Boatbuilding Vessel Refit & Repair Apprentice

Summary

Join our team as an Apprentice Boat Builder, learning to build, repair and assemble boats with care and precision. You'll mainly work with fibreglass, plus wood and metal, while following strict safety procedures and seeking guidance when unsure.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£7.55 per hour - paid monthly on the 28th by bank transfer.

Training course

Boatbuilder (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday (8am-5pm with a 1 hour unpaid break).

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 September 2025

Duration

4 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

As part of our team, you will aim to learn about and participate in our key Boat Building Responsibilities:

With the guidance of the Project Management, you will learn to construct and assemble boat hulls, decks, and superstructures based on technical drawings and specifications.
Shape and mould materials (e.g., fibreglass, wood, and composites) to achieve precise design specifications.
Assist with the installation of boat components, including plumbing, wiring, engines, and interior fixtures
Repair and refurbish boats.
Gain an understanding of COSHH and be able to implement the appropriate guidance
Ensure all work meets industry safety standards and company quality requirements by following all workplace instructions written or as verbally directed by your management
Collaborate as necessary with all teams
Maintain a clean and safe work environment, adhering to health and safety regulations
You will work under a Project Manager alongside our design and engineering teams to bring boat designs to li

Daily tasks will depend on the stage of our projects, but will include working within the team using the following materials, techniques and processes:

Wet Lay Composites, using polyester and epoxy
Vacuum bagging
Infusion
Glass and carbon fibre
Secondary bonding
GRP finishing
Mould and plug building
Fit out of structure and furniture
Engineering installations including engines, plumbing and electrics

Where you'll work

FOSS QUAY
MILL ROAD
MILLBROOK
TORPOINT
PL10 1EN

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE

Your training course

Boatbuilder (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Communicate verbally and non-verbally with others for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply customer service principles and techniques.
Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work.
Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace. Apply control measures.
Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
Apply environmental and sustainability procedures for example, segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
Follow standard operational procedures when carrying out work processes.
Interpret information - paper based or electronic. For example, drawings and designs, formulae, risk assessments, manufacturers' documentation, and repair specifications.
Produce, prepare, label, use, maintain and store plugs and moulds.
Produce, prepare, label, use, maintain and store jigs and templates.
Apply manufacturing techniques to boats such as yachts, workboats or superyachts.
Apply repair techniques to existing boats such as yachts, workboats or superyachts.
Apply surface finishes such as varnishes, paints, and gel coats.
Select, use, and store materials and consumables.
Apply surface finishing methods and techniques such as polishing.
Select, use, and store equipment, hand tools and machinery.
Apply continuous improvement and problem solving techniques.
Conduct tests and checks when performing boatbuilding work operations.
Apply techniques and principles of maintaining the workplace environment to restore the work area.
Record and document information - paper based or electronic. For example, job sheets, risk assessments, process records, test results, handover documents and original equipment manufacturers' (OEM) documentation.
Apply routine maintenance and servicing techniques to equipment and tools.
Apply techniques and principles of protecting surfaces, components and structures during all stages of work operations.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Apply team working principles.
Plan own work.
Communicate verbally and non-verbally with others for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply customer service principles and techniques.
Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work.
Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace. Apply control measures.
Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
Apply environmental and sustainability procedures for example, segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
Follow standard operational procedures when carrying out work processes.
Interpret information - paper based or electronic. For example, drawings and designs, formulae, risk assessments, manufacturers' documentation, and repair specifications.
Produce, prepare, label, use, maintain and store plugs and moulds.
Produce, prepare, label, use, maintain and store jigs and templates.
Apply manufacturing techniques to boats such as yachts, workboats or superyachts.
Apply repair techniques to existing boats such as yachts, workboats or superyachts.
Apply surface finishes such as varnishes, paints, and gel coats.
Select, use, and store materials and consumables.
Apply surface finishing methods and techniques such as polishing.
Select, use, and store equipment, hand tools and machinery.
Apply continuous improvement and problem solving techniques.
Conduct tests and checks when performing boatbuilding work operations.
Apply techniques and principles of maintaining the workplace environment to restore the work area.
Record and document information - paper based or electronic. For example, job sheets, risk assessments, process records, test results, handover documents and original equipment manufacturers' (OEM) documentation.
Apply routine maintenance and servicing techniques to equipment and tools.
Apply techniques and principles of protecting surfaces, components and structures during all stages of work operations.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Apply team working principles.
Plan own work.

Your training plan

Training includes day release each week to attend South Devon College Marine Academy.

More training information

What you will learn:

How to develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, customers, suppliers and technical support staff
The importance of maintaining health and safety at work, ensuring a safe working environment, including control of substances
Identify defects, provide correct solutions for rectification and carry out repair work on different materials, including GRP
How to select appropriate methods to produce, prepare, use, maintain and store plugs, moulds, jigs and templates
Conducting functional tests and visual and quality checks to the required standards
The use of composite manufacturing for marine construction
The production of internal and external boat components
Apply surface finishing methods and techniques such as polishing

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4/C)
Maths (grade 4/C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Physical fitness
Listening Skills

About this company

We are the only multihull specialist yard in the UK and also the oldest. We provide all multihull services in one place. In terms of manufacturing, we design and build some of the UK’s fastest catamarans, Dazcat. We are widely recognised for producing high quality, performance boats. Additionally, on the manufacturing side, we are at the forefront of building accessible boats.

http://www.multihullcentre.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Employment as a boat builder with us upon completion of training (dependent on the candidate and availability of work).

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