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Georgina Head |
Georgina's advice is to gain work experience before deciding on a career.
Georgina Head was schooled in England and has travelled the world. However, Taranaki is the place she has chosen to follow her career as a marine cabinet maker. During school Georgina knew she ...
Job Overview: Boat builders build and repair sailing, fishing, pleasure and motor boats of all sizes. Boat builders work as part of a team with other trades people including electricians, marine painters, plumbers, fabricators and marine engineers. They also have frequent contact with suppliers, clients and designers. In Taranaki the boat building industry prominently involves construction of luxury superyachts.
ALTERNATIVE TITLES
Ship Builder
Custom Boat Builder
Production Boat Builder
Yacht Builder
Builder (Boat)
TASKS AND DUTIES
Boat builders may specialise in building boats in one or more of the following mediums: composite, wood, alloy or steel. In Taranaki boating building is mainly aluminum based. Boat builders will be required to do all of the following:
- make patterns of the vessel's parts
- select the correct materials to be used from a full range of composite materials and timber
- make the framework of the vessel
- fit the engine, beds, deck beams and decking to the vessel
- construct wheel and deck houses or cabins
- repair and maintain vessels
- may complete electrical, plumbing, painting and joinery work on the vessel
Boat builders work in trade specific divisions where each component combines to make an entire boat. These trades include fabricators/welders, joiners/cabinet makers, electricians, plumbers and painters.
TRAITS OF A GOOD BOAT BUILDERBoat builders need to have woodwork or engineering skills, mathematical knowledge and the ability to perform several tasks at once. They also need to have a variety of technical skills such as the ability to install machinery and other equipment.
Boat builders will gain knowledge in different types of boat building materials, such as resin, fiberglass, steel and timber; their properties and how to select the best materials for the job. They will also learn about different building methods, such as carpentry, electrical wiring, plumbing, painting and the tools that are used. Boat builders will need to know how to interpret diagrams, rough sketches and complex computer-generated designs. They must be aware of safe working practices, and creative and artistic trends in boat design.
Personal qualities that boat builders need are:
-to be interested in boats and boating
-to be comfortable with heights and working in confined spaces
-to have good hand-eye co-ordination and good physical fitness.
QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING NEEDED
There are no specific secondary educational requirements to become a boat builder; however, at least three years of secondary school education is preferred. Helpful subjects include technical drawing, workshop technology (wood and metal), maths, science or English.Many boat building skills are gained on the job. Boat builders begin as apprentices who complete unit standards that reflect the specific skill requirements in the area of boat building that they want to specialise in, such as composite, wood, alloy or steel. There are also boat building qualifications available for marine cabinetmaking, marine systems engineering, marine rigging, marine painting, and marine electrical and electronic installation.
A boat building apprenticeship takes between 3Â and 5 years depending on the individual. Further study includes a National Certificate in Marine Sales and Services, specialising in marine retailing and boat sales.
Local Apprenticeship Co-ordinator
BITO Field Officer for the local area:
Name: Boating Industries Association of New Zealand
Contact: Mike Kitson
Free Phone: 0800 600 242
Email: mikek@bia.org.nz
Website: http://www.nzmarine.com/overview_bito.php
STUDY COSTS
The study costs for a boating building apprentice vary considerably. In some cases the organisation you are working for will pay for all costs associated with your apprenticeship study. Other employers pay for your study notes and/or block courses. Some employers have an agreement with their apprentices where the cost of study comes out of their wage.
In some cases the apprentice will need to cover all costs associated with their apprenticeship.
- Job training/block courses vary in cost. The length of these courses varies depending on the need of the apprentice, but is usually no more than 2 weeks.
- Travel and accommodation costs associated with the job training/block courses are subsidised.
- Apprentices will need to purchase study notes, which cost $15 per unit. There are 85 units in total. Not all apprentices will need to purchase every single copy.
- $225 per year administration fee if your employer is a Marine Instustry Association Member. Non-members $281.25 per year.
The above costs have already taken into account a 50% subsidy from the boating industry training organisation.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Boat builders work both indoors and outdoors. Most of the boat building work takes place in workshops and factories, while repair work is often completed outdoors in boat builders yards and slipways. There may be travel required to meet clients, suppliers, designers or other boat builders. Workplace conditions for boat builders are usually dusty, noisy and fumy. However, as safety equipment is worn a lot of the time, these conditions are workable.
Boat builders usually work on an hourly rate. Apprentice start rates can vary but are usually $11 - $13 per hour. A fully qualified boat builder usually earns between $16 and $30 per hour. A self-employed boat builder may charge between $45 and $60 per hour. Many boat builders also charge a job-by-job rate, agreed with by the client at the time of hiring.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES - Where can this qualification lead to in the future?
EARN WHILE YOU LEARN while training for a National Certificate NZQA qualification. This means that you will NOT have any student debt! The outlook for boat builders is good and the number of people employed in this occupation is expected to remain stable or increase moderately over the next two to three years. In fact, New Zealand is now the world's fifth largest super yacht builder. Taranaki is beginning to get a slice of this industry and has rapidly established itself as building internationally renowned super yachts.
Turnover among boat builders is low due to high job satisfaction, although some people may go on to work as marine architects or follow opportunities overseas.
COMPANY PROFILES
Below is a list of Taranaki businesses that employ boat builders (these are only example businesses for you to research this particular career choice). In addition, company write-ups featured in the Career Profiles section provide some insight into the work environment and opportunities available within the industry.
- Fitzroy Yachts, Ocean View Parade, New Plymouth
- Westcoast Marine, New Plymouth
- Magon Marine, New Plymouth
Visit the Scholarships section of the site
RELEVANT CONTACTS
Boating Industries Association of New Zealand| Taranaki Contact: | Mike Kitson |
| Phone: | 0800 600 242 |
| Email: | mikek@bia.org.nz |
| Website: | http://www.nzmarine.com/overview_bito.php |
Modern Apprenticeships
| Phone: | 0800 4 Apprentice |
| Website: | http://www.modern-apprenticeships.govt.nz |
Kindly supported by Career Services Rapuara
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