South Florida Intercoastal

Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Report

By: MIASF Staff

Date posted: Jul 27, 2021 Tue

The summer has been productive for the Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Program; the apprentices have been expanding their knowledge on various projects both on-the-job and in the classroom.  The on-the-job training skills of our current apprentices is very impressive.  On any given workday our apprentices are welding, painting, plumbing, heavy lifting, performing detailed metal fabrication and more!  While maintaining full-time employment at our participating employers, the apprentices also attend a weekly evening class at Atlantic Technical College in order to develop the additional skills required to be a successful marine industry technician. 

The Class of 2021, Class #1, has entered the final quarter of the program and are now working in the Carpentry Module.  Atlantic Technical College assigned their 20-year veteran woodworking teacher to get the apprentices working with all of the table saws and floor equipment. The Carpentry Module will familiarize the apprentices with marine wood types, hardware, hand tools, power tools, measuring, as well as a few small woodworking projects. 
 
The Class of 2022, Class #2, has finished the Rigging & Heavy Lifting Module of the program. The module covered determining product sizes and weights, choosing proper hardware for different sling angles, rigging terminology, lift plans, forklift operation, and overhead cranes. The class is now entering the Outside Machining and Running Gear portion of the course that covers most underwater systems including shafts, shaft seals, struts, bearings, rudders, thrusters, stabilizers, props, and more. 
 
This January we begin our 3rd class for the Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Program! Space is filling, so if you would like to send one of your current or future employees, please contact Instructor Jon Lowell. For more information contact us at 954-524-2733 or email jonathananthony.lowell@browardschools.com.