Great Lakes Boat Building School

GLBBS Board of Directors Approves Brand Standards

Great Lakes Boat Building School’s Board of Directors has approved a new set of brand standards at their September meeting. “This style guide will not only make our interaction with external partners easier, it will streamline things for the faculty and staff here at the school – allowing them to focus on what matters most…the students,” said […]


Posted: September 21, 2016 | View More »

Governor Snyder visits Great Lakes Boat Building School

CEDARVILLE, MI, August 15th, 2016– Governor Rick Snyder has set on a tour across the Upper Peninsula. His first stop was at Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS) in Cedarville, MI. The visit is part of Snyder’s effort to highlight skilled trades as a viable option for students interested in careers. Great Lakes Boat Building […]


Posted: August 15, 2016 | View More »

WoodenBoat Magazine: Michigan’s Boatbuilding School

BUILDING CRAFTSMEN, ONE BOAT AT A TIME By: John Summers If you drive north through southern Michigan, you’ll eventually reach the majestic Straits of Mackinac.  Crossing the 5-mile-longMackinac Bridge into the Upper Peninsula-the “U.P.”-you’ll soon enter Cedarville, on the threshold of the picturesque Les Cheneaux Islands.  The town’s maritime museum tells the islands’ story, reinforced […]


Posted: July 1, 2016 | View More »

Congratulations 2016 Graduates

CEDARVILLE, MI, June 3rd, 2016 – Today Great Lakes Boat Building School graduated 15 students from the Comprehensive and Career Boat Building Programs. Speakers included: Ken Drenth – Chairman of the GLBBS Board of Directors Ryan Hinnen – Director of Student Services Mr. Scott Peters – Award-winning Author of “Making Waves” and Curator of Collections at […]


Posted: June 3, 2016 | 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 »

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 »

Learning Curves (and Summer Travels)

By: Patrick Mahon, Director of Education The summer months bring a change from the daily routine of the full-time boat building program.  The Summer Workshop program keeps the shop and staff busy seven days a week, with this year hosting more than 80 participants and overseeing the building of 35 boats.  This is the time we […]


Posted: August 12, 2013 | View More »

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