How many high schoolers can say they have built a boat? Probably not many unless they have taken a course from Chip Schwehm. Schwehm runs a program at Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) teaching students how to build a boat by hand. Their last project, a 12-foot skiff, was recently auctioned off and the proceeds went to benefit local education. 

The boat sold at a silent auction in September for $2,500 after being on display at Boothbay Region YMCA. Of the proceeds, $1,200 went to cover the cost of materials. The rest went to Education Boothbay, which supports local teachers and students and helped set up the auction. Schwehm said the organization has been a big supporter of the school’s programs, and donated the workshop’s CNC router and other technology.

John Waldman, who won the boat, said it felt like home when he first saw it. Waldman saw it on a visit to the YMCA with his father, John Waldman, who lives at Ocean Point. Waldman lives in Pennsylvania but spent many summers at Ocean Point and lived there for a time. As a kid, he also went to school in Boothbay Harbor a few years and even did a little local lobstering in a small dinghy.  

“You ever meet that, where you have a really good feeling in your heart about something? It was just the attraction of the boat and the connection with the boat. And you know I'm not even up there very often, but I felt like that was a great boat. And then it also gave back to the kids that built it so they can build another one.”  

Students in Schwehm’s marine technology course received hands-on experience in how to build the skiff. It is not a fast process. Schwehm said about 30 students helped make this skiff over three semesters due to COVID complications. Through the course, students learn how to follow design plans and work with their hands.   

“I think they need hands-on opportunities more than ever because it's such a screen-dominated world they live in that I think it's valuable for them to have to use their hands,” he said. “I think it's always valuable to work with your hands. And anytime you work with your hands, you're usually using your mind too if it's a challenging project like a boat.”  

This boat, an Echo Bay Dory Skiff built from plans by Chase Small Crafts of Saco, is 11 feet, seven inches overall and weighs 78 pounds. It has cherry seats from surplus wood around the shop and spruce Shaw and Tenny Company oars from Bangor but is primarily made of plywood. Schwehm described it as a “beautiful little boat to row” that is quick and turns easily. 

“When you look at the boat, you could just see that this took a lot of heart and soul from the kids and teacher,” Waldman said. “And the teacher's such a great boat builder. It's just wonderful.”    

BRHS junior Bella Orr was part of the course, including some of the final tests at the YMCA pool. Orr likes being able to see a project to completion. She especially enjoyed the last stages when it was being painted and she could see all the hard work come together. 

“I really like building stuff and designing and engineering in general,” she said. “I like seeing stuff from beginning to end, and having it work. It's so fun seeing it all work.”   

Schwehm has also had students who loved the beginning of the project, laying out the rough plywood to start to get an idea of the shape.

He said there are not many programs like this in public schools; it gives students a chance to decide if they want to work with their hands, without requiring them to devote a large portion of their high school career to a vocational school.   

Students learn skills from building the boat including fundamentals such as how to set a screw, paint and finish wood, or properly use tools. Schwehm, who worked for almost three years at Hodgdon Yachts, said even though many of the specific skills are particular to boats, teaching students how to solve problems is a real benefit.  

“The challenge with building any boat is just creating a curved structure from flat materials, and the carpentry skills that go along with that are kind of unique to boat building,” he said. “Generally speaking, there's a lot of mental work that goes along with that. So even if they never build another boat, they challenge their thinking a little bit intellectually and must use their brains to problem-solve and fit things.” 

The boat’s new owner, Waldman, said it is nice to be able to give back to the community through the auction. He plans to leave the boat here with his father as a family boat. Waldman has been excited since he won it and plans to row out with his wife and two children to Seal Rock to watch wildlife. He hopes his kids, now 6 and 11, will get a lifetime of enjoyment from the boat.

“Thank you to all the students and the folks that were involved in this process,” he said. “It'll be a loved boat.” 

Orr is happy the boat is going to a good home. “I love that boat,” she said. “But I'm glad other people can use it now. That's why we built it.”