Boatbuilding Courses

Build your own beautiful lightweight boat under the guidance of (and a little help from) an experienced boat builder, or join a weekend group workshop and learn how to do it yourself. No experience necessary.

 

Individual boat building classes

 

Zoom Course + kit
Zoom Course + kit
Join Brian Chandler LIVE from anywhere in the world via Zoom for 2 hours a week as he builds a skin-on-frame canoe. Interact and ask questions as you go along. A kit including everything you need except the wood is included in the price.

Individual Build Your Own Skin Boat Class - one person canoe/kayak
Individual Build Your Own Skin Boat Class - one person canoe/kayak
Receive the supervision and guidance of Brian Chandler, a boat builder with over 20 years’ experience as you build your own beautiful ultralight, super tough skin-on-frame one person canoe/ open kayak. Dreamcatcher boats are built on the K.I.S.S. principle (keep it simple stupid). These are ideal projects for the beginner boat builder as well as the advanced craftsman. (Optional deck costs extra.) No previous experience necessary. Price includes all materials, use of equipment and individual tuition.
Individual Build Your Own Skin Boat Class - two person canoe/kayak
Individual Build Your Own Skin Boat Class - two person canoe/kayak
See Description for the one man canoe building class. Friends are welcome to join and help in your boat building experience. It makes a great family bonding activity!

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Group boat building classes

Build Your Own Boat (in a group)
Build Your Own Boat (in a group)
Join a group of people to build your own ultralight boat. Bring a friend or two to help out. The class runs from Saturday to Saturday. Ask us about the next class..

Boat Building Weekend Hands-On Workshop — $250 per person

 

Two-Day Hands-On Boat Building Workshop + Kit
Two-Day Hands-On Boat Building Workshop + Kit
Over 2 full 7 hour days a group of 8 people will build a boat together under the expert guidance of Brian Chandler. This is a fun, hands-on workshop during which you will learn the abc’s of building a skin-on-frame boat, from setting up the station molds to skinning the boat, along with boat building tips and techniques which will make it easy to build an ultralight boat. This includes the price of a single canoe/kayak kit (for a double add $50) so you can go home afterwards and build YOUR OWN ultralight boat. See description of kits at Kits The boat will be available for purchase at the end of the class for $650.
NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
Next Dates: Sunday Apr 30th & Monday May 1st 2017 (11am – 6pm)
Other Dates - Ask us
Location: Britannia Heritage Shipyard,
Steveston, BC

Organise Your Own Boat-Building Group
Organise Your Own Boat-Building Group
GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD A BOAT AND YOU GET THE BOAT FREE! Brian Chandler will teach a group of people how to build a boat for $1799. At the end of the class the boat is yours. So, for example, if you get 6 people for the class and charge them each $300 you get a free boat. If you get 9 people for the class, you can charge them $200 each and get a free boat! This is a limited time offer and applies only in Vancouver, BC. If you want the same deal elsewhere, just add Brian's travel and accommodation costs to the $1799. Contact us to arrange your free boat today! Dreamcatcher boats are built on the K.I.S.S. principle (keep it simple stupid). These are ideal projects for the beginner boat builder as well as the advanced craftsman, so everyone is included in the fun and contributes towards the finished boat. This is a wonderful project for a school group, club event, summer camp, team building or corporate event, or even a group of friends looking for an event with a difference. We'll tailor the event to your requirements, but you can be sure there`ll always be lots of fun and confidence building included. Contact us to find out how we encourage teamwork and communication, boost morale and improve employee engagement for your company event. Under Brian Chandler's easy and informal guidance, you will be taught the principles of boat building along with a mystique destroying and problem solving attitude to achieve your final goal -- a beautiful self-styled and completed boat. Before you know it, you will all be engaged hands-on in building your own canoe or kayak, and marveling at your own newfound skill. You'll also learn to:
  • Trust your own judgement.
  • Use a handsaw to cut accurate compound angles with ease.
  • Fair lines and curves, and
  • Use your own unique creativity and sense of esthetics.
In this fun and informative class, Brian will supply you with all the know-how, techniques, encouragement and support you need to get the job done.


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