Tahoe Maritime Foundation provides support to maritime activities, history & education.

​

​

​

​

​

​

                                                           Preservation, Restoration, Education, and Community

                                                                                    Final Report to Tahoe Maritime Foundation

                                                                                                   Spaulding Marine Center
                                                                                                        February 28, 2025

​

4th Cohort of Apprentices:
Our fourth cohort of apprentices began their journey in August 2024 and are halfway through the Boatworks 101 apprenticeship program. These apprentices have been introduced to and practiced over 90% of the program’s required skills. These include shop safety, OSHA, Diesel and Electrical 101, woodworking machines and equipment, metal shop, varnishing, underwater inspection of boats, craftsmanship, marine plumbing, rigging, and electronics, among others. They have completed over 25 workshops and sessions all focused on mastering the skill sets necessary to become a high-quality marine technician. In addition to technical skills, apprentices have focused on soft skills necessary to attain and retain employment in this industry. These include customer relations, time management, email management, and communications. Additionally, these apprentices have gone on ten excursions, including ones to Bayside Boatworks, Berkeley Marine Center, Compass Canvas,
Easom Rigging, and more. This cohort will finish up the nine-months of hands-on training in May 2025 and then move on to their 3-month paid internships with employer partners to close out their apprenticeship program.

Program Benefit & Impact
The Boatworks 101 apprenticeship program has a lasting impact both on the individuals who complete the program and on the broader maritime industry. By addressing the workforce shortage in skilled maritime trades, Boatworks 101 creates a pipeline of trained, job-ready professionals who are prepared to enter the industry and make immediate contributions. Many employers hesitate to invest time and resources into training inexperienced workers, but our program fills this gap by equipping apprentices with both technical expertise and the professional skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

Beyond workforce development, one of the most profound impacts of the program is the personal and professional growth of our apprentices. Many participants entered the program with little formal work experience and struggled with fundamental workplace expectations such as punctuality, communication, teamwork, and accountability—issues that might have led to job loss in a traditional employment setting. Our Boatworks 101 staff take the time to identify these areas of growth in our apprentices, provide coaching, and implement structured strategies that help apprentices develop sustainable work habits. Through quarterly work evaluations, structured check-ins, and performance
improvement plans (PIPs) when needed, we provided apprentices with the support and coaching needed to develop strong work ethics, teamwork skills, and confidence in high-stakes, hands-on environments. This focus on professional development ensures that graduates don’t just land jobs—they stay employed and thrive in their careers.

Looking ahead, we are refining our curriculum based on this year’s learnings, including introducing key technical subjects earlier, integrating more structured soft skills training, and expanding industry partnerships to increase internship opportunities.  

Lessons Learned & Adjustments Moving Forward
Our team has identified a few areas for improvement to enhance the learning experience and better prepare apprentices for long-term success in subsequent apprenticeship cohorts. One key adjustment would be introducing critical technical topics earlier in the program. For example, electricity is a significant component of maritime work, and starting this training earlier would give apprentices more time to develop proficiency. Additionally, we plan to spread out industry excursions more evenly throughout the program rather than concentrating them at the end. These excursions provide valuable exposure to different career paths, and an earlier introduction would allow apprentices to make more informed decisions about their career interests.  

We also recognize the need to reduce hand-holding earlier in the program to foster greater independence in both technical and soft skills. Structuring tasks with clearer time constraints—such as requiring a boat to be washed and painted within a set timeframe—will better simulate real-world work environments and build efficiency. 

To improve support in the boatyard, we hope to introduce a yard coach role and have a senior apprentice from the previous cohort intern part-time as a mentor in our boatyard, providing additional guidance while also gaining leadership experience.  

Finally, we aim to strengthen the hiring process for our apprentices to ensure better retention and incorporate a budgeting and financial planning session into the curriculum to help apprentices manage their earnings and plan for their futures.

We plan to continue to leverage our more structured approach that has contributed to the success of the Boatworks 101 program. The balance between hands-on training and assigned classwork time has been effective in reinforcing technical skills. The chronological flow of the program, with foundational learning early on and increased hands-on work over time, has worked well in preparing apprentices for real-world application. Quarterly check-ins have provided valuable opportunities to assess progress, offer support, and address any concerns proactively. Addressing issues quickly as they arise has ensured that apprentices stay on track and receive the guidance they need to succeed.
 

Factors Impacting the Program
Several internal and external factors have contributed to the success of this grant and the Boatworks 101 program. A key internal factor was hiring our first dedicated Program Director, which significantly enhanced the program’s structure and impact. Previously, the yard manager had to balance overseeing both the apprentices and the operational demands of the boatyard. With over a decade of experience as an educator, social worker, carpenter, and woodworking instructor, our Program Director has elevated the curriculum, strengthened communication between apprentices and the boatyard, and provided much-needed leadership. This has benefited both the apprentices, who
receive more consistent mentorship, and the yard staff, who now have a direct point of contact for program-related concerns.

​

Another contributing factor has been the ability to offer apprentices a strong wage, which has helped attract and retain talent while ensuring participants could fully commit to the program without financial hardship.

Despite these successes, we faced some challenges that impacted apprentice retention. In the past two cohorts, we have not been able to retain all six apprentices selected for the program. One notable case involved an apprentice who was overqualified for the role—having previously earned over $70 per hour, he ultimately decided not to continue at the apprentice wage level.

To address this, we recognized the need for a more structured and objective selection process. Our Program Director has since developed a scoring rubric for both application reviews and interviews to better assess candidate fit. The application questions were also revised to be more inclusive of diverse backgrounds. Our evaluation committee is composed of five individuals, including our Board president, a board member, the Program Director, an industry professional, and an alum of the program. These improvements will help us better identify candidates who are both committed to and well-suited for the program.

Again, thank you so much for your support of our Boatworks 101 apprenticeship program this past year. We cannot do this work and have this impact without partners like the Tahoe Maritime Foundation. 

We look forward to the possibility of continuing this partnership moving forward.