Picton Castle's Bosun School
Advance your skills without the distraction of the sea...
There is nothing better than real sea time under sail to gain experience and the skills of a mariner. But sometimes on these hard working ships there is little time to focus on particular advanced skills, such as wire work and sailmaking. And rarely does the opportunity roll around to actually help rig a ship from the keel up or lay a sail out with a professional sailmaker.
The purpose of the Picton Castle’s Bosun School is to provide an opportunity to young dedicated mariners to advance their skills in a concentrated fashion without the natural demands and distractions of being underway at sea. Conducted by Captain Daniel Moreland and special guest instructors, the Bosun School allows you to significantly advance your skill level. Once signed aboard your next ship you will have that much more to offer and will be a greater contributor to helping the ship on her mission – which is, after all, what being crew is all about.
Build Skills and Tools...
Join us for the next running of this highly valuable, unique offering. This particular session of the Bosun School will focus on small boat handling under sail, power and oar; sailing boats of various rigs including a small schooner; sail theory and practice; rigging; sending yards down and crossing yards the safe, efficient and traditional way without using a crane; advanced rope-work; wire seizings; wire splicing; basic sailmaking and sail repair; worming, parceling and serving; wooden boat repair; first-class varnish work; tar and oil mixtures; proper bosun chair work, engine room skills and more!
Dip your arms in Stockholm Tar, learn tons, have fun, become well acquainted with the excellent seaport of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and meet marine artisans and craftspeople with generations of ship work behind them. When you join your next vessel, you’ll take with you an enriched set of skills and actual tools you made yourself.
Enrollment is limited
This program is designed for people with previous experience in traditional vessels or who have sailed in ships and vessels of some kind as either a student, trainee or crew member. Students should arrive with some knowledge of what it means to be part of the team that sails a vessel.
The lessons you learn at Bosun School will provide skills you can carry forward with you to your own boat or as crew on any vessel.
Stay tuned for future Bosun School session dates
Frequently Asked Questions
In order to apply for Bosun School, please send your CV and a letter to [email protected] that tells us more about you, your seagoing experience and your motivation for wanting to become a Bosun School student. For more information on the School, please call us at +1 902 634 9984 or send us an email.
This program is designed for people with previous experience in traditional vessels or who have sailed in ships and vessels of some kind as either a student, trainee or crew member. Students should arrive with some knowledge of what it means to be part of the team that sails a vessel.
Bosun School is based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada on the waterfront. Although the program is land-based training, you will live aboard a ship docked at our 174 Bluenose Drive wharf.
If you are accepted to Bosun School, we will send you a welcome letter that contains a full list of suggested items to pack and bring with you.
Keep in mind that your personal storage space is limited to your bunk and storage locker!
Thanks to the support of generous funders and benefactors, we’re offering a full scholarship for every Bosun School student for the 2021 program. This means that the cost of food, accommodation, instruction and course materials are covered for every student who is accepted to attend Bosun School. Students will still be responsible for your own travel costs, but once you’re here there is no fee.
If you have any questions about Bosun School, or if you would like more information please get in touch! You can email us at [email protected] or call us at 1-902-634-9984.
Captain Daniel Moreland gives a lesson to Bosun School students on painting and tarring techniques.
For this lesson you will need:
– One pencil
– One paintbrush
– One small, rectangular piece of wood
– Paint
– One ruler
– Sanding paper
– Rags
– Something to clean your paintbrush with
This lesson is free through our bonus features. Click here to watch the lesson.
Captain Daniel Moreland gives a lesson to Bosun School students on how to measure your rope fathom length and how to tie three basic rope knots.
For this lesson you will need:
– Rope (manila is preferred)
– A measuring tape
– Twine
– A sharp knife and/or mallet and hatchet to cut rope and twine
Optional: Sewing palm
This lesson is free through our bonus features. Click here to watch the lesson.
Captain Daniel Moreland gives a lesson to Bosun School students on how to make an eye splice, how to taper a splice, and how to make a short splice.
For this lesson you will need:
– Rope (manila is preferred)
– Sewing needle for twine
– Twine
– A sharp knife and/or mallet and hatchet to cut rope and twine
Optional: Sewing palm
Captain Daniel Moreland gives a lesson to Bosun School students on blocks and tackles and their benefits on board a ship, as well as how to repair and care for them.
Some optional items if you would like to follow along at home:
– Wooden block and tackle
– Grease
– Cloth rags
– Hammer with nail remover
– Mallet
– Marlinspike
– Rope (manila is preferred)
– Small knife
– Wire brush
– Varnish and/or linseed oil
– Clamp
– Gorilla Glue
Best Practices While Going Aloft
Captain Daniel Moreland gives a lesson to Bosun School students on best practices while going aloft.
Disclaimer: The Picton Castle crew do not recommend that you try going aloft at home. This video is intended for instructional viewing purposes only, and going aloft should only be done under proper supervision and with the appropriate safety equipment that has been recently inspected.
Click here to rent and watch the lesson.
A continuation of the Rope Splicing Workshop #1, Captain Daniel Moreland leads part two with a more detailed look at the eye splice and a lesson on how to make a long splice.
For this lesson you will need:
– Rope (manila is preferred)
– Sewing needle for twine
– Twine
– A sharp knife and/or mallet and hatchet to cut rope and twine
Optional:
– Sewing palm