Palmetto Ridge opened the doors to its new Boatbuilding & Marine Systems lab at Cypress Landing Marina last month, giving students hands-on training on the water for careers in one of the Lowcountry’s fastest-growing industries.
The 12,000-square-foot facility includes a fiberglass and composites shop, a marine engine bay, an electronics and navigation lab, and a boat lift that lets students work on vessels right at the dock. The program offers a one-year certificate and a two-year associate degree, with evening sections designed for working adults.
My grandfather built wooden bateaux on Cooper’s Run. Now I am learning to build and repair modern boats a mile from where he worked. It feels like coming full circle.
— Terrence Wilder, Boatbuilding student
Built with industry partners
Regional boat manufacturers, marinas, and shipyards helped design the curriculum and donated equipment. Many have committed to interviewing every graduate, and starting wages for marine technicians in the region often exceed $25 an hour.
The lab also supports welding students, who fabricate aluminum components under the guidance of lead instructor Luis Ortega, and marine science students, who use the lab’s research skiffs to monitor oyster reefs and water quality.
Free tours of the new lab are offered on the first Saturday of each month. Prospective students can also visit during the Fall Open House on October 17.