Background Information on the AMM and Our WBS Classes

Subject: Apalachicola Maritime Museum Wooden Boat School class confirmation and preparation

Good Morning/Afternoon :

Congratulations on your decision to attend the Wooden Boat School (WBS) at the Apalachicola Maritime Museum (AMM) set to begin on _____. We would like to welcome you to our boatbuilding family and our hometown of Apalachicola. We are committed to ensure that you will enjoy both the building experience and subsequent use of the wooden boat that we will build together during your visit. The purpose of this email is to provide you with information about the boatbuilding program, class schedule, lodging and dining amenities to be found in Apalachicola and to review administrative documents regarding safety and other matters that will need to be completed prior to arrival.

Background information on the AMM and our WBS classes:

To get more familiar with the AMM we encourage you to visit the web to and tour the following informational resources.

• Web Site - ( for an overview of the AMM history and mission.

• Facebook Page – ( to learn of current events at the AMM. Note that photos from your class will be posted here with daily updates of the building activity so that you may want to share this with family and friends.

• YouTube Channel – ( to watch videos regarding all of the AMM activities. We especially suggest you watch the following videos that pertain directly to the AMM WBS. We strongly suggest you watch this video for the class you plan to attend and take notes as you go.

• Pygmy kayak construction class at the AMM Wooden Boat School – ( With over 23,000 views, this is an excellent introduction of the boat building class for Pygmy designed boats.
• Construction of Pirogue two day class with details of the construction – ( With over 21,000 views this is an excellent introduction of the boat building class for a Pirogue.
• Jo Ellen Pearman paddles her wooden pirogue canoe – ( A view of the finished Pirogue and it’s use for dog transport.
• Ann Cowles Pirogue – ( A view of the finished Pirogue from the first boat building class.
• Boat School of Project Impact – ( An overview of Pirogue construction from scale model through to full size that incorporate Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) in the art of wooden boat construction.
• Boatbuilding class with Apalachicola Project Impact after school program – ( Another video from the school afterschool programs.
• AMM Wooden Boat School and the afterschool program student boat launching – ( Youth boat launch after successful completion of the Pirogue STEM class with address by the mayor and others.
• Building a Stand Up Paddle Board – ( Construction of a Chesapeake Light Craft boat.

Lodging and dining information resources and things to do:

For more information on the lodging and dining amenities to be found in Apalachicola and Franklin County we suggest you utilize the following web sites.

• Franlink County Tourist Development Council - (
• Apalachicola Bay Chamber Of Commerce - (

We run a number of excursions daily on our 40 passenger commercial catamaran up into the estuary, along the working waterfront, during sunset and to the barrier islands of St. Vincent and Little St. George. We also run kayak, canoe and SUP trips from the AMM docks and remote locations up the Apalachicola River and on St George Island. Check with the Gift Shop staff when you arrive if you are interested in any of these activities.

AMM WBS address, location directions, telephone number and email addresses:

The AMM is located at 103 Water Street in Apalachicola Florida in zip code 32320. You should use these coordinates in your GPS unit. If you do not have a GPS, then note that the AMM is located on the waterfront just north of the highway 98 bridge and behind the courthouse. If you come into town from the east turn at the first right immediately after getting off the bridge. The road is next to the courthouse. Follow that street to Water Street and turn right. If you are coming from the west follow highway 98 through town. At the stop light where 98 makes a 90 degree right turn, turn right and then take the first left. Follow that street to Water Street and turn right. The museum is on your left just past the fuel tanks. The museum is on your left. We request that you park across the street in the courthouse parking lot so that the parking spaces in front of the AMM are available to transient visitors.

The AMM Gift Shop is open from 9 AM through 5 PM Monday through Saturday and from 1 PM to 5 PM Sunday. You may call the AMM Gift Shop at 850-653-2500 anytime during these hours to speak to one of our attendants. You can leave a voice mail if you do not get a live answer or if after hours. We check voice mails regularly.

What to wear and to bring:

You need to bring old clothes - epoxy does not wash of clothes - and closed-toed shoes or sandals. Flip-flops and sandals without toes are not allowed in the boat shop. While you are more than welcome to bring your own tools – any many builders do you – it is not necessary. We provide the drills, pliers, vinyl gloves, etc. If you do want to bring your own tools be sure they are marked for identification. We lock the shop whenever we are not there so your tools can be left at the museum.

You also need to have a good roof rack for transporting your kayak. It will be wrapped in plastic for transportation and a good rack is necessary to keep it from sliding around. You are spending upwards of $1500 for a really nice kayak and skimping on the transportation system can result in damage to your investment so don't jury-rig a setup. Bring some extra rope for tie-downs. There is no need to bring any tools or supplies as everything needed to build your boat will be provided.

Class daily schedule:

The session will begin at 9 AM each day and the completion times will vary based on the daily schedule. The first couple of days run until 1500 to 1600. After that the days are over earlier and a couple will end around noon. We always end on an epoxy curing step. There is really no way to hurry the process. The session will leave plenty of time for you to explore the area. We have excellent restaurants and a lot of sigh-seeing opportunities so plan on taking advantage of the leisure time.

After the Class:

After the boat class there will still be a significant amount of finish work to be done. Painting, installing hardware, and a few other things will be necessary before putting the boat in the water. All of the tasks that will needed to be done outside of the class are things that will be learned in class, so that you will not go home questioning processes. You should be confident after the class to build and complete any kit boat on the market. Of course, we are available post class via email or phone with any questions that you may have. Our commitment to provide technical support and advice follows well after you have returned home. Moreover, we hope that you will send us photos of your finished product that we may publish to show others what you have achieved

Attachments:

The following attachments are included with this email. Please review and / or reply to each as noted. If you do not receive these attachments via this email you can alternatively access them at the links shown in parenthesis.

• Class Manual - We have attached a copy of the building manual and request that read it thoroughly and take notes and prepare any questions before you arrive on your first day of class. Generally it is best to view the class video in conjunction with reading the manual.
• Boatbuilding Terms – Terminology unique to boatbuilding that will be used during class.
• Safety documents – The following documents should be reviewed and read prior to class. You will be asked to acknowledge and confirm your understanding of these documents on the first day of class after the safety briefing and tour.

• SafetyManual.pdf – Boatbuilding Shop Safety Manual (
• SafetyManualAHA.pdf – Safety Activity Hazards Analysis (
• SafetyOther.pdf – A shop diagram showing location of key safety item (

• Liability Waiver and Contract forms. The participant information blocks following the document language must be completely filled out with a signature affixed for you and all other participants that will participate with you in the class. The completed documents should be scanned and sent in a reply email and the originals brought with you to be collected on the first day of class.

• WBSContract.pdf - Terms and Conditions for Activity Reservation and Equipment Use Agreement (
• WBSWaiver.pdf - LIABILITY WAIVER, Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Agreement (

In closing:

We look forward to meeting you and working with you. Please reply to this email to let us know that you received it and include any questions, comments or suggestions about the content of this initial communication regarding your participation in the upcoming class. One of our WBS staff will be in touch with you via telephone in the coming days to check in with you and answer any question you may have.

We will have a good time building wooden boat and you will leave with priceless memories of your time in Apalachicola a wooden boat that is beautiful to look at and to paddle.