Hull High School Woodshop Students Build Boats for Hull Lifesaving Museum

Students Richard Coleman and Robert Casagrande work on building a boat for the Hull Lifesaving Museum. (Photo Courtesy Hull Public Schools)

HULL — Superintendent Judith Kuehn and Principal Michael Knybel are pleased to share that Hull High School woodshop students have been building boats for the Hull Lifesaving Museum. 

Throughout the school year, under the direction of woodshop teacher Derek Skapars, Hull High School students have been participating in an ongoing project to design and build wooden boats to be displayed at the Hull Lifesaving Museum. 

For over 40 years, the Hull Lifesaving Museum has provided crucial lessons from Hull's maritime heritage and life-changing, sometimes life-saving, youth development experiences. The museum's year-round education and recreation programs are broadly recognized as best practice models. 

The need for the boats was first relayed to school administration in September 2022, shortly after Skapars' appointment. 

After coordinating with the museum, Hull High School implemented the boat-building project in January 2023 as a way to engage students, local businesses, parents, staff, and wooden boat enthusiasts alike while also fulfilling engineering requirements for students. 

The Museum was able to secure a materials grant through US Rowing and all materials were in place to begin construction. The construction of the first boat, the "SSGT Emily M Carroll" commenced in January 2023 and was completed in August.

The boats will be used for experiential maritime training and will be on display at the Hull Lifesaving Museum for the next 200 years.

"This is a fantastic collaboration that will make a direct impact on students; futures and the maritime industry in Hull," said Hull Lifesaving Museum Executive Director Mike McGurl. 

As part of the process, students work in teams throughout the school year to translate project plans, manufacture boat parts and assemble the boats using the manufactured parts. 

"Boats have complicated geometry and complicated construction processes; therefore, challenging the students on multiple levels," said McGurl.

"For students, boat building not only meets the woodshop class requirements but also teaches a variety of problem-solving skills, and team-building principles and fosters positive collaboration between community members, small businesses, parents, and school administrators, as well as teachers," added Skapars.

Once completed, each boat is presented to the school committee for updates and improvements before being launched in either a race or a dedication ceremony. 

The first completed boat was launched in February. Students were invited to practice rowing skills over the February vacation and more practice sessions are anticipated in the next month.

Additionally, the rowing dories being built are ideal for rowers of all levels and will be utilized in youth and adult rowing programs. Hull High School seniors Jamie Frady and Robby Casagrande rowed the dory in the recent Snow Row Race at Hull Lifesaving Museum’s boathouse. They finished first in their division in a field of 250 rowers. 

The boat was also displayed in the lobby of the high school for public viewing during a school committee meeting in June. 

A second boat is currently being constructed and will be presented to the school committee next month before being presented to the Hull Lifesaving Museum.

Hull High School students have been participating in an ongoing project to design and build wooden boats to be displayed at the Hull Lifesaving Museum. (Photo Courtesy Hull Public Schools)

From left: students Jamie Frady, Leah Frady, Grace Naylor, Robbie Casagrande and Peter Lothrop stand behind a boat built for the Hull Lifesaving Museum. (Photo Courtesy Hull Public Schools)