IBTC Lowestoft et al

[pwfl]

Hello,

I would be interested in hearing from any graduates of the long (1 yr) boatbuilding course at Lowestoft, or other similar courses.

Basically, I would like to know where it took you in the world of boatbuilding - immediately after, & a few years down the line.

Did you feel it was worth it (given the fees alone are almost £9K for the year)?

Any other comments on the course, or boatbuilding as a career in general?

 

[chri]

Sorry, no answer...
But I got exactly the same question. I´m especially interested in the IBTC and the academy at Lyme Regis.
Are there any other courses elsewhere in Europe?
Portugal, Mediterranean region... ?
Regards,
Chris

 

[Sean]

I too am considering the Lowestoft course. Is there anywhere else on the web us budding boat builders can go for this info?

Sean

 

[boatone]

Contact these guys:

British Marine Federation Marine House, Thorpe Lea Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 8BF
Tel 01784 473377 | Fax 01784 439678 | info@britishmarine.co.uk

 

[bob_tyler]

Have a look at this site. This College has an axcellent reputation.

http://www.cornwall.ac.uk/fal/index.php?sitesig=fal

 

[ghost]

Is anyone thinking of starting the 1 year course this sept.

 

[kevind]

Hello, I'm just wondering whether anyone has had experience of the long course with either the IBTC at Lowestoft or the BBA in Lyme Regis. As someone who is going to go to one or the other next year it would be great to hear from someone who has actually done the course and their experiences in employment following on from that. Cheers. Kevin.

 

[JesseLoynes]

Hi, sorry this is some time after your original post, but only just came across it.

I Did the 47 week course at IBTC in 2002. Since then I have also worked with someone who did a year long course at the college in Falmouth.

I really enjoyed the time at Lowestoft. Nat Wilson started there whilst I was a student and he is a superb chap. There are obviously bith pros and cons. When I left the college I found that some employers were simply not interested. This was due to a few previous students who had finished the course, believed that they knew everything there was to know, and then went and wrecked a boat, whilst acting as though they were better than anyone else. I'm sorry it happened, but it obviously did.

The College course cannot possibly match up to a 5 or 7 year apprenticeship. However in that one year, I found that my practical skills were bought up to a very satisfactory level, and I had the oppurtunity to gain experience working on many different types and size of craft. Bear in mind that you will have seen and done an awful lot in the year, and that gives you an amazing start, however, it also means you don't get quite enough time to become a master of any area. There is also the issue that once working in business, everything has to be done fast!

When I left the college I took a job in a boatyard on the Thames run by a chap who had been a student at the college some years before. This meant that he knew what I'd done before. Like the fact I knew how to make a new deckbeam, but I'd only done it once or twice before, so possibly a quick refresher, and a little more time than normal was needed.
there was also a hire fleet there, and that helped bring me up to speed, if you've only got 3 hours between when a boat is returned and when it goes out, then that is how long you've got. - Get your arse in gear!

Since then I've also spent time working Maldon and on the South Coast. I found that the four years working in busy boatyards on river boats and cruiser, essex smacks and working boats and then pretty yachts on the south coast has built on the experience I got at the colleged. I treated the jobs as placements, with more to learn at each one.

If you can find an apprentice ship, that is fantastic, but you may not be paid much, may only be sweeping floors and using sandpaper for a year and if you spend 5 years at one yard it is possible you may not see much variety in the craft you work on.

After one year at the IBTC you know an awful lot, but still need plenty of experience. The only area where I found the IBTC syllabus was a little weak was in the repair and restoration side. To be honest, this may be deliberate. Nearly all the boats I've worked on have been restorations, and each one different. I'm not sure that it could be taught in a college situation. The course will tell you how the bot should be, it's up to a little intelligence and experience to work out how to get it there. I fully expect this to be a learning process over the next 40 years!

Generally the IBTC course is fantastic if you can find the lump sum. )Try Princes Trust by the way). Be aware that when you leave you need to sell yourself to an employer with the right attitude. And if they still let you in early, make use of the mornings - The college started at 8, but we were able to help open up and start about 7.20 if you were keen. Work out 40 minutes a day, over 47 weeks, and think what you gain. Some of us managed to tackle many more different projects than others; the more you do, the more you learn.

I know little of the Lyme Regis Academy, but the College connected to the NMM in Falmouth also seemed very good. I worked with a chap who had been there. They seemed to develop equally good practical skills, but differed in their teaching. Rather than doing parts of many different boats, there the students built 2 open yawls throughout the year. This left the chap with much more practical experience in some areas, but only theoretical knowledge in others, such as working with larger yachts. That can easily be corrected at the first job though. They also seemed more in touch with local industry, with frequent visits to local boatyards.

I found the IBTC course somewhat like driving lessons, it taught you all the theory and "ideal-situation" knowledge, then you go and spend the next few years learning how it works in te real world! It was a fantastic kick start, and I'm now happily woking away as my own little company.

If you've got any more questions or want to chat, do reply or PM me. All the best and good luck! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jess.