Shipwright average salary | UK Salary Information

Boat and ship builders and repairers

£34,053

£33,322

£36,262

Jobs included

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Job info

Boat and ship builders and repairers construct, install and repair wooden structures and fittings, and shape, position, rivet and seal metal plates and girders to form the metal structures and frameworks for marine craft.

Examines drawings and specifications to determine job requirements;
Uses rules, scribes and punches to mark out metal plate with guidelines and reference points and cuts plates using appropriate tools;
Uses machine tools to bend, curve, punch, drill and straighten metal plate as required and positions and aligns metal platework or frame for welding and bolting;
Rivets together metal plates and girders, seals seams, smoothes welds, fixes metal doors, collars, portholes, tank and hatch covers;
Selects and measures appropriate wood and cuts, shapes and drills to specification using saws, planes, chisels and other power or hand tools;
Aligns and fixes prepared wood pieces by screwing, nailing, gluing and dowelling to form decking, small wooden marine craft and their interiors and fittings;
Maintains and repairs woodwork and fittings.

Entry requirements

Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is usually via apprenticeship including practical experience and technical training. Apprenticeships in relevant aspects of engineering and construction are available at NVQ/SVQ Level 3.