BBA students build first entirely British wood boats

100% British sourced timber being used to build a 14ft Gartside clinker boat at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis © Boat Building Academy

Two students on the current 40-week course at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis are building boats using 100% British sourced timber.

Ariana Cottam from St David's in Wales has commissioned and is leading the build of a 14ft Gartside clinker boat (design number #107) with a lug rig.

Sophie Allen from South Devon has commissioned and is leading the build of a lug rigged 12ft clinker, sister to the 14ft boat from Gartside design #130.

Both crafts are 100 per cent British wood except for their centreboard cases, daggerboards/centreboards and rudder blades which are made from plywood and stainless steel.

The larch planking is sourced from a single tree for Ariana's build, with the remainder of the boat being crafted using oak and chestnut all from the UK.

She said: "Sustainability is something I've always been passionate about, and I believe it's important in this industry to question where our materials come from and make conscious decisions based on that knowledge, so when I entered the course, I knew I wanted to build using homegrown timber.

"I decided on the Gartside clinker design for its traditional method of construction. Being clinker-built, it offers a slightly more forgiving approach to planking, which is reassuring given that this is our first time building a boat like this.

"It's a challenging but hugely exciting project to be involved with, and like all builds on the 40-week project, it is very much a group effort which is great to be a part of."

Sophie and Ariana are two of the seven women on the current 40-week course. The 50/50 gender split marks the largest female cohort on the course's 28-year history.

Course tutor Luke O'Connell has been responsible for sourcing the British timber for the 14ft boat which will be named on launch day.

He said: "The centre line oak and chestnut are from Tyler Hardwoods; and English larch is from near Exmouth, through Luton Green Sawmill."

"The spars and oars have come from Douglas Fir grown in Devon."

"The BBA actually bought the larch now being used on the 14ft boat two years ago as a whole log and we have had it drying here ever since. Sophie sourced her oak and larch independently from Scotland."

"It's a bit of a gamble doing builds entirely from British wood, but it is turning out really nicely. The planks are going on both boats really well."

Ariana continued: "The materials are central to the project, allowing us to create something long-lasting while maintaining a natural aesthetic. However, since the start of the build, I've already found myself confronting deeper questions about what truly makes for the best way to build boats; Should we prioritise using more local wood, even if it has more imperfections and requires more time, labour, and less sustainable adhesives? Or should we opt for timber from managed forestry, which is more consistent but may not always be the closest option? It's a complex balance between sustainability, practicality, and tradition, and one that I find myself continuously reflecting on."

Alongside the British wood boats, students on the course are building one further traditional wooden carvel boat from scratch.

Launch day (26th June 2025) will see all the boats ceremoniously led from the Academy and down to Lyme Regis Harbour, cheered on by students' families, local people, and dignitaries. All are welcome.

Ariana said: "As I continue, I think the biggest challenge is ensuring the craftsmanship does justice to the tradition of the design. But I'm really enjoying the hands-on process of bringing these boats to life - learning along the way and contributing to something that holds both history and purpose.

"We are having some long and challenging days, but each step in the boats' progress brings a real sense of reward. It's inspiring to see so many people sharing a passion for wooden boatbuilding and working together."