Boat Building - NH Boat Museum

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING FAMILIES FOR OUR SECOND SESSION. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE.

Is your dream building a boat from scratch? Maybe you’ve wanted to but didn’t know where to start and what the cost would be? Our boat building program gives you the opportunity to build your own boat from a kit using high quality materials at a reasonable cost. During the class you will use our tools and learn boat-building skills from our experienced staff and volunteers in a friendly environment. The result will be a beautiful boat you’ll be proud to use on our area lakes. If you take good care of your boat, it will last for years.

At the end of each class session, we’ll hold a special launch on Lake Wentworth to celebrate the completion of your boat.

Choose Your Boat:

2023 Pricing
CANOE – Cost: $895 (Two-person canoe).
KAYAK – Cost: $1075 (One-person with max 160 lbs weight).
PADDLEBOARD – Cost: $1225 (12′ 6″ long).
BEVIN’S SKIFF –Cost: $1350 (11′ 6″ skiff hold up to three adults and small outboard motor can be attached).
OPTIMIST SAILBOAT DINGHY – Cost: $1630

Registration Fee
$55.00 NHBM members

$75.00 Not-yet-members

How to Register:
PAY ONLINE: please click either the Adult and Family or Youth application button below.
After paying online please fill out and mail the medical form to the Museum.

Adult & Family Boat Building
July 8 – July 16, 2023
Classes: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

2023 Adult & Family Application

This boat building session for adults and families. Adults work by themselves or team up with younger family members. You can choose from the following kinds of boats:

• Bevin’s skiff
• Two-person canoe
• One-person kayak
• Opti sailboat
• Paddleboard

We allow extra time to build the Opti sailboat and the Paddleboard. So if you select the others, you might finish your boat a little early.

2023 Medical Waiver

Each participant must have a completed Medical Waiver (see above link) prior to the class beginning.

Please mail the Medical Waiver to the New Hampshire Boat Museum, attention Programs, PO Box 1195, Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896. Thank you.

Youth & Family Boat Building
July 24 – August 2, 2023
Classes: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

2023 Youth Application

This boat building session is for youths ages 12 and up or families. Youths can work by themselves or team up with family members. Youths will be taught how to safely use hand tools and a limited number of power tools. You can choose from the following kinds of boats:

• Two-person canoe
• One-person kayak
• Bevin’s skiff

2023 Youth Medical Waiver

Each participant must have a completed Medical Waiver (see above link) prior to the class beginning.

Please mail the Medical Waiver to the New Hampshire Boat Museum, attention Programs, PO Box 1195, Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896. Thank you.

Boat Building Scholarships

Build A Canoe!

The Museum hopes that all interested youth have the opportunity to participate in the boat building program.

For more information or to apply please see the below link.

Youth Scholarship Application 2023

Youth Scholarship Application.

The Museum hopes that all interested folks have the opportunity to participate in the boat building program.

For more information or to apply please see the below link.

Forbes Fund Scholarship 2023

2022 Scholarship Fund Donors

Thank you to our donors:

The Captain Raymond Thombs Memorial Foundation

Edmund and Sarah Dinsmore

Tom and Rose McNamara

Boat Building Scholarship Fund: If you would like to support our scholarship program for youth boat building, please donate here.

Our boat building class was featured on NHPR and NH Chronicle. (Click the links to view)

“I was able to take a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a canoe this summer. I have a strong desire to work with technology and love to do anything that involves critical thinking and the use of my hands.”

– Nathan Hallam, age 14, youth boat building participant –

Registration Fee$55.00 NHBM members