Thomas is a passionate man. Since he was 8 years old, he knows he wants to be a marine carpenter. When I ask him why, he finds it hard to explain, no one around him is in the business, but for him it was obvious.
What training did you take to become a marine carpenter?
" I took a BEP in Wood, with a major in wood manufacturing and associated materials in Orléans". This is a 2-year training course where you learn the techniques of creating works in wood or related materials. He will make plans, learn how to use tools: sawing machine, hammer, chisel ... and develop techniques for manufacturing and installation.
Holder of his BEP Wood, a compulsory prerequisite, he passed his CAP Carpenter of Marine near Arcachon at the Gujan Mestras high school of the sea. This is a one-year training course which will enable him to work on the manufacture and repair of wooden hulls and derived materials. In France, there are only 3 high schools offering a CAP in Marine Carpentry: Arcachon, Cherbourg, Marseille.
Thomas decides to continue his studies and completes his training with a 2-year Brevet Professionnel Charpente Navale under apprentice status. He works under an apprenticeship contract at the Bernadou shipyard in Cannet-en-Roussillon where he learns the trade of naval carpenter. "I learned everything at home. They've been marine carpenters for five generations. Grounding on slipway, hull screwing, bow keel, deck, planking, frames, delphiniums, caulking. I had the opportunity to participate in the restoration and repair of many trawlers, including the Louis Gaëtane II, a 24m trawler from Sète, which in September 2010 suffered a collision with the Panamanian freighter Almhoud Transporter: a work that will last 11 months." Following his 2 years of work-study, Thomas will continue to work in this family business for another 2 years.
"In 2014, I had the opportunity to come and work as a marine carpenter at the Carenes shipyard in Ars-en-Ré." He will work for 3 years in this shipyard and will participate in many restorations including the Kristen, a 1958 sailing ship based in the port of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.
After 8 years of experience as a naval carpenter, Thomas decided to set up his own business and in 2018 created the Charpente Coast shipyard.
What are your daily routine and responsibilities?
The marine carpenter builds, repairs and maintains wooden boats. He participates in the restoration of the hulls, deck, mast and master parts of a boat to give a new lease of life to boats that are often several decades old.
There is a real demand for the restoration of wooden boats on the Ile de Ré. Customers are attached to their traditional boat, synonymous with many memories. "We are therefore helping to ensure that these moments of navigation can continue."
" We carry out repairs either directly on site for maintenance work, or in our shipyard for small boats, or at the harbor on bers." This is the case, for example, of the restoration of the Cradle of Moses in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, where the entire upper part of the precinct is being restored. For more details (restoration of a 1958 trawler) .
"When we are entrusted with the restoration of a new boat, the first step is to draw up a quotation. Depending on the type of shipyard, there will be more or less labour involved. You'll have to manage the purchase of wood, fittings, hardware and screws to be able to repair and maintain the boat. It's a project management where organization is paramount to meet the customer's deadlines."
"You have to be versatile and rigorous in this business." Indeed, all the pieces are made to measure in their Charpente Coast workshop at 5 route Moulin des S?urs in Ars-en-Ré. A mistake quickly happens if you are not concentrated and the machines they use are unforgiving. " The wood is bought by log (raw tree cut in the length), according to the project we will choose the size and the type of wood we will have to work on in the workshop. You have to be able to draw boat parts, work with wood, master machine tools and know how to bend (twist) wood." The difficulty with being a marine carpenter is that nothing is straight! There is a real know-how, a real expertise that the marine carpenter will acquire as his restorations progress.
"It's a physical and manual job where you don't count your hours," Thomas concludes.
What are the possible evolutions in your job?
As part of a team, a naval carpenter can acquire responsibilities or become self-employed.
"For my part, I have decided to create the Charpente Coast shipyard in 2018. Since September 2019, the shipyard has hired one full-time person and an apprentice since September 2020. So I have a team to lead and train. There is a transmission of know-how and a company to manage with all that this implies..."
"As the last shipyard on the Ile de Ré, we would later like to design and build our own wooden boat, as was the case at the time with the Cazavants, a sail made of local wood and emblematic of the proud Ars-en-Ré created in 1937."
