Meet The Instructors

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Rob has worked in the marine industry since training as a boat builder in the mid 1980’s.
Initially working in a small team building the world renowned Contessa 32 at M J Slacks in Lowestoft and then on to the rivers and broads of Norfolk and Suffolk on both hire fleets and private river boats.

Rob moved into commercial GRP repair for both the offshore and fishing industries as well as fit out and repair work in the leisure sector. He then spent a few years away from boats, making furniture before moving into education, firstly at Lowestoft College in the carpentry and joinery department and for the last 9 years here at IBTC Lowestoft.

In addition to instructing in the boatshed Rob specialises in wood machining, GRP moulding and repair, rope work, splicing and wire work.

Maynard has 40 plus years boatbuilding experience working on traditional boats from dingy to magnificent three mast 200ft sailing yachts.

He has a love of local boats especially the Norfolk Wherry.

See here for more details

http://www.wherryalbion.com/albion/rest_maint.php

https://www.wherryyachtcharter.org/wmoth.php

On leaving school David spent 20 years in the joinery and construction industry both employed and self-employed having run a building company for the last 5 of those.

Having had an interest in boats from a young age, in 2003 David enrolled at the IBTC. After graduating from the IBTC David spent 3 years working in a local yard specialising in high quality wooden boat repair before returning to the IBTC to work on two commercial projects, followed by a project nominated for Classic Boat restoration of the year.

David now runs IBTC marine services and teaches lofting, plumbing and electrics and more. Importantly he is the owner of Foreman Ted.

Ted’s main job is getting Dave Sales to work every morning, before keeping a careful eye on the entire Training Centre to make sure people are delivering on time, on budget, and on biscuit.

Ted supervises all types of builds, but won’t assist on cat boats, or catamarans for some reason.