After retiring from the high tech world of Nvidia almost 2 years ago I started volunteering as an instructor for a non-profit organization called Wind & Oar, based in Portland Oregon. Wind & Oar is a boat school that takes the boat building experience into the classroom of older elementary school, middle school, and high school students. Their hands-on learning method is “bigger than the boat”, folding in a curriculum of mathematics, science and other practical skills (using tools, teamwork, etc..) around the boat build.
So far I’ve been involved in the building of 6-8 Bevins Skiff row boats, about 12′ long each, at various schools around Portland. It’s been quite enjoyable and I’m learning more about boat building myself.
Now, in Spring 2020, we’re mentoring students from Meek High School who are building a more complicated boat, a 15′ Phoenix III with a Sprit Sail Rig, designed by Ross Lillistone. This will be a plywood lapstrake design. Follow along on the Construction Blog Here
