Great Lakes Boat Building School

Ryan Hinnen Joins GLBBS as Recruiting & Placement Services MGR

The Board of Directors and Staff are excited to announce the addition of Ryan Hinnen to the GLBBS team. Ryan’s career has been as a strategic marketer and communicator, and he has had over ten years of experience leading corporate initiatives and building lasting relationships, which includes public relations, sales, fundraising, and grant writing. He […]


Posted: December 4, 2015 | View More »

GLBBS Welcomes Class of 2015-16

Great Lakes Boat Building School welcomes 16 to the class of 2015-16. Front row 1st year class left to right: Robert Hankenhof, Toledo, OH; Jim Biernesser, Papillion, NE; Sam Hoffrichter, Sault Ste. Marie, MI; Wayne Marmon, Stanley, ND; Jim Nelson, Grosse Ile, MI; Dan Cinal, North Liberty, IN; Lauren Gaunt, Beverly Hills, MI; Ariana Strazdins, […]


Posted: October 27, 2015 | View More »

Learning Curves…GLBBS Commissioned Boats

By: Patrick Mahon, Education Director Over the years GLBBS has had the opportunity to build a remarkable variety of craft. Several of these have brought national recognition, starting with the authentically constructed 28-foot whaleboat that accompanied the Charles W Morgan on her historic 38th voyage in 2013.  This was an exceptional opportunity for our students to […]


Posted: October 5, 2015 | View More »

Duke Harding Scholarship Awarded

Danton Thon (pictured center) is the first recipient of the Duke Harding Memorial Scholarship at GLBBS! The scholarship commemorates the late Frank “Duke” Harding, III. A long-time summer resident along with his wife Martha, Duke enjoyed boating and fishing around Les Cheneaux Islands. Harding Family friends David and Jane Dunn of Hessel, Michigan (pictured left) […]


Posted: September 24, 2015 | View More »

Up On Plane – Connections…

Connections… By: Andy James, 2nd Year Instructor When I started working here at the boat school, all I could think about, talk about, and dream about was boats.  After 24 years in the Navy, I was free to follow my passion and I was in the perfect place to do just that. Getting to know […]


Posted: September 12, 2015 | View More »

Yesterday…Graduation Day

June 5th, held the usual mix of sadness and joy…seeing lives move on to new and exciting challenges but with special memories and the normal fears of losing touch. Each graduating class has its own distinction and its mix of neat personalities and talents. This year’s two classes each had a very special distinction.  The […]


Posted: July 5, 2015 | View More »

“August Glory” Delivered to the US Navy

“August Glory”, the 32′ Cornish Pilot Gig built by students of the class of 2015, was delivered to the US Navy at the Charlestown Naval Yard in Boston, MA. It was an eventful trip that included a stop at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, CT to be shown at GLBBS’s annual WoodenBoat Show display. […]


Posted: July 2, 2015 | View More »

4th of July Open House

Celebrate a Star-Spangled 4th of July in Les Cheneaux! There will be an open house held at GLBBS as part of the 4th of July in Les Cheneaux weekend celebration. GLBBS will be open to the public from Noon to 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, the fourth of July following the parade in downtown Cedarville. Come […]


Posted: July 1, 2015 | View More »

GLBBS Article Published in Lansing State Journal

An article entitled “Students in Michigan take on art of building classic boats” featuring the Great Lakes Boat Building School was published in the Lansing State Journal.


Posted: June 30, 2015 | View More »

Learning Curves…The “Sweetheart Skiffs”

By: Patrick Mahon, Education Director Over the years, we have built many small skiffs as the fi rst boat building project for our first-year students during Session One. After completing their classic woodworking projects and learning the lofting process, the skiff introduces simple boat building concepts and skills. Some of the designs we chose in […]


Posted: May 27, 2015 | View More »

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