Hello all,

I have been teaching a course in wood boatbuilding using Nick's Night Herron design as the learning build. This is a shop that takes "troubled youth" for lack of better words, and gives them a skill. For this course, they get to use stitch n glue, strip, and fiberglass, so it is a good teaching tool. Thank you, Nick for the excellent design.

First a bit about the program. It is called "My Brother's Workshop," and it takes youth that have certain challenges with their lives and gives them a chance to do good with their lives. These guys grew up hard, many times with absent parents and in gangs. They need something to be proud of, and this program offers it. A lot of times we (people in general) write off people who do not do good in school, but perhaps that person has hidden talent that needs to be brought out. Once they go through the program they are able to qualify for skilled trades. This being the VI, boat building and repair is an important skill to have.

So this has been ongoing for a few months, but first we talk about tools and use of tools, starting with hand tools and sharpening. We also go through costing a project because the goal is that the program become self-sufficient by selling their work. We are finally in the build, and today we got one hull stitched. This is a Saturday class, so the build may go a little slow one day per week, but I will keep you posted.