Composite Boat Building Program (8 months)

The Composite Boat Building program is a highly structured curriculum that prepares individuals for the real world demands of manufacturing composite material and products for the marine industry. The program divides the academic year into two specialized semesters, each focusing on the fundamental components of the planning and production of composite based marine industry products. Students in the composite boat building program study the strength, stiffness, structural mechanics and finish of many different composite materials such as fiberglass, carbon, aramids, gel coats and coatings. They are given instruction in the fabrication of these materials, from hand layup to vacuum infusion and pre-preg construction in both open and closed-molding environments. Students also build the plugs and molds needed for the production process. Although inclusive of a variety of composite materials, the program emphasizes the use of polystyrene in order to equip students with the most applicable