Ben Heyer (left) & Roland Payabyab are the newest Shipwright Apprentices in CBMM’s Shipyard.

We’re thrilled to introduce our two newest Shipwright Apprentices, Ben Heyer and Roland Payabyab. They join second-year apprentices Austin Benshoff and Caden Lewis in the CBMM Shipyard‘s state-certified apprentice program.

A native of Dunkirk, Md., Heyer has a background working on tall ships. He was a part of the winter maintenance crew for Delaware’s Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel last year before spending the past year as part of the crew on Pride of Baltimore II, including a summer voyage across the Great Lakes.

Heyer was fascinated while helping with repair and care for these ships and eager to learn more.

“When I found out about this program, I was like ‘Perfect, that will answer all my questions,’” Heyer said. “And, it’s been great. I’m learning a lot so far.”

Payabyab’s path to boatbuilding began at George Mason University’s School of Art, where he studied furniture design and honed his woodworking skills. An Alexandria, Va., native, he discovered a passion for boats and sailing last summer through an apprenticeship with the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.

Pairing those interests and experiences, Payabyab built a seven-foot wooden pram in the Alexandria Seaport’s boatshop last fall as his senior project. Just a few months later, his hands-on education continues in CBMM’s Shipyard.

“This is exactly what I want to be doing,” Payabyab said. “I’m excited to be immersed in this whole community and continuing to build boats.”

Ben Heyer and Roland Payabyab work on the Lighthouse Skiff.

As their introductory project, Heyer and Payabyab are building a Lighthouse Skiff under the guidance of Shipyard Educator Walter Atkins. This 14-foot vessel, a modified Todd Point Skiff, was designed at CBMM in the 1990s by Winslow Womack, Richard Scofield, and Tom Howell, and a series of models demonstrating the step-by-step build of one has long hung on the wall in CBMM’s Boatshop.

Excitingly, Benshoff and Lewis are putting the finishing touches on their build of a Chesapeake-inspired skiff right now and preparing it for launch. Stop by the Shipyard soon to check in on both projects!

A huge thank you to all our donors whose generosity makes our Shipwright Apprentice Program possible. We are especially grateful for those who have made major gifts to underwrite the cost of a full apprenticeship, including the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation, Rita and Bill Reaves, and the Seip Family Foundation.

You can help support this vital workforce development program with a gift to CBMM’s Annual Fund! Your donations further our mission and help ensure that this revitalization of traditional skills continues in our Shipyard to maintain a tangible connection to the Chesapeake’s rich story of boatbuilding.