Boat Building Academy & Furniture School

I attended the Wooden Boat Restoration course at the Academy last week, can't recommend the place highly enough! Learned a lot of new techniques, many things were demystified, and the trainers are great. Must especially praise Joe for handling our whole class and Steve for pitching in too. I've already started putting some of the things I learned into practice, and what a beautiful location right on the sea front! Top stuff.

Woodworking Skills 1 & 2 were both brilliant one-week courses. Mark Ripley is a talented and thoughtful tutor, and us novices were very lucky to benefit from his expertise. An inspiring two weeks and I look forward to returning to the BBA for more courses in the near future.

The last day of the five day Wooden Boat Restoration course. It’s been a great week, covering lots of subject matter, terminology, types and uses of timber, building methods, techniques and lots of hands on practical work. Friendly and knowledgeable instructors who all have a passion for wooden boats. A great introduction course. I wish I could stay for longer!

I attended the 40 week boat building course in 2019. I learnt how to build wooden boats to industry standard and so much more - woodworking, lofting, finishing, project management, health and safety, team work, and a lot about life!The instruction is first rate, the tutors will always have time and patience for your questions, and assistance with the build is freely given. The course literally is about showing that you are capable of building a stunning boat from the ground up (or upside down).I would recommend the course to anyone regardless of whether or not they continue in boatbuilding. It was a life experience worth having.

BBA has fantastic instructors with a wealth of knowledge and passion for traditional boat building. The academy has a really nice and friendly atmosphere where people share and encourage each other to improve their skills and collaborate on amazing projects. Lyme Regis is also the idyllic backdrop for immersing yourself in boat building. For me its been a life changing experience.

I have spent many years on holiday in Lyme Regis and always remember the boat academy. This year I called in and asked if it was possible to talk about my proposed hobby of building my own small boat at home. I can’t express how pleased I was that this gentleman took the time to talk to me and even showed me around the workshops. They couldn’t have been more helpful showing different boat builds at different stages , I even met w few students working on there own boats. Night Recommended, it’s was amazing to see such skill and amazing craftsmanship.

This is a great environment to immerse yourself in boatbuilding. There is a real buzz of energy and enthusiasm. The quality of the instruction is outstanding and you really learn a lot in the course of a week

I attended the 40 week boat building course at the academy in 2006. My experience was excellent in every respect. We were taught everything from sharpening our tools, to tight seam carvel planking, epoxy systems, Simpson's rule, lofting... the list is too long to write here.My time at the academy set me up very well for working in the boat building industry, I have worked on a huge variety of vessels, from new builds in composite materials to restorations of tall ships and everything in between.Lyme Regis itself is also a lovely place, I try to return for visits as often as I can.

Some while ago I attended an introductory course of only 2days, but what a learning experience. The information, experience, and knowledge that these guys pass on is exceptional. Everyone was very welcoming and helpful no one could ask for more. Since then I have continued to learn through various ways, and have built my own 10' Paul Gartside boat, but it started with the guidance and advice and help I received in Lyme Regis, thank-you.

So, I attended the 2 day Ropework course. We covered a lot in that short time including but not limited to types of rope, tools required for splicing rope and techniques: Whipping ( Plain, West Country, Admiralty), Three strand rope (short and long splicing, soft and hard eyes, back splicing, shackle splicing and grommet and quoit) additionally for single brade rope eyes brommel and mobius brummel, and for double branded rope eyes. And to finish it off a soft shackle in dyneema. The instructors are very patient , friendly and knowloegable. The venue is inspiring with the smell of wood and adhesives in the air as boats are being built by hand all around you. And the location allows for coffee breaks sitting outside looking out to sea. I would have no hesitation in recommending the course to others. If you are thinking about it just go and do it;).