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January 2009 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 19.
The Landing School is Struck by
Lightnings
By Nicole Jacques
Choosing boat models to build and sell
in the current economic climate is a challenge
for even the smallest boatbuilding compa-
nies in the region. Last fall The Landing
School, a post-secondary training and edu-
cation institution for the marine industry,
needed a new boat model to build in its
Composites Program, now in its second year.
The decision is based foremost on the cur-
riculum needs of the 10-month course, but
also on the model’s appeal among prospec-
tive buyers. Following an animated debate
over the merits of dozens of new and old and
yet-to-be-created designs, the unanimous
decision at The Landing School was to build
a pair of Lightnings.
The Landing School’s model selection
committee was comprised of several boating
zealots from the staff. The meetings were akin
to a silly yarn—“A powerboater, a classic
boater, and a sailboat racer all walk into a tight. Among other regulations, the boats
room…” Each of the colleagues brought to must weigh in at 700 pounds or more, the hull
the table a list of his or her own favorite boats core must be 3/8-inch thick on the bottom and
from the past century, and even some con- 1/4-inch thick on the sides with a minimum 1/
ceptual boats that weren’t yet designed or 16-inch skin over the entire hull, and carbon
built. Before the brainstorm session could fiber is strictly prohibited except as reinforce-
begin, the committee first established the ment in the rudder. Since sailboat racers like
requirements of the new model: The boat’s their boats to be as close to minimum weight
construction should include the materials as possible, the Composites Program stu-
and processes taught in the curriculum; the dents may find that correcting weights
boat’s construction must to be complex around the centerboard trunk are necessary
enough to fill more than 700 hours of training to bring it up to regulation weight.
for each of the 10 students; and the boat The boats began construction the first
New England Fiberglass Company
model needs to have a thriving market in week of January 2009 when the students
which it can be sold upon completion. returned from winter break. The class started
There were a lot of model suggestions— by lofting the boats together and selecting
Yacht Repair/Restorations
a racing skiff, a runabout, a multihull, a center the most appropriate construction methods
console—most of which were immediately for the hulls and decks. They’ve also seen
quashed for not meeting one or more of the other Lightnings built by professional build-
58 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101
criteria. Once the Lightning was finally sug- ers, and spoken with members of the ILCA.
(207) 773-3537 Phone (207) 874-7926 Fax
gested as a model, it became a natural selec- When they finish the boats in June, an offi- www.nefiberglass.com email: newenglandfibe@conversent.net
tion. The Lightning design has culminated in cial class measurer will check their work and
more than 15,000 boats built and is currently certify the boats to race.
raced among more than 150 fleets worldwide. The Landing School in Arundel, Maine,
The class measurement standards are strin- is a post-secondary, accredited educational
PAUL E. LUKE, INC.
gent enough to challenge the students, and institution that has trained more than 1200
the boat has a vast following of fans. The people worldwide to work professionally in
choice in design also represents a wonderful boatbuilding, yacht design, marine systems
Fireplaces - Automatic Feathering Propellors - 3-Piece Storm Anchors
way to honor the Lightning designer, Olin and/or composites. The School is currently
Full Service Boat Yard
Stephens, who has long been a supporter of celebrating its 30th anniversary. There is
The Landing School until his recent passing. more information about The Landing School
15 Luke's Gulch, East Boothbay, Maine 04544
The Landing School’s next step was to online at www.landingschool.edu.
TEL. (207) 633-4971 A. Franklin Luke FAX: (207) 633-3388
request permission to build two hulls from
the International Lightning Class Associa-
tion (ILCA). The professionally managed
class maintains the fairest
RALPH STANLEY, INC.
standards of competition WOODEN BOATS
throughout its fleets world- for work and pleasure
wide by closely monitoring the
production of the boats. Ken
Rusinek, the Composites Pro-
CUSTOM-MADE
gram manager for The Landing
INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED
School, contacted the class’s
Southwest Harbor, Maine 04679 (207) 244-3795
executive secretary, Jan Davis
with a unique request: To allow
a class of students to build two
fiberglass hulls using one-off
MAINE COAST LUMBER, INC.
methods instead of class-mea-
sured molds. His appeal was
met with enthusiasm and en-
4 Warren Ave.
17 White Birch Lane
couragement.
Westbrook, ME 04902
York, ME 03909
(207) 856-6015
The ILCA granted The (207) 363-7426
(877) 408-4751
Landing School hull numbers (800) 899-1664
Fax (207) 856-6971
15,388 and 15,389. “The Light-
Fax (207) 363-8650
M-F 7:30am-4:00pm
ning Class is honored that The
M-F 7am-5pm
Saturday 8am-12pm
Landing School has selected
the Lightning for its 2008 Com-
posites building course,” say
*HARDWOOD LUMBER*SOFTWOOD LUMBER*
Davis. “The boat has evolved
*HARDWOOD PLYWOODS*MELAMINE*MDF*MARINE
into one of the most popular
PLYWOODS*MDO*PARTICLE BOARD*SLATWALL*LAMINATE*
and competitive one-design
*EDGE BANDING*VENEER*HARDWOOD MOLDINGS*
racing classes in the world.”
*CUSTOM MILLING*DOVETAILED DRAWER BOXES
Rusinek and the rest of Bath Industrial Sales
The Landing School faculty 56 New Meadows Rd.
still have some challenges West Bath, ME 04530 We Deliver www.mainecoastlumber.com
ahead of them. The ILCA toler-
(207) 442-9754 www.bistools.com
ME, NH, VT, MA, RI mainecoastlumber@yahoo.com
We Ship UPS
ances for construction are
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