Boatbuilder - Avon Boating, Stratford-upon-Avon

Boatbuilder Vacancy – Heritage Passenger Vessel Fleet - Stratford-upon-Avon

The Company

Avon Boating was established before 1898, based at a traditional boathouse in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon. We have a large number of rowing boats, punts, canoes, self-drive rowing boats and electric launches and operate one of the largest heritage fleets of classic wooden passenger vessels in the country. 

The passenger vessel fleet comprises five wooden vessels dating between 1912 and 1933, all national historic registered vessels built in the same yard by Borwicks of Bowness, plus our oldest vessel, a teak launch built in 1898. The firm is open to the public seasonally from late March to the end of October; out of season the core team of ten full-time staff remove the boats from the water and undertake the maintenance and repairs of the fleet.

Role

We have a vacancy for a wooden boatbuilder to join our small boatbuilding team. You should ideally have your City & Guilds and be a recent graduate from one of the boatbuilding schools, or have worked closely with a time served boatbuilder and be able to demonstrate your knowledge and experience of the trade. A familiarity with more modern techniques and materials may be an advantage. Direction and training will be given, but you will be expected to be able to tackle many tasks using your own judgement of the techniques appropriate and good practice.

The type of jobs you will be required to undertake is reflected by the vessels in the fleet, in particular the carvel built passenger vessels, clinker rowing boats, and flat bottomed punts. It will include; repair and replacement of hull planking, floors, frames and steam-bent timbers, soles and sole bearers, in-whales, coverboards, decks, cabin sides and bulkheads, cabin roofs, seating, and general fitting out, caulking, seaming, sanding, painting and varnishing. You will also be required to renew timber seats, gunnels, knees and floorboards on fibreglass rowing boats, as well as repair of minor hull damage. We have a large fleet of electric vessels so you will also be introduced to electric-drive technology and may be sent on the BMET course at a later date.

In the open season you will have additional duties and responsibilities supporting the day-to-day operations of the firm. These will include training for your MCA boatmaster’s licence and working as a skipper of one of the classic passenger vessels, working at least one day a week at the weekend. 

Terms

The successful candidate is expected to become a key part of our small firm and play an important part in its future and success, including the opportunity for advancement. Pay is currently in the range of £30,888 to £36,000 a year, plus private medical insurance. The firm is wholly owned by the full-time staff and pay is also supplemented by an annual dividend.

Enquiries

Check out our website at www.avon-boating.co.uk