Making 3 Essential Boat Building Tools

Dates TBA in 2027

Location Eureka, IL

Tuition $900

Materials $178

Instructor Bob Emser

Experience Level beginner

Class Size 4 participants

This is a 3 day course

Build your own precision tools and elevate your craftsmanship in this extended weekend workshop. Designed specifically for boat builders, shipwrights, and serious woodworking enthusiasts, this intensive hands-on course will empower you to create custom tools tailored to the unique demands of boat building.

Tool designer and boat builder Bob Emser, will led this workshop into the fundamentals of designing and fabricating high-quality, useable tools. from layout and marking devices to specialized cutting tools. You’ll leave with a refined understanding of materials, tool geometry, sharpening techniques, and the satisfaction of building tools that feel just right in your hands.

Whether you're building your first dinghy or crafting a classic wooden yacht, the right tool makes all the difference. This course not only teaches how to make those tools but also gives you the why giving you a deeper connection to your work and your craft.

Discover the Art and Craft of Half-Hull Model Making

Dates April 17-19 2026

Location Eureka, IL

Tuition $800

Materials $175

Instructor Bob Emser

Experience Level Beginner

Class Size 4 Participants

This is a 3 day course

There’s nothing quite like the elegance of a finely crafted half model an iconic fusion of woodworking skill and nautical beauty. These models don’t just represent boats they capture their spirit in a way that’s instantly striking and endlessly inspiring. Whether commemorating a beloved vessel or imagining a dream design, half models are timeless keepsakes.

In this immersive, hands-on workshop, you’ll dive into the rewarding world of half-hull modeling a perfect woodworking pursuit for those with limited space, tools, or time. Learn how to translate boat plans into beautiful three-dimensional models using traditional techniques and modern materials.

Guided by expert modeler Bob, you'll work with carefully selected woods, glues, paints, varnishes, and tools, and gain access to professionally developed model plans. You’re also encouraged to bring your own lines drawings whether of a favorite boat or a personal design to create something truly unique.

By end of the weekend, you’ll take home your own handcrafted model, a deeper understanding of boat design, and the confidence to continue this rich tradition on your own.

Essential Knots and Smart Rigging Strategies

Dates May 17-18 2026

Location Lake Wildwood, Varna, IL

Tuition/Room and Board $1000.

Instructor Bob Emser

Experience Level Beginner

Course size 3

This is a weekend course

When it comes to building your own boat, rigging is often the last thing on the list. After pouring hundreds of hours into a beautiful build, All too often this final step is rushed. Most boat plans do not have detailed rigging instructions. 

Join master boat builder, sailmaker, Bob Emser for an immersive weekend workshop that will take the mystery and the guesswork out of small boat rigging. Whether you're building from scratch or looking to upgrade an existing setup, Bob will walk you through everything from rope types and block selection to essential knots and smart rigging strategies.

You’ll get hands-on practice tying knots, setting up rigging, and (weather permitting) launching and sailing a small boat. Got your own boat plans? Bring them along! Bob and the group will offer feedback and rigging ideas tailored to your project.

What Those Lines and Numbers Mean

Dates October 16-17th 2026

Location Eureka, IL

Tuition $900

Instructor Bob Emser

Experience All Levels

This is a 3 day course

Lofting is undoubtedly a vital skill for any boatbuilder. Once you've learned it, you'll be able to begin building any boat that has a set of plans. It also allows you to better understand and interpret those plans, giving you clearer insight into the boat’s shape and construction process.

That said, learning to loft can feel overwhelming or frustrating at first. It’s a complex process with multiple approaches, and it requires patience, focus, and ideally, a knowledgeable instructor. Bob is not only skilled in lofting but also passionate about teaching it. He knows how to break it down in a way that helps you truly grasp the concepts.

Over the course of this extended weekend, you'll go through written materials and practice lofting several small boats. You'll become familiar with tools like tables of offsets, diagonals, and buttock lines—tools that might seem confusing now but will soon become essential aids in your understanding and communication of boat design.

By the end of the weekend, you’ll be able to visualize, draft, and discuss boat plans confidently and accurately.