Boat Builder - Working conditions
Kaihanga Waka
Working Conditions
Most boat building work takes place in workshops and factories, but repair work is often completed outdoors in boat builders' yards and slipways.
Boat building workshops and factories can be dusty, noisy and fumy. However, as safety equipment is worn a lot of the time, these conditions are workable.
Boat builders may travel to meet clients, suppliers, designers or other boat builders.
Equipment
Equipment boat builders may use includes:
- building materials such as wood, composite, steel and aluminium
- hand and power tools such as skill saws, sanders and drills
- chemicals such as resins to seal surfaces
- safety equipment such as earmuffs, goggles, overalls and safety shoes
- computers and computer-aided design (CAD) software.
"When I'm welding inside a hull I need to cover up so I don't get burnt by sparks. I wear overalls up to my neck, welding gloves, a helmet and a hood to protect my neck."
Russell Lodder - Boat Builder
Hours
Boat builders work regular hours, but may have to work evenings and weekends to complete work to deadlines.
"If you've got a deadline you can be working long hours because it costs the company a lot of money to go over a deadline."
Sam Christiansen - Boat Builder
Contact with people
Boat builders work as part of a team and have frequent contact with suppliers, clients and designers, as well as their own co-workers and/or employees. They also have contact with a variety of other tradespeople including electricians, plumbers, boilermakers and marine engineers.
""Boat building is team work for safety reasons. For example, telling everyone to put thier earmuffs on before you start a skill saw, avoiding covering the person next to you in hot filings, or helping colleagues to lift sheets of aluminium."
Russell Lodder - Boat Builder
