The Sydney Wooden Boat School no longer holds classes, but the Sydney Wooden Boat School manuals have been combined into a single book edition available on our SHOP Page now. The manuals grew out of the direct teaching experience of Ian Smith and contain clear descriptions of each part of the process plus photographs and sketches. This experience of explaining things to first-timers means that Ian’s manuals contain explanations and tips not found elsewhere. The book “Wooden Boatbuilding- The Sydney Wooden Boat School Manuals” combines the “Building a Traditional Clinker Dinghy”, “Epoxy Strip Planking”, “Plywood Clinker Construction” and “Building the Whiting Skiff” Manuals and will also contain a new section on “Carvel Planking”.

Visit the Shop for details and how to buy:

Read about the history of the school and about the author in About.

Check out some of the boats built at the school in the gallery. The school ran classes from 1989 to 2000.

Please contact Ian with any queries.