My son is getting ready to apply to University and starting to make plans for his future education. Last fall he and I visited the Beneteau factory in Marion SC and was asking about possible education/employment in the boating industry. (Not laying up fiberglass for hulls and breathing in resin fumes). He seems to be looking towards boat design and was also wondering about schools that offer possible education-coop work placement options. Questions? Are there jobs out there? If so, what University/Colleges offer an education that may lead to a Naval Archecture Degree? A bit early to ask, however what are salaries/earnings that can be expected?
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Lots of jobs but not for Yacht Design
Lots of jobs but most are in Marine Engineering and very few jobs as Yacht Designers. Check out www.sname.org/careers.htm for a starting point. I work for a museum and part of my job is small craft design and I enjoy the work very much. The pay is good and there is nothing like bringing to life a drawing on what was once a blank piece of paper. A boat is the closest to a living thing that man has come up with. All the best, Robert Gainer
Lots of jobs but most are in Marine Engineering and very few jobs as Yacht Designers. Check out www.sname.org/careers.htm for a starting point. I work for a museum and part of my job is small craft design and I enjoy the work very much. The pay is good and there is nothing like bringing to life a drawing on what was once a blank piece of paper. A boat is the closest to a living thing that man has come up with. All the best, Robert Gainer
I worked for the navy and here is my advice
Here is the best advice I was ever given, "look in the paper and see if there are jobs in the field before you go into it"! Stick with tradition engineering disciplines like Mechanical, civil or electrical. That way he can get a job outside of the boating world when he needs one. He can still get a job working in the Naval Archecture field but is not limited to it. Engineer average 50 - 80g per year.
Here is the best advice I was ever given, "look in the paper and see if there are jobs in the field before you go into it"! Stick with tradition engineering disciplines like Mechanical, civil or electrical. That way he can get a job outside of the boating world when he needs one. He can still get a job working in the Naval Archecture field but is not limited to it. Engineer average 50 - 80g per year.
That's good advice
That’s good advice but in a specialty like this it may not be a good indicator. In this field everybody knows everybody and the jobs are listed in the trade publications instead of a newspaper. It’s the type of thing where you need to want to be in it and are willing to start with 35,000 and work your way up. It is tougher to start then being a broker or something but much more rewording work. Also, a civil or mechanical engineer will have a lot of trouble making the jump to marine because a lot of marine engineers are out there already but a marine engineer is trained in mechanical engineering and has a PE so he can make the jump the other way if he wants. By the way, a Yacht Designer doesn’t need a PE in most states. If that’s his interest there are other schools to look at but there is a lot of competition for those jobs and you need real talent and some good luck to break into that field. All the best, Robert Gainer
That’s good advice but in a specialty like this it may not be a good indicator. In this field everybody knows everybody and the jobs are listed in the trade publications instead of a newspaper. It’s the type of thing where you need to want to be in it and are willing to start with 35,000 and work your way up. It is tougher to start then being a broker or something but much more rewording work. Also, a civil or mechanical engineer will have a lot of trouble making the jump to marine because a lot of marine engineers are out there already but a marine engineer is trained in mechanical engineering and has a PE so he can make the jump the other way if he wants. By the way, a Yacht Designer doesn’t need a PE in most states. If that’s his interest there are other schools to look at but there is a lot of competition for those jobs and you need real talent and some good luck to break into that field. All the best, Robert Gainer
Yes, you are right
if you want to work as a only doing luxury yacht design you have specialize. I think limiting yourself like that is a huge mistake. I was able to get another job in the area after the navy yard close, because I was a real engineer and not someone with a yacht design certificate. Civil or mechanical engineer are very capable marine engineers. So are electrical engineers for that matter. Many marine engineering school other these degrees. Systems are systems! Steel is steel... I work a one of the nations biggest naval ship yards and almost 100% of the engineer staff were civil, electrical or mechanical engineer. Looking for jobs in trade publications means moving 99 times out of 100. I think that stinks. Pick up your family and move to Bum Sticker, Nowhere because you have to work on marine systems. Look in the news paper not trade publications for a job.
if you want to work as a only doing luxury yacht design you have specialize. I think limiting yourself like that is a huge mistake. I was able to get another job in the area after the navy yard close, because I was a real engineer and not someone with a yacht design certificate. Civil or mechanical engineer are very capable marine engineers. So are electrical engineers for that matter. Many marine engineering school other these degrees. Systems are systems! Steel is steel... I work a one of the nations biggest naval ship yards and almost 100% of the engineer staff were civil, electrical or mechanical engineer. Looking for jobs in trade publications means moving 99 times out of 100. I think that stinks. Pick up your family and move to Bum Sticker, Nowhere because you have to work on marine systems. Look in the news paper not trade publications for a job.
Maine
Not sure how much this is worth but will pass it on. I read an article recently in the Portland Press Herald about how the boat building industry is booming in Maine and they are having trouble finding competent workers. There are a few larger builders like Sabre and Maine Cat but a lot of small shops. Check out the Landing School in Kennebunk, link attached. As far as I know it offers hands-on training in boat design and construction and is quite good.
Not sure how much this is worth but will pass it on. I read an article recently in the Portland Press Herald about how the boat building industry is booming in Maine and they are having trouble finding competent workers. There are a few larger builders like Sabre and Maine Cat but a lot of small shops. Check out the Landing School in Kennebunk, link attached. As far as I know it offers hands-on training in boat design and construction and is quite good.
Naval Architecture Schools
There are several schools that teach naval architecture, including MIT, University of Michigan and Webb Institute. Webb is a small school (80 students) on Long Island which only teaches NA. It is an excellent school and at least up to a few years ago only charged for room and board if you can pass the entrance exam. For a coop school in engineering (no NA) try Northeastern University in Boston. I can personally speak for NU (BSCE '68) and U of M (MS NA/ME'71) To get info on job availability I would suggest talking to people at Webb or U of M. As mentioned in another post, SNAME (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers) is another good source for info. Paul
There are several schools that teach naval architecture, including MIT, University of Michigan and Webb Institute. Webb is a small school (80 students) on Long Island which only teaches NA. It is an excellent school and at least up to a few years ago only charged for room and board if you can pass the entrance exam. For a coop school in engineering (no NA) try Northeastern University in Boston. I can personally speak for NU (BSCE '68) and U of M (MS NA/ME'71) To get info on job availability I would suggest talking to people at Webb or U of M. As mentioned in another post, SNAME (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers) is another good source for info. Paul
I know you want a white collar job for your son
and I am sure he will find one. I would remind you of other colleges such as SUNY Maritime College or Kings Point (Federal) for a lot of naval knowledge of ships and the sea. ABs and MSC boats are currently needing crews I hear and it is quite an introduction to all the ocean has to throw at you. Graduates can usually move on to NOAA, Merchant Marine, or cruise boat jobs with the CG licensing they receive with a degree. If you are sold on the idea of hull/boat design then I will mention the Webb Institute in Glen Cove LI again. Good luck.
and I am sure he will find one. I would remind you of other colleges such as SUNY Maritime College or Kings Point (Federal) for a lot of naval knowledge of ships and the sea. ABs and MSC boats are currently needing crews I hear and it is quite an introduction to all the ocean has to throw at you. Graduates can usually move on to NOAA, Merchant Marine, or cruise boat jobs with the CG licensing they receive with a degree. If you are sold on the idea of hull/boat design then I will mention the Webb Institute in Glen Cove LI again. Good luck.
I am suprised that no one mentioned Westlawn yet
The Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology. They practically write the ABYC. To me this is the standard of Marine Yacht design schools in America these days The names of the marine architects and graduates are almost a who's who of modern day american boat builders. Dave Gerr, Bruce King, Ted Brewer, John Cherubini, Gerry Douglas, Dudley Dix, etc, etc If I was getting into the Marine industry as a designer/architect worker I would seriously consider this school. It'll probably "hook you up" as good as any other matriculated degree in the marine indusrty http://www.westlawn.edu/
The Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology. They practically write the ABYC. To me this is the standard of Marine Yacht design schools in America these days The names of the marine architects and graduates are almost a who's who of modern day american boat builders. Dave Gerr, Bruce King, Ted Brewer, John Cherubini, Gerry Douglas, Dudley Dix, etc, etc If I was getting into the Marine industry as a designer/architect worker I would seriously consider this school. It'll probably "hook you up" as good as any other matriculated degree in the marine indusrty http://www.westlawn.edu/
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