Supporting British Industry & Craftsmanship
The Boat Building Academy was founded in 1997 by naval commander Tim Gedge. Since then, they have trained over 2500 people with tutors passing on both heritage and modern skills. The Academy is based in a converted Air Sea Rescue Base next to the beach in Lyme Regis, close to the old harbour.
The Academy offers a 40-week Boat Building Course and each summer the boats that have been worked on that year, are launched in the harbour. The Academy also delivers a 12-week Furniture Making Course and a range of day courses covering woodwork, repairs, rope splicing, marquetry, making a paddle and wooden boat restoration.
Traditional wooden boat building remains on the Red List of Endangered Crafts, since it was added in 2023.
"I called in at the Boat Academy after an unrelated shoot for The Times in Lyme Regis, with the chef James Whetlor. James was friends with the Director Will Reed and he thought I might like to photograph the Academy for The Archive. It was a wonderful hive of activity, with people of all ages and backgrounds working away on boats of all shapes and sizes. Will is keen to enrol more female boat builders and plenty of women have now completed their courses. The Academy has a great reputation and I have met several people on my travels who have trained here. The highlight of the year is when they all launch their boats in the harbour, I'd love to return to witness this." Carmel King photographed the Boat Building Academy in April 2023 for The Archive.
