Technician Boatbuilder

About us

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that provides, on call, a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service and a seasonal lifeguard service.

Our lifeboat crews and lifeguards need a dedicated, professional, and talented team behind them.

The All-weather Lifeboat Centreisthe RNLI'sin-house, boat building, repair and refit facility located in Poole.

We have a full schedule of Lifeboat Refits and Builds ahead of us and are seeking an experienced Boat builder to join our team.

• £16.48 per hour (annual salary - £35,992dependent on experience and hours worked)
• Performance related pay scheme annually reviewed
• 26 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Time off in lieu available
• Half day on Fridays and flexible working opportunities.
• Competitive pension scheme
• Life assurance

We are seeking a skilled Boat builder to join our dedicated team focused on the Severn Class Lifeboat refit project. This is a hands-on, high-impact role where your craftsmanship directly contributes to saving lives at sea.

This project is carried out mainly in a factory environment over a 22-week schedule. Working as part of a close-knit team of 10, you will collaborate to restore these vital vessels back to operational condition. The role has very limited time spent afloat and not consider sea going.

This position is physically demanding and requires excellent attention to detail, a strong work ethic, and the ability to maintain high-quality standards while working in tight, restricted spaces.

Key Responsibilities

• Deck & Hull Fittings:
  Installing handrails, stanchions, windows, seats, side panels and soft patches, boat protection, and Bench work.
• Mechanical & Component Assembly:
  Fitting fan cases, refurbishing vents and flap mechanisms, and bolt installation to tightening / length specifications.
• Finishing & Prep Work:
  Carrying out cleaning, sanding, painting, and sealant removal and application.
• GRP Work:
  Undertaking small amounts of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) lamination and repair work.
• Quality Rectification:
  Methodically working through and clearing defects reported by surveyors and quality technicians.

You must be able to work to Engineering drawings and standardised work, safely and efficiently. You will be working as a member of a multi-disciplined team ensuring that lifeboats are built or refitted on time and within budget, meeting the RNLI’s stringent quality standards.

It is essential you have relevant City and Guilds or NVQ level 3/BTEC qualifications, time served apprenticeship or equivalent experience.

Previous experience of boat production, marine refits, and repairs, laminating and working with epoxy composite materials, is desirable.

Come and join us in the build of this centre of excellence and help save lives at sea!