BIA Victoria - Career Information

Marine Career and Training Education for Victoria

The Marine Careers and Training Providers Directory has been produced to give readers a comprehensive listing of recognised training providers operating in Victoria.

Working in the marine industry
The recreational boating industry is highly diverse and there is a huge range of opportunities available. The industry covers everything form large luxury powerboats to sailing boats, personal watercraft (such as jet skis), and small wooden dinghies.

There’s also all the associated equipment and services that go with these, such as engines, electronics, marinas, yacht and boat clubs and watersports centres.

There are varied career paths in the industry. People tend to specialise in particular areas and expand their experience, qualifications and ability as time goes by.

It’s good idea to take a look at the whole industry before deciding what you want to do and then find out what skills are required for your chosen career.

The boating industry values people with a wide range of skills and practical experience and those who are prepared to work hard and use their initiative. People skills are especially important for some jobs.

The following is a list of jobs available within each sector of the industry. You’ll notice some jobs are the same in different sectors.

SECTOR 1: Careers in Boat Building

Boat building takes on several different forms. For example there are specialist craftspeople who build traditional wooden boats, however most modern boats are built using fibreglass, aluminium or new composite materials in a factory environment.

• Boat designer
• Yacht designer
• CAD (computer aided design) architect
• Master boat builder
• Naval architect
• Aluminium boat builder
• Fibreglass boat builder
• Composites construction boat builder
• Wooden boat builder
• Model maker
• Engineer
• Plumber
• Carpenter
• Joiner
• Electrician
• Laminator
• Gas fitter
• Welder

SECTOR 2: Careers in Fit Out and Refit

Once the hull of a new boat has been built, there’s plenty of work to be done to fit it out and finish it - constructing, assembling or installing all of the interior and above-deck components needed before a boat can be taken out on the water.

Boats are also often brought in for internal refurbishments, maintenance or improvements. Refitting boats includes jobs like overhauling, detailing, trimming, engine and transmission maintenance - and even boat plumbing and electrics.

Working with all sorts of materials and construction techniques makes fit out and refit challenging and diverse, and no two jobs are likely to be the same.

• Production manager
• Refit coordinator
• Cabinet maker
• Electrician
• Electronics engineer
• Upholsterer
• Cushion maker
• Detailer
• Marine mechanic

SECTOR 3: Careers in Component Manufacturing

Boats use many vital components that are not part of the main structure - such as winches, anchors, windows, electronics, propellers and hydraulic systems – to name just a few.

Whether used for work or play, boats also need exhaust and cooling systems, marine lights, steering, fuel systems and drive parts.

In this career path you could develop skills in hydraulics, plastics, composites, metals or electronics to specialize in making particular marine components working for one of the many thriving companies that supply these parts.

• Hydraulics engineer
• Metals specialist
• MIG (magnesium inert gas) welder
• TIG welder
• Sheetmetal worker
• Fabricator
• Patternmaker
• Metal caster
• Plastics specialist

SECTOR 4: Careers in Slipways and Repairs

No matter how well it is built, a boat will inevitably need repairs!

Slipways and repair shops provide great opportunities to work with a wide range of boats and the variety of jobs is endless.

Welders and boilermakers specialise in metal boats and repair; marine mechanics and technicians service and maintain engines; riggers overhaul and replace rigging on yachts; whilst shipwrights will work on all types of boats; and there are even opportunities to operate heavy machinery such cranes, lifting boats out of the water and transporting them to storage.

• Welder
• Boilermaker
• Transmission mechanic
• Marine mechanic
• Service technician
• Rigger
• Shipwright
• Engine & transmission maintenance mechanic
• Diesel engineer
• Stern-drive mechanic
• Inboard engine mechanic
• Motor mechanic
• Spray painter
• Vehicle painter
• Fumigator
• Pest manager

SECTOR 5: Careers in Sail Making

Using the wind as propulsion depends on the aerodynamics of the sails that power a sail boat. Shape, angle, wind speed, direction – all have their part to play in determining the optimum sail configuration.

Today’s ocean racing yachts are capable of maintaining speeds exceeding 15 knots and the fastest catamarans have now reached 46 knots! This is due largely to the science of performance sail making.

Sail makers use the latest 3D sail design and production software, to create everything from everyday sails to sophisticated mould shapes and panel layouts for performance sails.

• Designer
• Construction
• Performance engineer
• Machinist

SECTOR 6: Careers at the Marina

The marina is the hub of the business end of boat sales and hiring, as well as the most common home for a boat once it is in service. A marina will be buzzing with activity on weekends when boat owners descend upon the waterways for recreation or racing.

Working at a marina means an active out door lifestyle serving the needs of people who hire boats, lease berths and moorings, or who want to purchase accessories or even boats themselves.

Marinas will often incorporate repair facilities and sometimes even a boatbuilder, so you could easily find yourself working in a huge variety of roles at a marina and the opportunities are enormous if you are ready to give it a go!

• General manager
• Marina manager
• Sales manager
• Operations manager
• Crane operator
• Restaurant manager
• Customer service
• Receptionist
• Administrative assistant
• Fuel attendant
• Security guard
• Boat rigger

SECTOR 7: Careers in boat dealership, boat brokering and chandlery

Boat dealers primarily sell new and second hand boats along with boat trailers.
A boat broker manages the sale and purchase of second hand boats.

A chandlery is a shop that specialises in all things for the boater from navigation systems to fishing items and boating safety gear such as personal flotation devices (PFD’s).

• Business owner
• Sales manager
• Sales person
• Account manager
• Accountant
• Book keeper
• Broker

SECTOR 8: Careers in professional support services

The boating industry, especially the large companies, needs all the service skills found in other industries. However many of the enterprises in the industry are small and owner managers are the norm.

• General manager
• Production manager
• Export manager
• Administrator
• IT specialist
• Accountant
• Public relations manager
• Human resource manager
• Marketing manager

SECTOR 9: Careers as a boat operator

Skilled boat operators are needed to perform many jobs in the marine industry. If you are qualified to operate a boat you will be highly regarded in whatever career option you choose within this industry. Some of the key career options are:

• Charter boat skipper
• Fishing boat skipper (recreational and commercial)
• Rescue boat operator
• Light industrial work boat operator (working around the Ports for example)

Text from the 2006/07 Victorian Marine Careers & Training Providers Directory published by Boating Industry Association of Victoria