Maritime crafts

Maritime crafts gather the old crafts that belong to the sea. As a boat builder you build and repair boats in wood and modern materials and as a sail maker you sew and adjust sails and tarps. You become a craftsperson in a proud tradition where your work must be able to withstand wind water and hard use.

§What do you do in everyday life?

The everyday depends on your specialism. As a boat builder you work with wood, glue, fibreglass and tools to shape hulls and decks that are both strong and beautiful. As a sailmaker you work with cloth, thread and cuts so a sail gets exactly the shape that draws best. Both trades require a feel for the material, patience and sense of form.

• 01You learn the basic craftsmanship in your specialty.
• 02You learn to work with materials, such as wood or canvas.
• 03You learn to read drawings and form according to them.
• 04You learn to repair and maintain boats and equipment.
• 05You learn about water, wind, and the demands the sea makes.
• 06You learn to use the trade's tools and techniques precisely.

§How do you get started?

You start with a basic course and find an apprenticeship within your specialty — for example at a shipyard or with a sailmaker. The education takes around 4½ years, where you alternate between school and practice and get apprentice wages along the way. These are small, specialized trades, so apprenticeships may require you to be actively seeking.

§The way forward

As fully trained you can work at shipyards with sailmakers and companies that build or maintain boats and maritime equipment. Many specialise deeply in their craft and some eventually open their own workshop.

“A good craft holds when the sea is roughest.”