Go behind the scenes of the Boat Building Academy at the annual Open Day 2026
by Boat Building Academy 7 Mar 13:39 GMT
25 April 2026
The Boat Building Academy annual Open Day © BBA
Visitors are invited to enjoy a free, behind-the-scenes look at traditional boatbuilding in action at the Boat Building Academy (BBA) Open Day on Saturday April 25.
Pop into the Academy on Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis between 11am and 4pm and enjoy the unique sights, sounds and smells of the workshop, including the chance to meet the students building five boats set to launch this June.
Visitors can chat with tutors about the boatbuilding and furniture-making courses on offer, and enjoy children's activities, delicious food and drinks, as well as music from the Lyme Bay Moonrakers. A prize raffle will raise funds for the Academy's student bursary programme.
The Boat Building Academy and Furniture School is situated next to Lyme Regis's historic cobb and is the first port of call for trainee professional boat builders, furniture makers, and woodworking enthusiasts from across the UK.
Guests will see the five boats currently under construction - a 16' Ebihen glued clinker cutter rigged sailing boat, a 16' Composite foam core & glued clinker dinghy, an 18' traditional clinker Grimsby workboat, double ender with inboard diesel, a 17' Strip planked Gartside #221 outboard runabout and the renovated 18' 6? Carvel Cruising Sloop Decibel.
Previously built boats and gigs will also be on show, along with unique furniture, designed and made by students, on the Academy's furniture-making courses.
The BBA offers courses from just two days to 40-weeks, and a range of bursaries are available. Information on this will be on hand throughout the day.
The Boat Building Academy Open Day takes place on Saturday April 25, between 11am and 4pm and is free to attend. Full address: Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3JN.
boatbuildingacademy.com