--- title: How Wooden Boatbuilding Prepared Pearl for the Marine Trades description: Learning to build wooden boats at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding prepared Pearl Farley for a career in the marine trades. image: https://blog.nwswb.edu/hubfs/PTMT-20230807-0198%20-%20cropped%20compressed%20resize.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.nwswb.edu/wooden-boatbuilding-prepared-pearl-for-marine-trades#main-content) [![Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Logo](https://blog.nwswb.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/NWSWB-1.png?width=1871&height=1092&name=NWSWB-1.png "Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Logo")](https://www.nwswb.edu/) Menu - ABOUT US Show submenu for ABOUT US - [ABOUT THE SCHOOL](https://www.nwswb.edu/about-us/) - [OUR CAMPUS](https://www.nwswb.edu/about-us/our-campus/) - [MISSION & HISTORY](https://www.nwswb.edu/about-us/missionandhistory/) - [SIGN UP FOR E-NEWS](https://www.nwswb.edu/enews/) - [WATCH SHOP TALK](https://www.nwswb.edu/shop-talk/) - [EVENTS](https://www.nwswb.edu/allevents/) - 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The one class she’d enjoyed as an undergraduate was ceramics. Maybe hands-on learning would be more engaging than classroom lectures.  ### **Wooden Boatbuilding School Was Different**  “Up to that point education was something other people expected me to do. I had never felt excited about what I was being taught. Wooden boatbuilding school was completely different. All day, every day, you’re learning how to do things. You’re problem solving, using your hands to figure things out. From the get-go it was a really good fit.  “The whole wooden boatbuilding program was a lesson in being patient and gentle with myself. At first I was so nervous about making a mistake that it was paralyzing. Now I’m able to see mistakes as part of the learning process. That’s been the most valuable learning experience from boat building school, and it can be applied to every aspect of life.” ![PTMT-20230807-0161 - compressed](https://blog.nwswb.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/PTMT-20230807-0161%20-%20compressed.jpg?width=800&height=533&name=PTMT-20230807-0161%20-%20compressed.jpg)  ### **A Range of Boat Projects Provides Hands-on Experience**  “Pearl’s work on the troller included traditionally built windows with laminated glass and bridle joints,” says Boatbuilding Instructor Leland Gibson. “It’s how a fish boat would have been built in the 1920s-1940s. It’s complicated, visually important work that involves a lot of fine joinery. Her dedicated effort, decision-making, and quality of woodworking have been exemplary.”  “Pearl did a ton of interior work on the Nordic Folkboat, says Boatbuilding Instructor Tucker Piontek. “After a year in the program, all her work was super high quality. She would bring options to me and we would discuss them as co-workers. She came to the school with no woodworking experience and now she’s ready to be in the yard.”  “Pearl brings a confidence and positive attitude towards any task -- whether it’s sanding, prep, or finish work,” says Boatbuilding Program Director Sean Koomen. “That made her an ideal candidate for the Prothero Internship.”  The Prothero Internship, named for NWSWB co-founder Bob Prothero, is a paid position that allows one or two Boat School graduates each year to spend additional time at the school, honing their skills in an environment that offers increasingly more challenging work, at a faster pace, and with more independence. ### **Pearl Makes the Case for Marine Trade School**  In addition to her finish work on the troller and folkboat, Pearl spent part of her internship speaking to high school students who are exploring trade school as an alternative to four-year college. “I had no idea what I wanted to do at that age. I just knew that what I was doing was not it. Now I have a path that is really exciting to me. That’s just a huge thing and I want as many people to have that feeling as possible.”  ![pearl](https://blog.nwswb.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/pearl.jpg?width=800&height=533&name=pearl.jpg)   Previous Post Double the Learning, Double the Skill Next Post Why We're Here - Choosing Wooden Boatbuilding School ## More from the Blog BLOG   February 7, 2025 ### Why We're Here - Choosing Wooden Boatbuilding School ## A shared passion for craftsmanship Corey Largo had bought an old wooden boat intending to... READ MORE... BLOG   February 7, 2025 ### Double the Learning, Double the Skill Jeff Matthews combines boatbuilding and marine systems skills to take on bigger, more challenging... READ MORE... BLOG   February 7, 2025 ### Boats and Beyond: 5 Careers for Boatbuilding Graduates ## Pursuing a Career in Boatbuilding  A career in the maritime trades industry can be both exciting... READ MORE... 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