Barnacle Bill Magazine January 2016 | Page 91

Building Mouseboats at Faversham's Purifier Building

The Minimouse is a brilliant project for anyone who wants to start boat building. It covers all the key skill areas you'll encounter - well, most of them anyway. The boat is an idea design for the total novice. In the UK, there's been a project running in Faversham where the UK Government is commissioning courses in improving the skills and confidence of the long term unemployed. Gavin Atkin interviews Alan Thorne, who runs the courses to find out more:

Faversham-based boat builder and maintenance guy Alan Thorne, who has a workshop in the Faversham Creek Society's creek-side Purifier Building has just completed the third of three courses provided for the long term unemployed and commissioned by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Q: What do they got from doing these courses that they didn't get from school?

AT: 'A frequent thing they say is that on this course they find can do things thaty before they came on the course they didn't think they were practical enough to do.

'I think without exception they can all be helped to get to the point where they can make something that is quite tidy and presentable. What seems to make the difference is somebody showing them how to do something they haven't done before, such as cutting to a line. They may say " no I can't do this" but it just takes someone to say 'yes you can' and show them how it's done.

'In cutting to a line, they may be a bit rough at the beginning, but a few inches later they're cutting quite accurately.'

Q: What are the benefits of making a model before building a Minimouse?

AT: 'Making the model quickly gives me an idea of class members' aptitudes and ability, and attention to detail. It also shows them how the boat goes together, which gives some confidence, and provides them with a sense of what they will need to do to make the boat the following week.'

Q: What do they get from the course?

AT: 'They're aged from 19 to early 60s, and have all been on courses before - but without exception they say this is the best they have done.

'Boatbuilding was a small part of the first course we did last year, but it was so successful we made it a major part of the later ones. The first time we made the models from cardboard, which the students didn't enjoy - but working with real 1/8in plywood, although some started out thinking "What is this all about?" but by the end of the day they had all made a model. At the end of the day, as they left they gave Mark [Alan's son and workmate] a round of applause because they had enjoyed themselves so much.

Continued....

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