Workshops

Spend an intense weekend with Master Rigger, Brion Toss, his crew of highly skilled riggers, plus special guests, in our most popular workshops. These workshops were originally born from Brion's Rigger Apprenticeship Program. After numerous requests from professionals and the general public we took our favorites and made them available to everyone. Our days are packed with information from the handouts you will receive as well as LOTS of hands-on exercises. All the tools and materials you will need for the class will be provided, unless otherwise stated.

Driving directions, maps and lodging information at    CONTACT US    on the bar above.

General workshop information - see below  

Full Class? We maintain a waiting list and will write you with availablity.

UPCOMING WEEKEND WORKSHOPS 2008- in our Port Townsend Rigging Shop

                       COAST GUARD SPAR AND RIGGING INSPECTION WORKSHOP-    SEPTEMBER 17.18.19. 20, 2008

                                Intensive, 4 day Training Course for USCG Marine Safety Offficers

Brion Toss and fellow rig surveyor John Koon have tailored this course t fit the needs of Coast Guard inspectors. Covering fundamentals of rig design, fabrication, and maintenance, along with methods for detecting and assessing rig damage and decay. Guest speakers will address specialized areas of concern, including metallurgy, sailmaking (the sail/rig interface), necessary math including trigonometry and calculus, and the vessel captain's perspective, etc. 

Exerpt from the  Workshop Synopsis:

3. Quality of Fabrication

 

Even great design can be undone by poor execution. Sometimes bad quality is a matter of poor quality materials; sometimes a matter of lack of skill

on the partof the fabricator or installer; sometimes a combination of all these things. Because poor quality by definition is not as reliable or efficient

as good quality, it results in a lower factor of safety, and thus less predictability of behavior, more rapid degradation of strength, and a greater likelihood

of failure. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to condemn a rig, not because the design is bad, or the components corroded, but because the rig as installed cannot safely do its job.

Do bring camera, flashlight, binoculars, and if you have it - a pocket microscope

Driving directions, maps and lodging information at    CONTACT US    on the bar above. 

Cost $1400.00 per person  Enrollment limited to 15. This class is nearly full.

                       

General Weekend Workshop Information:

• Workshops require a minimum of 5 participants. If we do not reach our minimum registration, two weeks prior to the workshop, it will be cancelled.
• Please register early with  full fee deposit to save your place in a class. No refunds two weeks prior to seminar.
• Saturday morning check in from 8-9 am. Class starts promptly at 9, we break for lunch 12-1, and our day ends about 5 pm each day.
• Students are offered a 10% discount on special collections of tools, books & videos purchased on that weekend.
• Important ... Comfortable, layered clothing suggested. We are a true NW Maritime climate. Wool or SmartWool hat and socks work best.  Gloves are a good idea. It could always rain, and it will often blow. Light waterproof jacket would be a good layer.
• Do bring camera, flashlight, binoculars, pocket microscope

 

LODGING:  A map of town & lodging information is at www.ptguide.com.  

The following motels and hotels are within walking distance:

Aladdin Motor Inn,       Harborside Inn,     Port Townsend Motor Inn,        Tides Inn,    Bishop Victorian Hotel,         Palace Hotel & Captain Tibbals,       Swan Hotel,         Washington Hotel,

Waterstreet Hotel .

All the B&B's listed at PTguide.com are in town and within walking distance.

            

We called several of our local accommodations and got the following information. It is very likely that all lodging venues provide a discount to our military personnel. Amount of discounts and eligible periods vary among venues. Go to www.enjoypt.com and click on "lodging." Scroll half way down the page to the availability calendar and click there. Then select the dates you want to stay and all venues will appear, along with their calendars.
Harborside Inn 800-942-5960

Aladdin Inn 800-281-3747 (discount available Oct through May)

Palace Hotel 800-962-0741

Water Street Hotel 800-734-9810

We heartily recommend the accomodations of The Commander's Beach House. They offer special prices for our workshop attendees. It is one of the loveliest, most gracious, and conveinent places to stay in town.

Driving directions, maps and lodging information at    CONTACT US    on the bar above.

Please call our shop 1-360.385.1080 or write to office@briontoss.com  with any inquiry about the above or for dates and locations of other Brion Toss Yacht Rigger's seminars around the Sound.