international yacht restoration school in newport rhode island

STEM skills at work: International Yacht Restoration School offers chance for second career

NEWPORT – Full-time teacher to full-time student? Seeking a new career at age 55?

Nick Willis of Providence didn't rush into this life-altering decision. He said he and his wife, nurse practitioner Heather Glenn, like to carefully weigh all factors before making their decisions. In this case, once they put all relevant information on the scale, the decision, while pushing them a tad out of their comfort zone, was clear.

This past September, with a long career as a software engineer for Raytheon and, most recently, two very satisfying years teaching mathematics at the Blackstone Academy Charter School in Pawtucket in his rear-view mirror, Willis showed up at the IYRS School of Technology and Trades, enrolled in its six-month Marine Systems program.

He recently completed the on-campus program and is now honing his electrical systems drafting skills, and making a few dollars again, in the school's externship program.

Willis said he had a “great career” at Raytheon and labeled Blackstone Charter teaching the best job he's ever had. He said the students were amazing, the faculty passionate, and the leadership committed to maintaining “a wonderful school." Leaving BACS was not done without emotion.

“IYRS really tugged at my heart, though, and I felt it would create an opportunity in the future to be teaching something a little bit more pragmatic than factoring quadratic equations,” Willis said. “There's a lot of talk about the importance of STEM. Well, if you want STEM, you need look no further than a marine diesel engine or electrical system.”

How the International Yacht Restoration School programs work

IYRS was founded, in 1993, as the International Yacht Restoration School. Founders Elizabeth Meyer and John Mecray envisioned a a true wooden boat restoration program. The school over three decades has grown to now offer four programs of study – boat building and restoration (20 months), composites technology (9 months), digital modeling and fabrication (9 months), and marine systems (6 months). All four programs have been accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

According to Julia McCann, IYRS director of marketing, the majority of the school's students are career changers, and the externship program is a key component of making the switch effective for students. She noted that IYRS collaborates with highly-regarded industry partners for both externships and job placement. Students and alumni can access the IYRS job portal. The school, she said, has an 85 percent job placement average for grads, with hobbyists accounting for a portion of the 15 percent.

“IYRS graduates typically excel fast in their new careers,” she said, “rising to new roles and opportunities with their employers.”

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In a blog post on the IYRS website, Willis noted that marine systems students enjoy multiple field trips to boat yards, electronics shops, and suppliers and get to hear from guests speakers and enjoyed a career day filled with employers from Maine to California. One day, he said, three vice-presidents from nationwide Safe Harbor Marinas visited the students. The students, he said, also had the pleasure of Al Thomason, co-founder of engine-base charge control company Wakespeed, spending a day with them.

The IYRS' very concentrated education model – essentially five full work days per week – rapidly takes students from Day 1 to work force ready. Willis said that with their savings and his wife's income and some spending adjusting when needed, they were able to financially handle his paying for school and being out of work for half a year. They saw it and now see it as a wise investment. He described his wife as “incredibly supportive” during the new career adventure.

Students of all ages and experience levels

Willis said his fellow IYRS students included those right out of high school as well as people retiring from the Navy and Coast Guard. He said he immensely enjoyed the support of his cohorts. Some of his fellow students are taking a career paths to Maine, to the Caribbean, with others sticking around to help continue the state's history of master boat building.

Willis said he was experiencing some nerves leading up to his back-to-school start date. Those nerves were soothed, he said, on Day 1 when IYRS brought all the students into the boat building and restoration area and emphasized the inclusive school culture. That, he said, was followed by two weeks of message reinforcement.

“They could write the book on what it takes to create a safe learning environment, and I don't just mean safety with tools, although they are good at that, too,” he said.

Combining technical knowledge with practical skills

Born in England and raised on Massachusetts' North Shore, Wills said that while he lived most of his life near the ocean, his passion for boats and the maritime world did not surface until 2020. Due to COVID, he and his wife were itching for outdoor activities. They took sailing lessons. (“She enjoys it, I'm a bit of a nut about it,” he said.). They subsequently bought a 37-foot sailboat built in 1999.

When he was teaching algebra and pre-calculus at Blackstone Valley Charter School, Willis said that when he showed students pictures of some of the electrical work he was doing on his boat, some of them said they weren't smart enough to do such work. Wills said he knew his students were plenty smart enough, and got him thinking seriously about IYRS and that perhaps what he really should be doing is helping children connect into the maritime trades.

That dream still lives.

“I am exiting the Marine Systems program with what I feel is world class fundamental skills as a marine electrician/mechanic,” he said. “There is huge demand out there for this, with the opportunity to become highly skilled and specialized.

“I still want to teach, and eventually would like to be involved in a 'semester-at-sea' style program that is accessible to kids who may not have had the chance to be out on the water, and also includes a maritime trades element in the curriculum.”

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The cost of the marine systems program starting in the fall is about $25,700. Federal financial aid and other grants and scholarships are available.

Willis said the starting pay for marine systems graduates ranges from $25 to $30 per hour. He said he plans to work part-time and then enter the IYRS' 20-month Boatbuilding and Restoration Program. Local boat builders, he said, have told him marine systems plus BBR is a “highly desirable combination.”

“Nick’s story,” McCann said, “is typical in that most of our students are seeking to align a passion or interest to work with their hands with a way to earn a living or follow through on a life-long dream. In Nick’s case, he was initially looking to combine his love of teaching with his passion for sailing. After completing IYRS’s marine systems program, he is exploring other opportunities that he wasn’t aware of prior to enrollment.”

International Yacht Restoration School (Newport, Rhode Island USA)

Founded 1993, with its main campus in Newport, RI and a satellite campus in Bristol, RI, IYRS is a world-class experiential school with a core education model dedicated to teaching highly technical and deeply craft-oriented career skills. IYRS teaches the skills, history, art, and science of building, restoring and maintaining boats.

IYRS is the only school with a 20-month Boatbuilding & Restoration program. IYRS also offers a 6-month Marine Systems program for American Boat & Yacht Council certification, a gold-medal standard in the industry, and a 6-month Composites Technology program that has been heralded as the most comprehensive programs offering a wide array of skills for both building and maintaining products of a wide nature. IYRS also offers Continuing Education courses for professional development, so individuals can advance their skills while working full-time.

IYRS currently has three Accredited Schools: 1.) School of Boatbuilding & Restoration. 2.) School of Marine Systems. 3.) School of Composites Technology. The skills acquired in these programs are transferable to other industries and applications.

IYRS – Newport Campus & Administrative Offices 449 Thames Street, Suite 111 Newport, RI 02840 United States of America Tel: (401) 848-5777 Fax: (401) 842-0669

IYRS – Bristol Campus (Physical location only, please send mail to the Newport Campus) 253 Franklin Street Bristol, RI 02809 Tel: (401) 848-5777 Fax: (401) 253-4111

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One Comment

We own a 1976 Hallberg Rassy 31 Monsun. We are the third owner of the boat. It has all original components. Aside from needed updates the Volvo Penta diesel engine has to be rebuilt or replaced. Would this be a vessel that the Restoration School would be interested in receiving?

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International Yacht Restoration School – Newport, RI

I.Y.R.S. is recognized as the ACBS Associate Member of the week.

The International Yacht Restoration School or I.Y.R.S . is an Associate Member of the Antique and Classic Boat Society.  ACBS recognizes them with gratitude for their support of our organization. 

I.Y.R.S.  EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO MAKE, BUILD, RESTORE & MAINTAIN ALMOST ANYTHING!   They have been an Associate Member of ACBS since 2012. And they have been the recipient of Scholarship funds from ACBS since our scholarship program began.  

I.Y.R.S. , located in Rhode Island, welcomes newly graduated from high school students as well as those seeking training for a career change.  They offer major programs in these areas:

Boatbuilding & Restoration – a 20-month program which enrolls each September.

IYRS’ Boatbuilding & Restoration program is a comprehensive two-year program which combines the time-honored craft of wooden boatbuilding with the modern problem solving skills to succeed in today’s thriving job market. IYRS’ curriculum is regarded as the best in the industry, training the next generation of master craftspeople.

Marine Systems –  a 6-month program which enrolls in March and September

IYRS’ Marine Systems program is an immersive learning experience with a curriculum guided by the needs of industry-leading companies. Covered over six-months are techniques and skills needed to maintain and repair all essential marine systems, as well as career planning, key certification exam preparation and real-world internship experience.

Composites Technology – a 6-month program which enrolls in March and September

Considered to be the wave of the future in the manufacturing and design industries, IYRS’ Composites Technology program offers students unique exposure to composite building materials, emerging technologies, mold-making and infusion processing, all with a heightened focus on career preparation and certification.

I.Y.R.S.,  called “iris”, has a great website with many videos.  Click here to enjoy one of their videos:  International Yacht Restoration School – Newport, RI

The Antique and Classic Boat Society appreciates the extra support given to our organization by Associate Members.   Click here to see this year’s list of Associate Members .

If you or your business would like to support the Antique and Classic Boat Society by being an ACBS Associate Member, you may join here or contact ACBS Executive Director Dan Gyoerkoe at [email protected] or call (315) 686-2628.

Do you ever take donations of wooden boats that need to be restored? I know of a beautiful wooden 51’ Alden ketch that could be a possibility if you’re interested. Call Sharon at 1 805 -878-8201 CA

Please contact the school. You may use this link to view the school’s contact page, https://iyrs.edu/contact-us/

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IYRS - School of Technology and Trades

Education Industry: Education Non-Profit Yacht Restoration School

• 449 Thames Street Suite 111 Newport RI 02840
• (401) 848-5777
• (860) 919-9917
• (401) 842-0669
• Visit Website

IYRS School of Technology & Trades is a non-profit, post-secondary experiential learning institution in Newport, Rhode Island and is the premier marine trades and modern manufacturing school in the United States. IYRS offers education & training programs for people with a passion for thinking and working through their hands. IYRS was founded in 1993 as the International Yacht Restoration School on the Newport harborfront. It was originally founded to teach students the fine craftsmanship and restoration skills necessary to preserve maritime heritage through the restoration of historically significant wooden sailing yachts. Since that time, IYRS has grown into a world-class learning institution offering four full-time, accredited experiential programs; Boatbuilding & Restoration, Composites Technology, Digital Modeling & Fabrication and Marine Systems. IYRS' Mission: IYRS empowers students through immersive, hands-on learning to realize their full potential in career and in life.

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Visiting the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, Rhode Island

On yesterday’s blog, I mentioned that I spent last weekend in Newport, Rhode Island, visiting my good friends, Holly Bannister and Doug Newhouse.  It was an invigorating weekend of hiking, touring, and boating in and around that historic town.  On Saturday, we had the great pleasure of seeing an amazing school called the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS).  IYRS is an internationally known school, focused on preparing students to enter and excel in all aspects of modern boatbuilding.  IYRS is a highly technical and deeply craft-oriented establishment that offers the most advanced technical training in Boatbuilding & Restoration, Marine Systems, and Composites Technology.  The entire focus is on making and building boats and I have to say that I was totally impressed with everything I saw at IYRS.

[albumid2 id=CaptionedVisitToIYRSGetMoreInfoOnlineAndFromDoughNewhouse]

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International Yacht Restoration School

Experience Newport’s Maritime History-  Free

THE INTERNATIONAL YACHT RESTORATION SCHOOL is devoted to the preservation of maritime skills and historic watercraft. in the heart of Newport’s historic waterfront, an area rich in maritime tradition. We are proud to continue this tradition and keep the site accessible to the public and preserved for

maritime use. Visitors can watch students at work in the shop, see gallery exhibits and view classic yachts afloat and ashore. With campuses in the heart of historic Newport and Bristol, Rhode Island, the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) offers technical training for individuals interested in working in the marine industry and related fields. The school teaches the skills, history, art and science of building, restoring and maintaining wooden and composite-construction boats and their onboard systems. IYRS offers three full-time programs in Boatbuilding & Restoration, Marine Systems and Composites Technology employing a time-ho nored educational model that teaches problem solving, teamwork, project management and hands-on skills. IYRS graduates are highly regarded for their passion and craftsmanship

, and work in many of the premier modern and restoration yards around the world.

IYRS has two campus locations in Newport and Bristol, RI. The Newport campus is located on a 2 ½ acre historic waterfront site. Classes for the Boatbuilding & Restoration programs held in Restoration Hall, a converted electric generating plant. IYRS has an excellent marina with dockage for our restored vessels and visiting classics. The campus includes a recently restored 1831 steam mill building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Coronet, an 1885 schooner yacht,

currently under restoration.The Marine Systems and Composites Technology programs are run at the IYRS Bristol campus, which is based at the Franklin Street Marine Corridor–a unique industrial/educational complex where students mix with marine-industry companies located in the complex. Both areas are rich in boating history and marine industry, including some of the most highly acclaimed boat builders and marine businesses in New England.

Donate to The International Yacht Restoration School

Visit our site:  www.iyrs.org

449 Thames St. Newport, RI 02840 Tel: 401.848.5777 Fax: 401.842.0669

AQUIDNECK MILL – International Yacht Restoration School – Newport, RI

NCA designed an adaptive reuse plan for the International Yacht Restoration School at Aquidneck Mill, which servesas IYRS’ 2.5 acre waterfront campus. NCA created programming space for yacht restoration and boat building, maritime research library, and 15,000 square feet of commercial office space dedicated to the marine trades. Aquidneck Mill earned the Doris Duke Historic Preservation Award and the Outstanding Grow Smart Project Award.

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