Choice of career natural for young apprentice

Matt Overington has been around boats all his life. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Apprentice boatbuilder Matt Overington likes to see a consignment of aluminium sheets arrive at work.

Because he knows that over the next 18 months or so he will watch, and help, as the metal is fashioned into the latest Alloy Yachts International super vessel.

Building boats seemed a natural career choice for the 17-year-old former Rutherford College student.

"I just grew up around boats, and I was always interested in the building side of things, the hands-on stuff. My first sail was on one of the boats built here."

Matt's parents had mainly motor boats.

A year into his time, Matt would recommend a boatbuilding apprenticeship to anyone with the right stuff. And it is a particular type of mettle for metal that is required of the would-be boatbuilder.

Matt's apprenticeship covers hull fabrication - the assembling and welding of aluminium sheets. Later, he will move on to learn other engineering skills: pipework, hydraulics and hull preparation.

"You just have to have this passion about the boats and stuff. You have to have good hands-on skills."

He has already seen through to completion Boat 33, a "40-odd metre" super yacht.

"It's quite rewarding. You walk past and you think 'I did that. I built that'."

At the completion of his time, Matt will likely take his skills abroad - probably to the United States - "to see what else is out there". On his return, he may look to getting a boat of his own.

"I will probably, definitely, own a boat. Probably later on, though. I would like to make a project boat."

Matt still has a passion for boating, and can be found at Mangawhai, north of Auckland, of a weekend, gadding about on a 6m Mako aluminium trailer boat.