The International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) is a non-profit institution dedicated to education and maritime preservation. The school teaches the skills, history, art and science of building, restoring and maintaining boats and their systems. IYRS offers intensive programs in traditional boatbuilding and marine systems, employing a time-honored educational model that teaches problem solving, teamwork, project management and hands-on skills. IYRS graduates are highly regarded for their passion and craftsmanship, and work in many of the premier modern and restoration yards around the world.
- To teach the skills, history, art, and science of building, restoring, and maintaining boats and their systems;
- To preserve the knowledge, heritage, craftsmanship and aesthetic genius inherent in these boats;
- To safeguard our site and historic buildings as an important part of America's working waterfront;
- To show that honest work, integrity and mastery of a craft are among life's great achievements.
IYRS was founded in 1993. In 1996, the school opened its doors with a 20-month program in Boatbuilding & Restoration.
In 2005 and 2006, the school rolled out two additional professional programs: Continuing Education programs and a 9-month certificate program in Marine Systems, the latter in partnership with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). In 2010, the Composites Technology program was launched. IYRS graduates have worked alongside some of the most accomplished boat builders in both modern and restoration yards throughout the world, including Fairlie Restorations, Pendennis, The Concordia Company, The Hinckley Company, Brooklin Boat Yard, Alden Yachts and Sparkman & Stephens.
IYRS has two campus locations in Newport and Bristol, RI. 
The Newport campus is located on a 2 ½ acre historic waterfront site. Classes for the Boatbuilding & Restoration program are held in Restoration Hall, a converted electric generating plant. IYRS has an excellent marina with dockage for our restored vessels and visiting classics. The campus includes a recently restored 1831 steam mill building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, andCoronet, an 1885 schooner yacht, currently under restoration.The Marine Systems and Composites Technology programs are run at the IYRS Bristol campus, which is based at the Franklin Street Marine Corridor--a unique industrial/educational complex where students mix with marine-industry companies located in the complex. Both areas are rich in boating history and marine industry, including some of the most highly acclaimed boat builders and marine businesses in New England.
and its traditions, while working to preserve those traditions. IYRS’ main focus is vocational education: training craftsmen in traditional and composite boatbuilding, restoration, and marine systems. The museum educates the public at large through events and exhibitions. In summer, the museum and IYRS coordinate exhibitions and restoration projects, so visitors can watch restorations underway at IYRS and tour the historic campus, then travel across Newport Harbor on a water taxi to learn about maritime heritage in museum exhibitions that are open from mid-May to October. 