Career Overview
Laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.
Also Known As
- Boat Builder
- Chopper Gun Operator
- Fiberglass Laminator
- Laminator
Alternate Job Titles
- Boat Assembler
- Boat Builder
- Boat Carpenter
- Chopper Gun Operator
- Composite Bond Technician
- Composite Fitter Mechanic
- Composite Laminator
- Composite Mechanic
- Composite Technician
- Fabricator
- Fiber Placement Technician
- Fiber Winding Operator
- Fiberglass Boat Builder
- Fiberglass Boat Finisher
- Fiberglass Boat Maker
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers.
- Spray chopped fiberglass, resins, and catalysts onto prepared molds or dies using pneumatic spray guns with chopper attachments.
- Mix catalysts into resins, and saturate cloth and mats with mixtures, using brushes.
- Check completed products for conformance to specifications and for defects by measuring with rulers or micrometers, by checking them visually, or by tapping them to detect bubbles or dead spots.
- Pat or press layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on molds, using brushes or hands, and smooth out wrinkles and air bubbles with hands or squeegees.
- Select precut fiberglass mats, cloth, and wood-bracing materials as required by projects being assembled.
- Bond wood reinforcing strips to decks and cabin structures of watercraft, using resin-saturated fiberglass.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Problem Sensitivity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Multilimb Coordination
- Near Vision
- Trunk Strength
- Oral Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Extent Flexibility
- Visualization
- Selective Attention
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Stress Tolerance
- Perseverance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Chopper guns
- Curing ovens
- Cutoff saws
- Fiber reinforced polymer FRP rollers
- Hand shears
- Heat lamps
- High-volume low-pressure HVLP spray guns
- Ladders
- Micrometers
- Paint application brushes
- Paint application rollers
- Paint spray guns
- Personal computers
- Pneumatic spray guns
- Power drills
Work Environment
- Spend Time Standing
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $35,950 |
| Median | $45,760 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $61,370 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 18,520
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
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Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $45,690
Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
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Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
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Median Salary: $48,680
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
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Tire Builders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $55,580
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.