Maritime Museum’s boat-building school to open in fall

KINGSTON – Officials of the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston hope to have final city approvals and open their boat building school in the former Rosita’s Restaurant building on the waterfront this fall.
Once final city approvals are granted, which is expected shortly, the renovation work will begin in earnest to convert the building into a boat-building school for teens at risk and adults, offer sailing classes and become involved in commercial projects next year.
Project manager and museum board member Jack Weeks said that will involve a major rebuild of the Clearwater.
Much of the $800,000 needed to convert the former restaurant into a boat-building facility is coming from donations and grants as well as in-kind gifts, said Weeks.
“For example, about a week ago I drove down to Brooklyn and a contractor who was closing out his business said we could have his shop tools and loaded up my pickup truck to the gills with band saws, table saws, clamps, and that’s kind of how it’s going,” Weeks said. “This has really hit a nerve with a lot of people here in Kingston.”
Plans also include renting out some space in the boat-building facility for a small café.