Shipwright

Human beings have spent centuries trying to find a better way to get from point A to point B. They invented the wheel, for instance, in 8,000 B.C., followed by the chariot in 3,500 B.C. They invented the steam engine, meanwhile, in 1804, the bicycle in 1817, the automobile in 1889 and the airplane in 1903.

Perhaps the most important contributions to transportation history, however, have been made neither by land nor by air, but rather by water — courtesy of boats.

If you’re a Shipwright, boats’ historical, economic and recreational significance isn’t lost on you. After all, you build them. Also known as a Boat Builder, a Shipwright designs and constructs watercraft, including everything from handmade canoes, small fishing boats and recreational schooners to large cargo ships and naval vessels.

As a Shipwright, you use your knowledge of physics, engineering and math to create blueprints for the boat’s design. Then, you take those blueprints to a shipyard, where you use them to build, focusing first on the boat’s scaffolding, followed by its hull, its deck and, finally, its interior. As much a Builder as an Engineer, you use hand and power tools to measure, cut and form parts; attach fittings, plates and bulkheads; assemble and install timbers; and sand, paint and wax surfaces.

You’re also a Project Manager, in charge of scheduling and supervising work, and an Inspector, in charge of examining the boat and preparing it for launch.

Finally, because you love boats so much, in your spare time you’re probably the Captain of your own vessel, too!