Certificate in Applied Technology (boatbuilding)

The qualification

Certificate in Applied Technology (boatbuilding)

Unitec

Phone: 0800 109 510

Salary: first-year graduate: $18,000-$30,000

 

The course

Unitec has designed the Certificate in Applied Technology (boatbuilding) to provide students with the skills and knowledge to gain employment in boatbuilding or related industries.

Students attend Unitec's Mt Albert campus in Auckland three days a week for the year-long course, which is a NZQA level 4 qualification beginning in either February or July.

Graduates can get work in boat maintenance and repairs, boat refits, boatbuilding and marine surface applications.

Students learn skills similar to those used in the building industry, covering timber construction, working with composite materials, computer-aided design draughting and lofting.

They also study boat structure and boat systems, which incorporate plumbing and electrical skills.

People become boatbuilders during the course as they make a dingy, kayak and small yacht as part of the project-based classes.

Students are in the classroom for 22 hours a week over two 17-week semesters and are expected to do another four hours of study in their own time each week.

They are assessed through their practical projects, a portfolio and written work, as well as four examinations.

Work experience is arranged for one week each semester and students are encouraged to work in the industry for the two days a week they are not at Unitec.

Applicants have to meet admissions requirements that include four years' secondary school education, School Certificate in two subjects, or a National Certificate in motor industry, or provide evidence that there is every likelihood of them being able to cope with the course.

There are 64 places available and applications close two weeks before the course begins.

Candidates are interviewed, and Unitec is looking for people with a desire or passion to work in the marine industry.

Fees are about $3800, including GST, and students need another $600 for books and tools.

Students wishing to pursue further studies can follow up with the Bachelor of Applied Technology (Marine) offered at Unitec.

What graduates think

* Chris Wagner, 19

Dockhand/maintenance

The Moorings Yacht Charters

Auckland

Graduated 2004

I had done a lot of sailing when I was younger.

All my friends were going to university and doing business degrees but I wanted something more practical.

The boatbuilding course is really well run and really interesting.

It's good if you are looking for a practical hands-on way of learning.

We'd study the theory in the morning and spend the afternoons doing practical work in the workshop. It was 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theory.

We built a 10.6m racing yacht made of foam, fibreglass and lightweight materials.

Before I got into it I didn't have a clue about what I was doing, but we built this boat and then afterwards we built scale models of it.

I think the course is well respected and a lot of employers have the course as a pre-requisite for getting an interview.

I was looking for a part-time job while doing the course and a mate from the course handed letters around and we got plenty of job offers.

If I hadn't done the course I wouldn't have this job.

What employers think

* Shane Walker

Managing director

The Moorings Yacht Charters

Auckland

If someone applies for a job with the certificate on their CV it tells me several things.

First, that the person is motivated to put themselves through a course like that and had the desire to be in the industry.

Second, that they potentially are going to have - even as a young starter - a reasonable level of ability.

They don't generally come out of these courses budding boatbuilders ready to build a super-yacht, but they have to start somewhere and they have a good knowledge of things that we require in the maintenance of our boats.

There is ongoing training involved, but they do have the basics.

Myself, I'm a tradesmen boatbuilder, I went through an apprenticeship for four years, 9000 hours, and I know the commitment it takes.

It means quite a bit when a young person makes that commitment to do any of these training opportunities.

At the end of the day, people in the industry are always looking for good young people with a bit of initiative and the willingness to do the hard yards.