Getting Started

Registration for WoodenBoat School courses is ONLINE ONLY on this site. This includes your application, course selection, room & board, etc. You will be required to make a deposit online to secure your registration. Once you complete this process, you will receive an email confirmation. If a course is already full, you will have the option to be put on a waiting list and immediately notified when there is an opening.

If you have questions about the registration process, please feel free to call us Monday – Friday, 8:00-4:00 at 207-359-4651; ask for Eric or Kim. For more information about our registration process, .

Some classes fill up fast.  If the class you want to register for is full, you have the option of signing up for a waitlist.  We move a lot of folks off the waitlist and into classes every year.

If an available spot in the class you want opens up, you will receive an email with a link to register for it.  The amount of time given to respond will depend on how close to the start date we are sending you the invitation to register.

In most cases, you will get 72 hours to respond. If we are 14 days or less from the start of the class, you will have less time to respond.

As always, if you receive an email and have questions, please feel free to call us with questions.

The main requirement for participation in WoodenBoat School courses is the desire to learn. Our students range from novices to seasoned professionals. Our classes are small, and there is a lot of opportunity for one-on-one teaching, so that usually a wide range of students can enjoy and profit from the same class.

However, there are a few courses for which we expect a certain minimum skill level, and that is stated in the individual course descriptions. Also, we encourage students, particularly novices, to do a little prep work for their courses. We will send tool lists and reading lists along with your course confirmation. The more familiar you are with the subject and the tools, and the more questions you have, the more you’ll get out of the course. If you have any questions about the suitability of a course for you, please call Eric or Kim.

Tuitions vary according to our costs and the length of the course. You will find the tuition amount(s) on our course pages.

We ask that you deposit $500 for each one-week course, and $800 for each two-week course upon registration through our online system. The balance due must be paid one month before class begins. Your deposit, less a $100 fee per course, will be refunded in the event that you must cancel and do so at least one month prior to the beginning of the course. If you need to cancel your reservation within 3 business days of registering for a course, please call us at 207-359-4651.

If your notice of cancellation is received between 15 and 30 days prior to the course, your tuition is not refundable, but can be credited toward future courses later in the same season. If you must cancel less than 15 days before the course, we cannot refund or credit your money.

In case of emergency or insufficient number of registrations, WoodenBoat School reserves the right to cancel a course and return all deposit money.

Because of this policy, we strongly urge you to buy refundable airline tickets or flight insurance. WoodenBoat School will not be responsible for any loss on nonrefundable airline tickets.

High School/College Student Discount Current full-time high school and college students are eligible for a discount of 50% off the listed course tuition for classes in Brooklin.

Alumni Discount
There is a 10% discount on tuition for most classes for all alumni. Those that don’t qualify will be noted in the course description.

Any materials that go home with a student will be charged at our cost. In the several classes where every student works on his/her own project, we have noted the usual material costs in the course description. Material prices include tax where applicable.

You will be sent (via email) a list of the hand tools you will need for your course as specified by the instructor, as well as suggested preparatory reading. These lists can also be found on the course description pages.

Winners of boat raffles will be responsible for paying material costs before leaving Brooklin.

Staying at the WoodenBoat accommodations is recommended by us and by former students. Evening socializing and boating become, in effect, an extension of the courses, and add immeasurably to the School experience.

We have a number of rooms in our Farmhouse (next to the Shop), above the WoodenBoat Store, Cabins in the campground and in the Student House on Naskeag Road. The rooms are  mostly doubles, not fancy, but clean and airy. Bathrooms are shared by several rooms, and students bring their own sheets, soap, and towels. We also have a number of local cottages that we use on a regular basis if we run out of our on-campus rooms. Family members are welcome as space permits, but pets are not. Guests may take room and board with us depending on space availability.

We also have campsites available on the WoodenBoat property. Again, these are quite basic, with no electrical outlets, but in a pleasant location. Campers have their own toilets and shower facilities. Pets are not allowed in the campground.

Maine can be on the chilly side during late spring and early fall. We recommend that you pack warm clothing and throw an extra blanket or sleeping bag in the car. Bring a bike if you have one—it’s a great way to get around Brooklin.

• Double Room: $310/week (per person)
• Single Room: $620/week (limited availability)
• Campsites: $200/week (limit 4 people)
• Mooring: $175/week

Note: If you reserve a room with us and decide to cancel this reservation, you must notify us two weeks prior to the start of the course to receive a full refund.

Lodging prices include tax where applicable.

Our kitchen and dining hall are located in the Student House (originally the Mountain Ash Inn). The cuisine is American with some gourmet treats. Ingredients are fresh, portions are hearty, and service is buffet style.  While you do not have to take meals with us, you should be aware that the Brooklin area is a very small community and as such does not have restaurants or grocery stores. 

For students taking a single week course, room and board extends from Sunday dinner through the following Saturday’s breakfast, including the Friday night Lobster Bake. For students in longer courses, room and board runs from the Sunday on which the course commences until the Saturday morning following the last day of the course. Weekend meals are light and continental.

For students who are not staying on campus, the lunch and lobster bake is a popular choice.

Any meal(s) can be taken al a carte and paid for at the end of the week.

Full Meal Plan: $325/week
Lunch & Lobster Bake: $135/week
Lunch Only: $100/week

Meal prices include tax.

WoodenBoat School is approximately 250 miles from Boston by car, and 150 miles down east by boat. 

Your course begins with dinner at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, followed by a general meeting and an introductory session with your instructor. The Sunday dinner is for all students, whether or not they are taking board with the School. You may arrive at the School anytime you wish after noon on Sunday. You will find room assignments and other information posted in the entryway of the Student House. The School Director will be at the Student House at 4:30 p.m. to meet you. Most classes end on Friday afternoon. Students are asked to depart on Saturday morning. If your course ends on Saturday, you have your room/campsite for Saturday night.