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June 2024 by Rob Maher
The Carpenter's Boat Shop is a wonderful place to learn - about a craft, perhaps? Yes. And also about one's self, which is a truly worthwhile experience, even if a sometimes difficult, messy, and humbling one.
It's also a wonderful place to learn about Darin(s). The "(s)" is included only because I cannot possibly know with absolute certitude that you will not learn about more than one Darin.
But the one Darin I am quite confident you WILL learn about is a delightful human-ish being. Sometimes he shouted at me for being lazy. I miss him. Or at the very least, I miss that one time when he was the only person who laughed at my joke regarding the correct pronunciation of the word "anise."
Truth be told, I don't actually know if he's still working there as an instructor. But with any luck, he's still around in one capacity or another.
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February 2024 by Will Kefauver
Had a great experience in a week-long boat building class. Well equipped shop and wonderful instructors!
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August 2021 by Russell Neff
Great people, great boats!
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May 2021 by Andre Sullivan
A huge thank to Sarah, Addie and the entire crew at the Carpenters boat shop for the amazing job on on new skiff that we had custom made. The craftsmanship is amazing and we expect to have years of use from her. It’s such an amazing organization!
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December 2020 by Lisa White
This is a gem of a program.
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December 2019 by Kiran Chapman
Hot fire
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December 2019 by Douglas Carter
Truly an extraordinary place, where lives are changed, gifts are nurtured and a sense of community overflows.
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September 2019 by Nat Shed
Great Boat Building Community!
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July 2019 by Ed Hamilton
It's worth a visit just to see the beautiful boats in the showroom, a traditionalist's dream! But these people do so much more than build gorgeous boats. Their slogan ‘we change lives ‘ is no exaggeration, both for the apprentices who stay there for 9 months and for the local community who benefit from the huge amount of voluntary work they do in the area.
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September 2018 by Andrew Beebe
Amazing place doing great work for boats, as well as those who build them.
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June 2018 by Michael Putzel
I've had the pleasure or learning woodworking and knowing the Boat Shop folks for many years, and what everyone says about it is true: it changes people's lives. And yes, they also build fine boats.
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March 2017 by Owen Gourley
I was an apprentice at the boatshop in 2003. The shop makes around two dozen Monhegan Island skiffs each year, and sells these boats, which are often used as tenders in rough water. Each boat is an individual work of art which is the result of hundreds of hours of work, usually by one apprentice working under the supervision of a master boatbuilder.
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August 2014 by Eric A.
The Carpenter's Boat Shop offers lovely traditional wooden boats, classes, and apprenticeships in boatbuilding and woodworking - plus tea at ten every weekday morning. Most of all, it provides a quiet space out of the turbulence of life where you can breathe clear down to the center of your being. During the summer the Boat Shop offers a variety of week-long classes. The one I took guided us through the steps of building a Monhegan skiff, a small wooden rowing boat used by that island's lobstermen to get from the beach to their fishing boats. The traditional design is still preferred by many of them for its light weight and toughness. In the course of five days, our six neophyte boatbuilders (granted, one was a professional woodworker) and two instructors brought the skiff to about 90% of completion. The fully equipped shop provided us with materials, templates, and both hand and power tools; the instructors also taught us about different woods, knots, and the terminology of boats and woodcraft. Some of us boarded for the week in the Boat Shop's guest accommodations in a renovated farmhouse, enjoying private rooms and delicious family-style meals at a very reasonable cost. The day includes plenty of "down time" for reflection, and each meal ends with a reading to provide some nourishment for the mind as well as the body. For apprentices, sharing in the tasks and practices of common housekeeping builds a supportive community that alums describe with great affection. During daylight hours, visitors can tour the shops and display areas, and, of course, shop for traditional wooden rowboats, sailboats, and canoes - plus an original design of Adirondack chairs. The Boat Shop offers repair services for wooden small craft as well. I came to the Boat Shop to re-center and renew myself, to reconnect my head and hands. I found that and more, in just a week. I can only imagine the worth of a nine month apprenticeship. But if you haven't got that much time, there's always tea at 10:00 am. Or, of course, you can buy yourself a lovely boat.
