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It’s been about a year since I checked the status of the boat building program at Beaufort County Community College (BCCC). I called Ben Morris, Dean of Business, Technology, and Public Services. We set-up an initial appointment but the ice/snow storm caused the college to be closed. I rescheduled and met with BCCC the last Thursday in February.

This visit, I spent most of my time with Aaron Adams, the boat building instructor. First a little bit about the program and building.

The new 5201-square-foot Boat Manufacturing Building was completed in 2023. Included in the building is everything needed to build a boat. The facility includes a paint booth and all the necessary equipment. Some were contributed which is appreciated by the college. There are also a couple of boats for the students to work on.

BCCC offers a Boat Manufacture and Service Diploma in Boat Construction. The program prepares students for employment in the manufacture and service of boats.

Other training offered includes Advanced Composite Boat Construction Certificate and Introduction to Composite Boat Building Certificate.

Aaron teaches both day and night classes. The daytime diploma program has increased from four to seven students. The day class has four students from Beaufort County, two from Ocracoke and one from Martin County. Six are men and one is a woman. Students already having jobs include three from Beaufort County and one from Martin County. The class is full when it has 12 students so there is room for growth.

The night class has nine students. At the successful completion of classes, students receive credits in boat building.

Aaron gets around and promotes the boat building program in Beaufort and other nearby counties. I’ve learned over the years that a good craft instructor is not only a good teacher but is also a recruiter and a good resource to the manufacturers and businesses which need trained craft workers in the craft which is being taught. It works well as a partnership between BCCC and business.

Boat manufacturers, marinas and retail boat businesses have shown interest in the program. Students who complete the program have an opportunity for an excellent career.

Each year, the diploma class builds a boat. This year they built a custom 16-foot flats boat. Shortly, they will be testing the boat on the water. It’s a good-looking boat. It looks good enough to of been built by skilled professionals. Students start the process with engineering drawings and perform all work ending with final construction and finish. I especially like the red color.

They also perform repair work and are replacing the transom on the back of two boats.

Boat manufacturing is one of the largest business and manufacturing sectors in Beaufort and adjoining counties. A long-needed training facility and program is provided right here in Beaufort County. It may be the only college program dedicated to boat building in North Carolina.

If you’re a young or old entering BCCC, the boat building program is a path to a profitable future career. Opportunity awaits those entering the boat building or other career programs at BCCC. Today is a good day for future students to start planning. Community colleges across North Carolina helped build many careers.

Al Klemm is a Washington resident and a former Beaufort County Commissioner.