Master Shipwright - St. Michaels, MD

Landing School; Saint Michaels (MD); On-site; USD 37,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Saint Michaels, MD is seeking a Master Shipwright to lead traditional wooden boat construction and restoration in a working shipyard open to the public. The role reports to the Shipyard Manager and involves hands-on fabrication, project oversight, and mentoring volunteers while ensuring safety and craftsmanship.

Minimum ten years of experience, lofting and drawings interpretation required; forklift and crane skills preferred.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in traditional wooden boat construction/restoration.
• Lofting expertise and ability to read vessel drawings.
• Proficient with wood shop machinery and power tools.

Responsibilities

• Execute day-to-day tasks: produce templates and patterns from full-size drawings.
• Fit out internal and external components; position sections accurately.
• Prepare slipways and construct cradles used to support ships.
• Find and select quality lumber.
• Fabricate keel, futtocks, planking, and support structures with tools.
• Move large timbers safely using machinery and tackle.
• Direct installation and testing of mechanical systems.
• Participate in installation of rigging.
• Direct and organize Shipwrights in repair, refit, and construction.
• Interact with third party customers: plans, scope, vessel docs, training, sea trials.

Skills

Lofting

Vessel drawings

Wood components

Forklift experience

Crane experience

Rigging experience

Metal fabrication

Communication skills

Mentoring volunteers

Wood shop machinery

Job description

Employer: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Email Address: [e-mail]

Position Title: Master Shipwright

Compensation/Rate: $26.50 - $37.50 Hourly

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum explores and preserves the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and makes this resource accessible to all. As a vital community partner and industry leader, CBMM will create engaging, immersive, and transformative experiences that educate and inspire individuals throughout the Chesapeake Bay region and beyond.

Scope

The Shipyard is a working exhibit of Chesapeake Bay wooden boat building and restoration, open to the public seven days a week, and staffed by CBMM employees and volunteers. CBMM Shipwrights restore, build and maintain traditional wooden vessels, while allowing full public access to the process.

Basic Requirements

• At least 10 years’ experience in traditional wooden boat construction and/or restoration.
• Lofting expertise
• Ability to read, interpret, and build from, vessel drawings
• Possess the knowledge and ability to identify and fabricate quality wooden boat construction components
• Forklift experience
• Crane experience preferred
• Rigging experience
• Metal fabrication experience
• Good communication skills along with the aptitude to teach your skills to volunteers, apprentices, and the general public. Must be comfortable building in full public view, interfacing and interpreting to patrons daily.
• Proficiency in use and maintenance of wood shop stationary machinery and power hand tools.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods standing, climbing, bending, and kneeling.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at a time.
• Must be able to safely work with sharp tools or power equipment.
• Must be able to work in a variety of weather conditions and terrains.
• Must have manual dexterity, a good sense of balance, and excellent hand-eye coordination.

Primary Responsibilities

• Execute day-to-day tasks to include producing templates and patterns from full-size detail drawings, fitting out internal and external components, positioning sections accurately, preparing slipways and constructing cradles used to support ships.
• Find and select quality lumber.
• Fabricate ship parts, such as keel, futtocks, planking, and support structures and blocking and staging, using power and manual hand tools.
• Manipulate large timbers safely with machinery, block and tackle and by hand.
• Direct the installation and testing of mechanical systems.
• Participate in the installation of rigging.
• Direct and organize Shipwrights in the execution of traditional vessel repair, refit, and construction.
• Interact with third party customers including: reviewing plans and work completed, discussing project scope, creating vessel documentation, providing vessel training, and performing sea trials.
• Assume such other duties as are necessary for the operation of CBMM or as assigned by the President or Shipyard Manager; assist other staff as needed with technical issues or special projects.

This is a full-time, non-exempt, hourly position with an expected minimum work schedule of 40 hours per week. All staff are expected to be available to work a flexible schedule that may include evenings and weekends.