A New Class: Finishing The Harbor Tug “Donlon Arques”
Twenty years ago, we began building the Arques School designed harbor launch: a small tugboat named after the School's Founder, Donlon Arques.  He loved Hicks engines and working watercraft. Over the years we framed and partially planked the tugboat using white oak, local fir and pepperwood, and also some red cedar from Oregon.  The projectmore>>
Advanced Class in Traditional Wooden Boatbuilding
  No, you didn't miss the shutter plank party! When a boat is built upside down,  we usually put the sheer strake (top plank) on after flipping the boat upright. This usually results in a more beautiful sheer line. BELOW WE SEE DOLPHIN IN THE FOREGROUND WITH HER SEVERAL LOVELY SISTERS  IN THE BACKGROUND AND HANGING ABOVE. more>>
Free Celestial Navigation Class
  Learn how to use the sextant with a straightforward explanation of the calculations needed for locating one's position at sea.   A half-dozen students have attended the two recent celestial navigation classes (March 16th and 23rd, 2023) on how to process a sun sight. The same students are now welcome to take sun sights at Rodeo Beach more>>
Boat Design
  To get an idea of what happens in the Design Class, take a look at the photos of various boats on the pages of this website.  With the exception of Dolphin, all of the boats that you see in our shop were designed over the years in this class.  This is an ongoing class offering in-depth instruction in traditional sailboat and yacmore>>
Classic Small Boats On The Bay
Description: Yes, we are again sailing on the Bay.  We offer occasional sails gratis, usually for an hour or two. Please sign up to get on our contact list for upcoming outings. Requirements: All participants must have some sailing experience, and must have read and signed the liability release forms before going out on Arques School boatsmore>>
All-Day Saturday Class
  Starting in July of 2023 the class will run from 9am to 3pm every Saturday except on holidays, the latter not counted as part of the six months of class time. The Saturday Class offers training in the proper use of hand tools necessary for traditional wooden boatbuilding.  In addition, students will participate in the planking and deckimore>>