January 17 & 18 | 9AM - 3PM

This two day class (Saturday and Sunday) is a great introduction to woodworking and boatbuilding because participants work with hand tools and with a rudimentary set of actual boat plans. All tools and materials to create a Seneca Chief half model are provided and no prior experience with tools or boat plans is required.

Developed by boatbuilders, half models are actually a design tool. They capture the lovely shape and the “lines of form” of a boat, in scale. Making half models is one of the most satisfying projects that can be undertaken with some basic woodworking tools and next to no shop space. While there are several types of half models, the most common is the “lift” half model that students make in this class. The process requires that flat boards are cut to specific curves provided by the boat builder’s plans and carefully glued up into a solid block. Using a bandsaw, spoke shaves, spoon gouges, block planes and some other hand tools the block is then shaped and smoothed until the beautiful curves of the desired boat can be seen and felt.

The class is $225 for the materials and a seat at the bench of $175 for BMC Members (email Chelsea Moore for the discount code)! Participants can work independently or bring a friend, and groups are limited to 3 per boat. RSVP Here

Email Chelsea@buffalomaritimecenter.org with any questions or for your BMC Member discount/promo code.