A Bigger, Better Apprentice for a Day Program

Our popular boat building Apprentice for a Day (AFAD) program is getting a makeover. In addition to the drop-in boat building sessions on which AFAD has built its reputation, the CBMM Boat Shop will be running a series of specialized courses each month taught by shipwright Dan Sutherland.

Before coming to the Museum as our Boat Yard Program Manager, Dan ran his own boat shop in the Finger Lake region of New York for more than 20 years. He specialized in beautiful lap strake sailing canoes. His experience as a boat builder and teacher have energized the Boat Yard and added this type of new opportunity to the AFAD program.

The special courses are curriculum-based with some lasting a single day and some others meeting for two sessions. The schedule for the spring, summer and fall is:

May 17 or 18
Fundamentals of Rowing and Sailing (1 day)
Learn the basics of rowing and sailing small boats using the Delaware duckers as class boats; includes rigging techniques and safety issues.

June 21 & 22
Lofting (2 days)
Learn the basics of laying out the lines of a boat full size to begin the building process.

July 19 or 20
Varnishing (1 day)
Learn how to refinish old varnish, touch up damage or how to build up a beautiful finish on a new project; includes stripping techniques and staining.

August 16 & 17
Spar Making (2 day)
Learn the various methods of designing, gluing up and shaping masts and booms for small boats.

September 27 or 28
Steam Bending and Laminating (1 day)
Learn how to form wood into curved shapes by either steaming and bending or by laminating several layers.

October 25 or 26
Sharpening and Hand Tool Use (1 day)
Learn how to keep a sharp edge on your hand tools, how to properly use those tools and how to decide which tool is right for the job.

The cost for these specialized classes is $60 per day for CBMM members and $75 per day for non-members. Classes will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact Dan Sutherland at 410-745-2916 ext. 186 or e-mail dsutherland@cbmm.org.

Fundamentals of Rowing and Sailing
Want to learn to row or sail your boat better? CBMM’s Boat Yard will be running a series of courses on the “Fundamentals of Rowing and Sailing,” on Thursday evenings. The class will run from two hours from 6 to 8 p.m. at a cost of $10 for CBMM members and $20 for non-members. Boats will available for people to row and sail. The dates for these evening courses are: June 12, June 19, July 17, July 31, August 14, August 28.

Take Home Your Own Delaware Ducker
They don’t make boats like the 16’ Delaware Ducker anymore. Unless of course, you stop through our Boat Shop! The Apprentice for a Day program has been building these traditional Chesapeake skiffs by hand, out of cedar and oak. Skiffs built and sold as part of the AFAD program support the program’s continuation.

The Duckers come complete with sails and oars. They are a piece of Chesapeake Bay history and gems of wooden boat building. If you are interested in owning your own hand-built Delaware Ducker, please contact Dan Sutherland at 410-745-2916, ext. 186, or e-mail dsutherland@cbmm.org.

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