boat building as a career change?

It's a difficult one & a lot depends on whether you have dependants/spouse or not. If you don't you have an awful lot of flexibility. The trick is getting yourself into a position where you are happy with your lot, even if that's just for the time being. I think we are too fixated with the idea of careers and doing something for a long time, it suits some but not all and we are also too concerned with what other people think about who we are and what we do, in fact we are pretty much defined by a lot of others by what we do to earn money, which is ridiculous.

At just past 40 I sold my house and went to South America to travel and do voluntary work, ended up learning to dive, worked for a while as a dive guide, then travelled (and dived) my way up through Central America. When I got to Mexico (no desire to enter the US!) I went to the Philippines, did a dive instructor course and taught in Thailand for a while. Now I'm back in the UK, live on my boat (could this be an option for you?) and work 3 days a week as a hospital porter. I also happen to have a masters degree so am working well below my "potential" but for now it suits me, doing something I consider to be worth something more than generating more cash for shareholders pockets, e.g. and there are still loads of options open to me, I could retrain and have another "career", go back to the work I did before, go travelling again, go to the Med or the Caribbean or beyond with my boat when I have the skills (still a relative beginner with my sailing :)). There are those that say I don't live in the real world or it's alright for me as I'm only responsible for myself, okay partly true but too many people are slaves to their job and their mortgage, etc. and I do not want that, sounds like you don't either, or at least you'd like a break from it. Explore as many ideas as you can and try different things until you find what's right for you for now. Don't worry too much about the future and good luck...
 
Boo2 said:
Not if you're a director/sole trader.

Vern said:
Why?
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Tranona said:
If it is genuine retraining you can. I did only a couple of years ago. I just submitted a statement with a summary of where the retraining added to my existing skills, supported by documentation on the course that I took. Got 75% of it against my tax in that year. Probably helped that I took advice from my accountant on how to present it and I have a long record as a sole trader with HMRC. However, she did cross all her fingers and toes when she submitted my return - but accepted with no questions.
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Answer to "why" is 'cos it's the law. However, as Tranona says, it does depend upon the training :

Basically, AIUI, a director/sole trader can set off the costs of training where it is used to extend their capabilities to do work which they are currently doing but not to retrain in a different field entirely. Eg, if you are a gas fitter and you trained to become certified to do boat work in addition to your current domestic certification then that is allowable. But the aforesaid GF could not retrain as a comercial pilot and offset the costs of that against the tax due on the returns from his/her gas fitting. From the OP's post I think he fell into the latter category rather than the first...

This crops up rather often on the IT contractor forums I frequent, which tells you something about IT as a career :D

Boo2
 
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bushwacka said:
Just to be clear, my career interest in not so much in boatbuilding but doing repairs, maintenance and upgrades - that sort of thing. The course places an emphasis on traditional boat construction, but also covers GRP work, internal fittings, electric and plumbing etc so looks like you get a fairly comprehensive grounding. After the course I was thinking of taking on a low paid dogs body position in a yard of even volunteer to get some further experience and then see what develops. Ultimately, I fancied myself with my own little mobile repair business or something along that line.
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At 36 I left a career in advertising in London to take a year off and sail to the Caribbean, that year ended up being six and I now run my own yacht brokerage in the solent. I have never looked back. That is not to say it hasn't been hard, sometimes its bl@**Y hard. But I wouldn't change it for the world.

Good mobile boat repairers who build up a good rep will always be in demand. Good luck and go for it.
 
Not sure if this is still practised but most boatyards used to charge outside contractors to work on yachts on their premises. If still practised this can put up the cost of work dramatically.

I trained as a Boatyard Manager - 3 year sandwich Diploma in Southampton - which had glassfibre moulding work, mould loft and wooden boat building as well as some management work (accounts, marketing, material strenghs, production) - that was from 1986 to 1989 and whilst gave an insight into most aspects of the industry did not make you master of any of the disciplines. It was enough to get you a decent job in the industry. I was a broker at Ancasta initially then sold new yachts for Northshore for 6 years. You work in the industry for the love of boats not money!

I would not wish to do glassfibre work in a mould shop on a regular basis - nasty job imho.
 
E39mad said:
I have an E39 525d sport touring - (had it 8 years now) - fabulous car but earnt the money for it in a different industry!
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Cracking car with a just perfect engine- yes top tip, buy your car BEFORE quitting your proper job and entering the marine industry ;)
 
Hay Bushwhacker,
it seems to me that everyone is on about the cost, the tax, the qualifications and everything but the actual work and the skills involver.

So here is a little more information for you to consider:

Boat building and repairing means working with lots of contaminated dust, dangerous chemicals, confined spaces, poor ventilation, heavy lifting, laying on your back putting wet fibreglass up that often falls down on you.

Work clothes that get thrown out long before they wear out because are stiff with resin, chemicals and paints. Hands that can only be cleaned after a two week break when the stuff finally wears off, working inside and outside in all weathers.

Clients complaining about the cost despite you providing them with a written estimate then finding more problems and fixing them for free.

Clients who tell you exactly what they want and write it all down, then want half it changed when finished at no extra cost.

Yes a good career move, go for it..:eek:

Good luck.
 
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I too was an IT worker and looked at giving it up to work with boats. I looked at various options and dipped my toes in the water with a small charter fleet. After a couple of years working long hours to get someone else out on the water and making a loss I went contract programming and earned enough to build a 40 footer and take the time out to go long-distance cruising. So a few home truths about the boating industry:

As a general boatbuilder whether in wood or GRP you will earn low wages, less than you would get doing equivalent work on a building site. The only way to make good money is to have your own company but on the track record of British boat builders you're just as likely to go bust (how many times was Westerly rescued?).

The thing you are working on will be boat-shaped and your workshop may be near water but you'll end up spending less time on the water than your mates who stay in IT.

If you are determined to work on boats I would suggest a technical trade - rigger, electrician, electronics, refrigeration, radio etc. I think the best niche is gas fitter - ones with full marine certification are like hen's teeth.
 
snowleopard said:
The thing you are working on will be boat-shaped and your workshop may be near water but you'll end up spending less time on the water than your mates who stay in IT.
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Sadly this is true, I'm not a builder but a broker who travels extensively up and down the south coast so I live and breathe boats seven days a week.

Trips to my own 38ftr this year......3. (And two of those were for repairs :eek:)
 
Interesting thread . I dipped my toe in the boat thing as i am close to the Thames with a workshop full of machines . I took my toe out pretty dam quick and went back to making staicases , doors and windows as they are less hassle than basic boat cosmetics .
 
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jonic said:
Sadly this is true, I'm not a builder but a broker who travels extensively up and down the south coast so I live and breathe boats seven days a week.

Trips to my own 38ftr this year......3. (And two of those were for repairs :eek:)
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Why don't you see if you can sell it? :D
 
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