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This unique opportunity for families to build their own boat together is available to a limited number of groups in the area during the WoodenBoat Show taking place at the Newport Yachting Center in Newport, Rhode Island from August 26 to 28.

 All you need to build a boat with your family or group is dedication to the project and to each other. No carpentry skills required! Anyone can do it! Anyone of any age, whether they have boating experience or not is welcome to join this Family Boat Building event. As producer, Block Island Maritime Institute will provide pre-cut parts that are ready to assemble. Instructors will be present to guide participants through the entire construction process.

Family Boat Building was developed as a way to bring families and groups together into a fun, achievement-oriented project-and to get more families on the water! Family Boat Building provides an inexpensive introduction to boating, beginning with the basic construction of a dinghy or skiff, and ending with the family's first outing on the water in their very own boat. Last year, more than 70 Family Boat Building events took place around the world, resulting in hundreds of families being introduced to recreational boating.

Family or group members develop a strong sense of pride in each other as they see the value of each person's contribution to the construction of a boat. From school-age children to grandparents, everyone can help in the building process. At the conclusion of the event ? scheduled for noon on Sunday at the WoodenBoat Show - all participants will launch their new boats for their first adventure on the water!

The craft to be built is the Bevin?s Skiff, a straightforward design by Joe Youcha, is made with common construction methods. The design was born out of Joe?s experience in building hundreds of boats with families and community groups. This is a traditional skiff design that's built just like most of the work skiffs that have come before it. No lofting, no molds, no spiling, and no special tools required - but in modern marine plywood. The kit includes all the parts, fasteners, and adhesive.

Anyone can build these boats!Every kind of family grouping or organization is invited to be part of the program: grandparents, parents, and children; Boy and Girl Scout troops; friends and neighbors; non-profit associations, church groups; and at-risk community groups. Limited spaces are available so sign up your group today by contacting Catherine Puckett at Block Island Maritime Institute, 401 466-7938.

The Block Island Maritime Institute is a non-profit maritime and marine science education organization. Their mission is to foster the preservation of maritime skills and traditions, and to promote awareness and knowledge of marine ecology. A priority of BIMI is to preserve the rich maritime heritage of Block Island by providing maritime and marine science related on-island and travel opportunities to local island children. BIMI also places a special focus on providing experiential education for disadvantaged children from urban areas; and promoting educational exchange between the two groups. Their education center on Block Island provides a public sailing school, aquariums, aquaculture education, special programming related to marine science, sailing, and maritime history and skills to all age groups, and is our venue for group tours and camps from off-island schools and organizations. For more information, or to arrange a visit by your group, call BIMI at (401) 466-7938.

History of Family Boat Building

WoodenBoat magazine introduced Family Boat Building at the WoodenBoat Show in 1998 in St. Michaels, MD. That year 60 families built their own boats in two days and launched them on the third day to thunderous applause from hundreds of onlookers.

Beginning in 1998, WoodenBoat has worked in association with boat builder Joe Youcha and the Alexandria (VA) Seaport Foundation to
perfect the concept of Family Boat Building. Joe has traveled around the country producing Family Boat Building events for diverse groups, and his experiences have helped us learn much about the skills participants learn and the benefits to family and group bonding Family Boat Building events provide.

In 2003, Family Boat Building Week was launched as an international weeklong event during which more than 30 organizations hosted boatbuilding families worldwide. Last year, more than 70 Family Boat Building events took place around the world, resulting in hundreds of families being introduced to recreational boating. Currently, WoodenBoat magazine continues to help families and groups get on the water by helping more and more organizations produce Family Boat Building events worldwide.

For more information about Family Boat Building, please visit http://www.familyboatbuilding.com/ or contact Leslie Lindeman.