Marine Fabricators Association helps makeover boats in boatbuilding program

The Marine Fabricators Association hosted two boat “makeovers” Tuesday, October 26 at the Skills Centers through Beaufort County Community College’s boatbuilding program. Three marine fabricators took measurements and then digitally modeled a sailboat and a center console to refit them with a new sail and upholstery.

Students from Washington High School’s boat building class joined students from Beaufort County Community College as the fabricators showed how the boats are measured for the makeover. The boats will then be taken offsite to get retrofitted and the Marine Fabricators Association will return in December with the final product.

Weaver Canvas of Wilmington, Signature Canvas Makers of Hampton, Va., Rick’s Custom Marine Canvas & Sail Repair and Fabric Tattoo showed students both manual and digital techniques for measuring boats for new textile components.

The boatbuilding program at Beaufort County Community College started its first classes this August. The was made possible through the support of the Golden LEAF Foundation and the Beaufort County Committee of 100 is helping to temporarily house the program at the Skills Center on Page Rd. The college will use existing funding from the Connect NC Bond as well as new funding from Beaufort County construct a new building on campus to permanently house the program.

BCCC’s program complements the boatbuilding program at Washington High School in an effort to train students interested in high-demand positions in the local boat manufacturing, repair, and sales industry.