model and create a boat plan, taking you to through the steps to make a full size lofting board.
Course Fee: $1,400
Experience level: No experience required
Participants: Five spots available. We will require a minimum of three participants to run this course.
Experience level: No experience required
Participants: Four spots available
Course Details: The course consists of five full days and we take a morning and afternoon break and stop for lunch.
If this date does not suit your schedule, please feel free to reach out and express your interest and we can keep you in the loop for further dates.