Courses

15th – 19th June 2026:
Make wooden ships Capstans course

The Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust welcomes historic wood master craftsmen Henry and John Russell back to the village to run a 5 day ‘Make 2 shipyard Capstans and a Sheerlegs’ carpentry course. They are leading experts in historic timber structures, fellows of the Carpenters Fellowship and passionate to keep endangered craft skills alive.

Capstans and winches were vital maritime dockland machines before the age of steam, diesel and petrol. Prior to the widespread use of cast and wrought iron, they were predominantly made of wood. They were the way big heavy objects were lifted and moved. 

Crucially the natural ropes used in industry, construction, ports and on ships and boats was stronger if not kinked or knotted. Blocks and tackles work vertically but can perform badly with very heavy loads. They don’t work well when used horizontally. So capstans and winches allow great loads lifted or moved safely using friction and leverage. In addition, the addition of various types of ratchet mechanism reduces the danger of any catastrophic release and reversal of motion – another hazard when using blocks and tackles. 

It is certainly the case that these were used all over the Buckler’s Hard Shipyard and we have archaeological evidence to demonstrate this.

We will be making 2 Crab Capstans and plan to demonstrate their working by the end of the week.

Where:  Based at the beautiful Shipwrights Workshop at Buckler’s Hard, Hampshire SO42 7XB on the banks of the Beaulieu River.

Access: Free Parking and Camping is available in an adjacent area.

Course requirements

Skills – Suitable for men and women ( 18 years and older) Some previous carpentry skills . Tools will be provided

Safety – you must have steel toed boots, suggested gloves and eye protection. Long trousers. Hat for sun, appropriate outside weather clothing.

Welfare – Hot and cold drinks/ snacks available all day and sandwich lunch provided for all. 

Toilet facilities nearby.

More details and Booking to follow shortly