What IRYS School of Technology & Trades does

IYRS School of Technology & Trades is a non-profit, ACCSC-accredited post-secondary trade school founded in 1993 in Newport, Rhode Island, originally as the International Yacht Restoration School. It delivers hands-on, experiential education across four full-time accredited programs (6-20 months in duration): Boatbuilding & Restoration, Composites Technology, Digital Modeling & Fabrication, and Marine Systems, plus a non-accredited 9-month Runabout Restoration pilot program launched in 2025. The school targets recent high school graduates, career changers, military veterans, gap-year students, and international students, maintaining an 8:1 student-faculty ratio across instruction delivered in three campus buildings — the historic 18,000 SF Restoration Hall, the 20,000 SF Brooks Building (2017), and the National Register-listed John Mecray Aquidneck Mill Building — all on a 3-acre harborfront campus.

The underlying operating model is apprenticeship-style technical training rather than software- or IP-driven technology. Core capabilities include woodworking, composites layup (including carbon fiber reinforced plastics), CAD/CAM/CNC machining, robotics, and marine electrical/mechanical systems, supported by a faculty of industry veterans from Lockheed Martin, ExxonMobil, Tesla, TPI Composites, NOAA, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Students pursue ABYC and NMEA certification exam preparation in Marine Systems, and the school benefits from a 500+ employer partner network across the U.S. and Caribbean that channels graduates into externships and full-time roles in marine, aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition (with federal financial aid and scholarships available for accredited programs), supplemented by secondary streams: event venue rentals at Restoration Hall and IYRS Wharf, a summer woodworking makerspace subscription ($1,200-$1,600 per season), transient marina slip fees via Dockwa, sale of student-restored boats (notably Beetle Cats), and philanthropic fundraising (a $680,000 RPM Foundation / van Beuren Charitable Foundation grant in 2016). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the admissions department, supplemented by a multi-channel marketing presence across website, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, X), and on-campus events including an annual Career Day (20th iteration in 2026) and the Classic Yacht Regatta. The school is governed by an independent Board of Trustees, with Kern Maass serving as fifth president since 2023.

Name

IRYS School of Technology & Trades

Legal name

IYRS School of Technology & Trades

Website

https://iyrs.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IYRS School of Technology & Trades is a non-profit, ACCSC-accredited trade school in Newport, RI, founded in 1993, offering hands-on 6-20 month programs in boatbuilding, composites, digital fabrication, and marine systems to high-school graduates, career changers, and veterans, placing graduates through a 500+ employer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade and Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Engineering & Engine Room Operations (EDAOANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electronics Technician Training (Analog/Digital) (EDAOABAG), Merchant Marine & Deck Operations (EDAOANAA)

Keywords

• Marine trades education
• Boatbuilding training
• Composites technology training
• Digital fabrication training
• Marine systems training

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: IYRS generates primary revenue from tuition for its full-time accredited programs ranging from 6-20 months. Financial aid, scholarships, and grants are available for qualified students. The Runabout Restoration program does not qualify for federal funding.
2. Event Rentals: Restoration Hall and IYRS Wharf are rented for weddings, rehearsals, anniversaries, birthdays, and photo shoots. The Edward W. Kane and James Gubelmann IYRS Maritime Library is available for small presentations and meetings.
3. Boat Sales: Boats restored by IYRS students, including Beetle Cats, are sold upon completion. Sales directly support IYRS's educational mission.
4. Woodworking/Makerspace Subscription: Limited shop subscription for advanced hobbyists, professional craftspeople, and IYRS alumni offering dedicated bench space and professional equipment access during summer sessions.
5. Marina Operations: IYRS marina on Lower Thames Street accepts transient reservations through Dockwa.com. Marina supports school operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

IYRS School of Technology & Trades is a non-profit, ACCSC-accredited post-secondary trade school delivering hands-on, experiential education in marine trades and advanced manufacturing. The school offers four full-time programs — Boatbuilding & Restoration, Composites Technology, Digital Modeling & Fabrication, and Marine Systems — ranging from 6 to 20 months, plus a Runabout Restoration pilot, youth workshops, a woodworking makerspace subscription, event venue rentals, a maritime library, a marina, and sale of student-restored boats.

Product overview

IYRS School of Technology & Trades is a non-profit, ACCSC-accredited trade school offering four full-time experiential programs: Boatbuilding & Restoration, Composites Technology, Digital Modeling & Fabrication, and Marine Systems. Programs range from 6-20 months and provide hands-on training in marine trades and advanced manufacturing. Additional offerings include a Runabout Restoration pilot program, Youth Boat Building workshops, a woodworking subscription/makerspace, event venue rentals, a maritime library, marina services, and boats for sale. The school operates on a 3-acre harborfront campus in Newport, RI, with facilities including Restoration Hall, the Brooks Building (20,000 SF), and the John Mecray Aquidneck Mill Building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boatbuilding & Restoration Program Full-time experiential program teaching fine woodworking, craftsmanship, and yacht restoration techniques; located in the 18,000 SF Restoration Hall. For prospective students seeking careers in marine trades and restoration.
• Marine Systems Program Full-time program covering marine electrical, mechanical, and electronic systems, preparing students for ABYC and NMEA certification exams. Developed in partnership with ABYC.
• Composites Technology Program Full-time program training students in designing and manufacturing with advanced composite materials including carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). Located in the Brooks Building.
• Digital Modeling & Fabrication Program Full-time program covering CAD/CAM design, CNC machining, robotics, and modern manufacturing technologies. Located in the Brooks Building.
• Runabout Restoration Program 9-month non-accredited pilot program focused on restoring Chris-Craft runabout boats, taught by master woodworker Bjorn Bakken.
• Youth Boat Building Program Hands-on workshops for youth interested in boat building and maritime skills.
• Woodworking Subscription Limited summer shop subscription offering dedicated bench space and professional woodworking equipment access (table saws, planers, jointers, Bridgeport Mill, metal lathe) for advanced hobbyists, professional craftspeople, and IYRS alumni.
• Event Rentals Restoration Hall, IYRS Wharf, and the Maritime Library are rented for weddings, rehearsals, anniversaries, birthdays, photo shoots, and small presentations overlooking Newport Harbor.
• Boats for Sale Boats restored by IYRS students, including Beetle Cats, are sold upon completion. Proceeds support IYRS's educational mission.
• IYRS Marina Working marina on Newport Harbor waterfront accepting transient reservations via Dockwa.com; supports school operations and hosts the annual Graduation & Launch Day event.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8:1 student-faculty ratio ensures individualized attention (Fall 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mystic Seaport MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022S/Y CORONET, a historic 131' wooden schooner, was transferred to Mystic Seaport Museum in 2022 for completion of restoration. The yacht spent 11 years as a student restoration project at IYRS.
• American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Marine Systems program developed in partnership with ABYC. Program prepares students to sit for ABYC & NMEA certification exams, which are gold-medal standards in the marine trades.
• 500+ Hiring CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMore than 500 companies from across the United States, the Caribbean, and beyond have partnered with IYRS to hire graduates for externships that often lead to full-time employment. These industry partners form the core of IYRS's career placement network.
• Newport Maritime AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIYRS co-sponsored Newport Maritime Alliance gathering, demonstrating partnership with the local maritime business community.
• International Congress of Maritime MuseumsminorOthersIYRS Maritime Library is a member of the International Congress of Maritime Museums.
• Museum of YachtingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIYRS acquired the Museum of Yachting in 2007, located across Newport Harbor at Fort Adams. Both organizations preserve maritime traditions and coordinate projects, events, and exhibits for the public.
• ABYMA (Antigua and Barbuda Yachting and Marine Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIYRS and ABYMA launched a scholarship to develop Antiguan marine talent, expanding IYRS's international reach and supporting workforce development in the Caribbean.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Landing School: Arundel, Maine-based ACCSC-style trade school offering programs in boatbuilding, yacht design, composites, and marine systems. Closest direct peer to IYRS in scope, structure, and target student segments (career changers, recent grads).
• Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding: Port Townsend, WA non-profit wooden boatbuilding school offering 9-12 month vocational programs. Directly comparable on curriculum (boatbuilding/restoration) and small specialty trade school model.
• Great Lakes Boat Building School: Cedarville, MI accredited trade school focused on wooden boatbuilding and marine carpentry. Comparable as a small, accredited, employer-partnered vocational school targeting similar student segments.

Broad incumbents

• New England Institute of Technology: Larger, broader New England-based private technical college offering marine, manufacturing, and digital fabrication programs. Adjacent in geographic market and program mix but at materially greater scale and scope than IYRS.
• Universal Technical Institute: Nationwide public trade school operator (NYSE: UTI) covering automotive, diesel, welding, and manufacturing. Comparable as an accredited vocational trades platform serving similar career-changer and veteran segments at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Cape Fear Community College - Marine Technology Program: North Carolina community college offering marine technology and boatbuilding programs. Comparable curriculum but publicly funded model and regional (Southeast) footprint competing for the same marine trades students.
• Tidewater Community College - Marine Trades: Virginia-based community college with marine trades and boatbuilding programs serving the Mid-Atlantic. Publicly funded alternative competing for similar career-changer and veteran students at lower tuition.
• Paul Smith's College - Forestry and Trades Programs: Upstate NY private college with hands-on trades and natural resources programs. Comparable small private institution targeting hands-on learners, career changers, and veterans in the Northeast, though not marine-specific.

Others

• American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC): Industry standards body whose marine technician certifications are integrated into IYRS curriculum. Acts as a partner rather than competitor but functions as a comparable signal of training quality and as an alternative to ABYC's own training courses.
• Mystic Seaport Museum: Maritime heritage institution that took over the S/Y Coronet restoration project from IYRS in 2022. Operates adjacent preservation, exhibits, and apprenticeship-style maritime education, intersecting with IYRS's boatbuilding/restoration mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iyrsedu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IYRSedu
• Facebookfacebook.com/IYRS.Training.Programs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iyrs
• Instagraminstagram.com/iyrsedu
• TikToktiktok.com/@iyrsofficial

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IRYS School of Technology & Trades