Shipwright II / Boat Buildert - St. Michaels, MD

Landing School; Saint Michaels (MD); On-site; USD 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Saint Michaels, MD seeks a Shipwright II / Boat Builder to join the shipyard team. The role focuses on traditional wooden boat construction/restoration, timber fabrication with treenails, and working in full public view while mentoring volunteers.

This full-time, non-exempt hourly position offers $24.50–$30.00 per hour with a typical 40-hour week. Candidates should have 3–6 years of experience and be adept with cranes, forklifts, rigging, and metal

Qualifications

• 3 to 6 years’ experience in traditional wooden boat construction and/or restoration.
• Ability to identify and fabricate quality large timber products using treenails.
• Good communication skills and the ability to teach volunteers, apprentices, and the public.
• Comfort building in full public view and interfacing with patrons daily.
• Ability to provide necessary hand tools and operate wood shop machinery.

Responsibilities

• Produce templates and patterns from full-size drawings and assemble components.
• Fabricate ship parts such as keel, futtocks, and planking per blueprints.
• Select quality lumber and maintain shop equipment and cleanliness.
• Build boats according to blueprint specifications and apply finishes.
• Assist and train volunteers and staff as needed.

Skills

Woodworking

Timber framing

Mentoring/teaching

Rigging experience

Tools

Crane

Forklift

Woodworking machinery

Job description

Employer: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Email Address: [e-mail]

Position Title: Shipwright II / Boat Builder

Compensation/Rate: $24.50 - $30.00 Hourly

Job Description

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 restores, build and maintain traditional wooden vessels, while allowing full public access to the process.

Basic Requirements

• 3 to 6 years’ experience in traditional wooden boat construction and/or restoration.
• Possess the knowledge and ability to identify and fabricate quality large timber products using treenails. Crane and forklift experience, basic rigging and metal fabrication experience is a plus.
• Good communication skills along with the aptitude to teach your skills to volunteers, apprentices, and the public. Must be comfortable building in full public view, interfacing and interpreting to patrons daily.
• Ability to provide all necessary hand tools, exercise proficiency in use and maintenance of wood shop machinery.

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 including 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 woodworking power and edge tools.
• Manipulate large timbers safely with machinery, block and tackle, and by hand.
• Build boats according to blueprint specifications.
• Apply traditional preservatives and finishes to lumber.
• Maintain industrial shop equipment, sharpen and maintain shop power and edge tools.
• Maintain shop cleanliness and order.
• Participate in training regarding CBMM exhibits, service values, and other topics
• 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, weekends, and holidays.