The Great Lakes Boat Building School in Cedarville graduated its first group of students Friday, June 6. Graduates pictured are (from left) Chris Fields, Robert Coady, Bryan Madigan, Josh Walker, Bob Causley, Yong Heo, and Chris Musson. Surrounded by the five boats they built using contemporary and traditional methods, seven members of the first graduating class of the Great Lakes Boat Building School in Cedarville received certificates of completion Friday, June 6. Student Bob Coady of Cedarville was chosen as the class speaker.

The men have built boats including two flat-bottom rowing skiffs, a canoe, a utility launch, and the hull of a boat that, when finished, will be used to teach sailing to the disabled. The men, who have brought various levels of experience and expectations to the class, have spent the last nine months learning boat building techniques at the school built in 2007.

The students report they learned valuable skills in the program, but they also have found the job market in boat work is currently weak in Michigan.

Two of the course graduates have been hired by companies to restore wooden boats, two students will continue at the school, taking the summer advanced course in joinery, two students will move on to other work, and one student has registered to attend North Central Michigan College of Petoskey with plans of earning an associate's degree in boat building.

Student Chris Musson of Wausau, Wisconsin, came to Cedarville after reading about the school in a boating magazine.

"I thought it sounded interesting," he said of learning the skill.

Now he will move to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he will use his new skills working for a company where he will specialize in restoring wooden runabouts.

Bryan Madigan of Traverse City came to the school with seven years of experience in building pipe organs. He now is looking for a job working on wooden boats, although he also is considering starting his own business.

Yong Heo of Plymouth had furniture woodworking experience, lost his job, and thought the school offered a good opportunity to broaden his skills. While he was in school, his wife remained at their home in Plymouth. Now he is looking for a job near their town, although the area's economy has made finding a job difficult.

"I've really learned a lot," he said of his classes, although he came to the school with the expectation of getting a job and has found that a move to a coastal region would be required, which is not an option for him.

"I think that it's difficult getting a job in boat building," he said, "unless your location is appropriate."

Mr. Madigan agreed. Their skill levels have greatly improved since taking the class, although they said the job market for boat work in Michigan is weak now, and suggested the school also could promote the program to those not seeking a job, including retirees and hobbyists.

"In any job, you're going to have peaks and valleys," he said. "I think we're probably in a valley right now. At least for a little while."

Chris Fields of Wolverine is taking the 10-week summer joinery class at the school. The joinery class teaches techniques in custom interior work on boats. Once finished, he hopes to get a job with Van Dam Custom Boats in Boyne City, which he considers one of the best custom boat building companies in the country.

"They only hire one guy a year," he said. "So I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

Bob Causley of Hessel began working Monday, June 9, for Tassier Boat Works of Cedarville. He is excited about his new job working on boat restoration and maintenance.

Robert Coady of Cedarville also has registered to take the summer course. Then, he plans to work in construction.

Josh Walker of Franklin has signed up for the summer class and in the fall he will head to North Central Michigan College (NCMC) of Petoskey to earn an associate's degree in boat building. At NCMC, his course work will include basic classes like mathematics, English, computer aided design, and business.

After he receives his degree, starting his own business building kayaks or working for a company are options he is considering.

"I learned a lot," he said of the school. "It was a very good program. I expect great things to come of it. The school can only improve from here."

The Great Lakes Boat Building School, explained the schoo's director, Dave Lesh, has partnered with NCMC to offer an associate's degree in wooden boat building.

For students, course work over the last nine months has required hands-on experience of building boats using the traditional method of plank-on-frame construction, while contemporary boat building allows a composite of materials, including epoxy and wood.

The two skiffs built by the students are being donated to Islands Wildlife Association in Cedarville and the Cedar Post Food Pantry. Both organizations will auction the vessels to raise money for their own programs. Another boat is being donated to Camp Quality, a program for children with cancer.

"We're trying to find good homes for them," said Mr. Lesh said of the boats.

A 21-foot utility launch, which will run for six to seven hours using electric power, was a project students began. The interior of the boat will be completed as part of the summer course work and the boat is expected to be finished in August.

A composite wood boat, also to be completed in the summer class, with program director Patrick Mahon, is specifically designed to teach sailing to disabled sailors, at Challenge Mountain in Boyne City. The 20-foot vessel is a combination of fiberglass, wood, and epoxy construction.

The nonprofit Great Lakes Boat Building School operates with an 11-member a board of directors, including Chairman Bob Smith, Vice Chair Joyce Cram, Treasurer Greg Malcho, Secretary Rose Miller, and directors Mike Davis, Keith Kester, Tony Autore, Marti Hart, Paul Wilson, Tom Mertaugh, and Mr. Lesh.

Mr. Smith welcomed friends and families of the graduates during Friday's ceremony. Mike Hurchick of Challenge Mountain told attendees of the importance of the work the students had done on the utility sailing vessel. Mr. Lesh congratulated students on their accomplishment, and Mr. Mahon presented the certificates.

"These are great guys," said Mr. Lesh. "I think they all will be good employees and workers for people."

Four students have signed up for the summer course, said Mr. Lesh, and workshops also will be offered during the season. Ten students have signed up for the next ninemonth boat building class beginning this fall, and about eight more students are expected to enroll.

With Mr. Mahon already on staff as an instructor, with interest and projects growing, the school recently hired a second instructor, Adam Burks. The plan is to maintain the ratio of 10 students to one instructor.