Employer: Antique Boat Museum
Email Address: mattmacvittie@abm.org
Position Title: Master Boatwright
Compensation: $55,000-$59,000 annually
Company: Located in the 1000 Islands on the St. Lawrence River, the Antique Boat Museum is the premier freshwater boating museum in North America. The ABM’s collections hold over 320 unique boats and thousands of related artifacts and archives. Our 4.5 acre campus comes alive with speedboat rides, a working skiff livery, and educational programs.
The Antique Boat Museum collects, preserves, interprets and celebrates boats and related artifacts to advance public understanding of the importance of boating to the cultural history of North America and the St. Lawrence River in particular.
Position Description: Title: Master Boatwright Reports to: Curator/Collections Manager
Job Description: Reporting directly to the Museum Curator & Collections Manager with administrative oversight from the Executive Director, and working in coordination with the whole of our small ABM Staff Team, this position provides hands-on leadership, performance, and follow-through for all aspects of the care and maintenance related to the ABM In-Water Fleet and permanent collection. Equally important is the boat shop programming based in the E.J. Noble Historic Stone Building and Mary Street Shop. The Master Boatwright will be responsible for reestablishing the boat building school and/or a series of classes pertaining to classic craftsmanship and traditional boat building skills. The Master Boatwright must possess good communication skills along with the aptitude to teach skills to volunteers, apprentices, and the general public. Must be comfortable working in full public view, interfacing and interpreting to visitors daily during the open season. Schedule will include special events and weekends during open season, and transitioning to M-F schedule during the closed season.
Duties and Responsibilities:
In-water Fleet/Operational Boat Program Pre-season (Mid-March, April and early May):
In coordination with Curator/Collection Manager, Maintenance & Operations Manager, & Appropriate Specialty Contractors, i.e. Boat Haulers, Mechanic(s): Moving of collection boats from storage to display/workshop/water
Prep all vessels for launch: charge batteries, de-winterize all engines, inspect hull of vessel to ensure no damage due to winter storage, bottom paint
Launch motorized fleet boats; and coordinate boat launch of larger motorized boats by travel lift (at nearby marina). Schedule with captains and for shakedown upon launch
Follow pre-launch protocol for smaller in-water fleet and small sailing vessels. This includes body inspection, re-seaming, and possible painting, cleaning, or more extensive hull repairs
Launch (with slings) sailing vessels and rig sailing vessels Season: May – October
Schedule and confirm regular maintenance on fleet vessels: Performing and/or working with appropriate Specialty Contractors to perform oil and filter changes every 100 hours, fuel filters, clean raw water strainer
Communicate with all responsible Staff Team members, Volunteers, Specialty Contractors as to the status of in-water fleet boats (Weekly Team Meetings occur every Tuesday morning)
Address & schedule unexpected mechanical maintenance (Diagnostic/corrective procedure of electrical systems, mechanical systems; prop change haul outs. A priority on fixing issues without major loss of service or cancellation of Friend of Museum ride)
Oversee and/or perform unscheduled repairs (with assistance of mechanic) such as engine removals/ replacements, transmission replacement. Repairs may involve multi-day halt in operation for certain vessels
Communicate with Volunteer Lead Captain & Captains in order cultivate daily/weekly information of boat performance
Cosmetic maintenance on all boats during season, potentially requiring haul out
Perform structural repairs; Post USCG/COI exam required, time sensitive repair work
Train as assistant for Passenger Lift to provide access to ride boats
Perform maintenance and repairs on smaller sailing vessels without interruption to sailing Tuesday and Event Sailing (occasionally requiring haul out)
Routine, pre-season, & emergency maintenance of safety boats coordinating with Director of Education and Specialty Contractors
Attend initial Tuesday Night Sailing & Rowing in order to access boat and perform any repairs Post-Season (October-March):
Coordinate haul-out of fleet boats by trailer and travel lift
Identify repair and maintenance needs of in-water fleet by end of October for budgeting purposes
Oversee and/or perform cleaning and winterization of all engines inboard and outboard
Participate in careful storage of boats in barns
Repair/Restoration of all in-water vessels (small and large) in order to prepare for next season, either at ABM or coordinating with other shops in the area
Execute winter projects with volunteers: past projects have included: boat bottoms, rebuilding transom of Chris-Craft, total refinishing of 30’ runabout
Administrative Responsibilities:
Keep records & pictures for all maintenance, repair, & restoration, including filling out condition reports with Curator/Collections Manager
Preparing budgets, ordering, and organizing shop and project supplies
Track inventory of In-Kind Sponsor products (Previously: Mirka / Epiphanes) coordinate with Associate Director of Advancement on communication with each company
Tool maintenance (both power and hand)
Identify potential restoration projects (Budget, Timeline, and potential programming/demos built around projects)
Build In-Shop Infrastructure (Organize, Arrange, Build more accessibility)
Research related to watercraft preservation and specific assignments
Serve on the Collections and other appropriate committees
Liaison for Boat Shop Volunteers: In conjunction with the Volunteer Coordinator, recruit and work with new volunteers
Work with groups of year-round and seasonal volunteers in the boat shop to maintain small craft working fleet, special projects, and other institutional wood working needs.
Foster good will and communication with the volunteers
Curatorial Related:
Work in Conjunction with Curator/Collections Manager in:
The moving and relocation of collection objects
Occasionally assist with exhibition maintenance and installation (featuring boats)
Assessing collection objects, specifically boats, for potential collection based projects, ranging from partial and full restorations to stabilizing and documentation for the purposes of expanded understanding and on-going object cataloging
Hauling and transporting special temporary exhibits, which may include boats on trailers, to fellow museums and/or off-site storage locations
Educational Programming:
Develop, oversee, and/or teach programming offered in the Stone Building/Mary St. Shop
Participate in the scheduling of Stone Building use
Schedule and participate in demonstrations for Event days (may include outside craftspeople)
Qualifications: •
A high level of aptitude and ability in carpentry, finish work, rigging, etc. as related to museum quality and traditional watercraft preservation and new construction. Knowledge in marine engines and systems
Understanding the sensitivity of working on museum objects and taking full consideration for the difference in approaches of preservation, conservation, and restoration
Minimum of four years of experience in a variety of ship and/or boat maintenance, preservation or restoration projects. Time spent in formal Boat Building Programs may replace up to two years of experience
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Understands and adheres to the standards prescribed by the American Alliance of Museums, including the collections policies and the code of ethics, as well as accepted good practices
Dedicated individual with a pleasant demeanor and positive attitude
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Strong organizational, planning, and research skills
Detail-oriented, meticulous, and conscientious in following through on assigned tasks
Proficiency with computers in standardized word processing, email communication, and spreadsheet programs
Ability to work independently, exercise initiative and good judgment to successfully organize and complete assignments
Ability to collaborate and work as part of a small team
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff team, donors, volunteers, and visitors
Commitment to being an active participant in the Antique Boat Museum community by attending events, forging relationships with volunteers, and donors
Commitment to learning and growing in the field
Ability to travel, work evenings and/or weekends as necessary in the performance of assigned responsibilities
Hold a valid driver’s license
Job requires bending, lifting, climbing, and prolonged physical activity and exposure to all weather conditions
How to Apply:
Candidates should submit cover letter, resume, two writing samples and three references to Debbie Putnam, Controller/HR, Master Boatwright Search, Antique Boat Museum, 750 Mary Street, Clayton, NY 13624, or email to deborahputnam@abm.org. More information is available at: www.abm.org.