Apprentice Positions Available?

[WilliamF]

Hello all,

I was just wondering if there are any apprentice positions available out there for wooden boat building and restoration. If there are, do they work like electrical and plumbing appreticeships as they get paid while going through the 4+ years of schooling? If not do you have any advice for a 29 year old dreamer with a large family to enter the craft? Thanks for your advice and time. Sincerely,


William Faulkner

[gonzo]

Wooden boatbuilding is a compilation of trades. Also, depending on the region and purpose of the boats it changes enormously. There are many specialties like: lofting, caulking, planking, painting, electrical, mechanical systems, and many more. Apprenticeships are usually not paid. Even after you are knowledgable, the opportunities are quite limited. Restoration in particular has little openings. Four years of schooling will only get the basics. From design to launching there are twenty or more trades involved. Some shops will train unskilled people, but they only teach them a narrow scope of tasks. It costs too much. Boatbuiders often scratch out a living, however, if you love the job, it's worth it.

[Dave Fleming]

I went through a full 4+ year apprenticeship in San Franciso and Seattle. It was UNION sponsered and we did get paid depending upon level of apprenticeship.
Since I was a green pea I started at 60% of journeymans wages.
That was the minimum an employer could pay me, nothing in the rules against employer paying more than that if it was warranted.

I know Seattle has an apprentice program with night schooling at Seattle Community College in Lofting and other skills.
In my day, geeze does that sound like I am an old timer or what?
The Seattle classes were on a barge along side the Vic Frank yard. And the umbrella school was Gompers Vocational.

I doubt with the insurance regs that anybody would hire you with out putting you on the books and paying wages. As I understand it, anybody in the yards is covered by the Longshore and Harbor Worker Act, a Federal Law.