How to Become a Boat Rigger
Traditionally, a boat rigger is a person on a sailboat or ship who works on the ship's rigging system with the aid of a sailboat rigging diagram, including sails, pulleys, ropes, cables and chains. They work closely with the captain and navigator to ensure that the sails propel the boat in the right direction. As sailboats have become less common, however, the job of a boat rigger has diversified, and nowadays, it means something different.
Boat Rigger Description
What is a rigger on a boat? Boat riggers traditionally worked on a ship's sails, but the job has diversified as sailboats have become less common. Today, a boat rigger does myriad other tasks; for example, they're responsible for preparing boats for upcoming use, which can entail a number of functions. Most professional boat riggers have extensive knowledge of boat mechanics, predominantly motorized or powerboats. They know how to fix a boat when something goes wrong and how to prepare and outfit a motor and a boat for particular types of work or recreation.
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A sailboat rigger salary depends significantly on the type of boat and the nature of employment. Some riggers live on the ships they serve and receive room and board as part of their yacht rigger salary. Others work at docks or boatyards. According to the experts at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, riggers earned a median hourly wage of $23.14 and a median salary of $48,130 in 2021.
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Boat Rigger Education Requirements
Typically, boat rigging requires much more hands-on experience than formal education. If you want to become a boat rigger, the best thing to do is get a job at a shipyard and start learning everything you can about rigging on all types of boats, including powerboat rigging and rowing boat rigging.
Some technical schools offer programs in related fields, such as marine mechanical training. You'll mostly find them offered at technical or trade colleges near major maritime cities, such as Baltimore, New York, Miami and San Diego. It's a good idea to complete one of these programs. The experts at the American Boat and Yacht Council also certify various areas of marine expertise, which can help you get the best job possible.
If you want to become a boat rigger, it also helps to have some maritime knowledge, including navigation skills and expertise in weather and tidal patterns. Finally, some people enter this field through military experience. The Navy, Marines and Merchant Marines train boat riggers and various other positions. You'll undoubtedly learn all you need to know about sailing in these branches of the armed forces.
Boat Rigger Industry
These days, boat rigging on sailboats falls into the sports and recreation category. Most people who make a living on the sea do so in motorized boats. Still, sales of yachts and recreational boats hit a 13-year high in 2020, improving the job market for boat riggers and others in the field for years to come.
Many industries still depend heavily on seagoing vessels. Fishing is an obvious example, but shipping, tourism and certain branches of scientific research also rely heavily on them. That means that boat riggers will remain in high demand, even with increasing automation.
Boat rigging can be a very diverse field. Riggers who work on private yachts need excellent customer service skills, while others who work on container ships have little or no interaction with the public. What is a ship's rigging? To learn more, you can take a look at a sailboat rigging diagram from the experts at Precision Sails.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Riggers
- American Boat and Yacht Council: Boaters
- Precision Sails: Rig Specification Diagram for Sailboats: Mainsail & Headsail
Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York. She holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University. She owns her own content marketing agency, Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing, and she enjoys writing home and DIY articles and blogs for clients in a variety of related industries. She also runs her own lifestyle blog, Sweet Frivolity.
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