RIMTA Closes Out Another Successful Youth Summer Boatbuilding Program

The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) has closed out another year of its Youth Summer Boatbuilding Programs. The four programs ran concurrently in Newport, Westerly, Bristol and North Providence. In total, 49 students ages 14 to 16 were introduced to workplace readiness skills in the marine industry, including shop safety, project planning, leadership skills, team work, basic hand tool operation and the importance of being on time to a work site. Each program ran for 20 hours each week for a total of 100 hours and was funded through Real Jobs RI.

The Newport program was a collaboration between IYRS School of Technology and Trades and RIMTA and consisted of 10 students who built two cedar strip planked canoes with woven seats. The program was partially funded by van Beuren Charitable Foundation and took place in Restoration Hall at IYRS. The students also experienced a sailing trip on Newport Harbor on the sloop Eleanor.

The Westerly Education Center (WEC) program was produced in partnership with WEC, the Community College of Rhode Island and RIMTA. It was funded by Real Jobs RI and the Westerly Education Endowment fund. Through these partnerships and funding, 13 students built two 12-foot Bevins Skiffs out of marine plywood.

The Bristol program was held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Six students finished building a Herreshoff 18-foot Dory and two paddleboards.

In the North Providence program, 20 students built a 14-foot Solo Flats Skiff that will be used by future boatbuilding programs. The students were introduced to post-secondary education options with a tour of IYRS.