Laminator - Boat Builder - Cheetah Marine

Job Posted: 13 January 2026

• Contract Term: Permanent
• Location: Ventnor, Isle of Wight
• Contract Type: Full time
• Salary: £13.00 - £16.50 per hour - depending on experience
• Industries: Manufacturing Marine

The role

As a Laminator at Cheetah Marine, you will be part of the laminating team responsible for producing hulls and components using composite wet lay-up techniques. You will work from drawings and build specifications to create high-quality, structurally sound boats.

This is a hands-on manufacturing role. You will not be managing people but will work alongside other laminators under the direction of the Laminating Supervisor or Section Lead.

What you will be doing

You will be involved in the full laminating and finishing process, including:

Mould and tool preparation

• Cleaning, polishing and waxing moulds
• Fitting inserts, implants and modifications
• Preparing moulds ready for gelcoat and lay-up

Laminating and build

• Hand lay-up using polyester and vinyl ester resin systems
• Applying gelcoat
• Laying e-glass and core materials
• Bonding and fitting structural and reinforcement elements
• Mixing resins, catalysts and pigments to the correct ratios

Finishing and fitting

• Trimming, sanding and preparing parts
• Bonding windows and components
• Preparing hull surfaces and applying antifoul where required

Quality, records and control

• Working from drawings, specifications and instructions
• Recording materials, batch numbers and weights as required
• Monitoring and recording temperature and humidity during lay-up and cure
• Checking work quality, identifying defects and carrying out rework

Workshop standards

• Keeping your work area clean, tidy and safe
• Maintaining laminating tools and equipment
• Using PPE and working in line with Health and Safety procedures
• Communicating with supervisors and other teams to keep work flowing

What we are looking for

Essential

• Experience working with composite laminating or wet lay-up
• Able to work from drawings and written or verbal instructions
• Good attention to detail and pride in build quality
• Reliable, punctual and able to work as part of a team
• Comfortable with physical workshop work
• Strong awareness of cleanliness, safety and quality

Desirable

• Experience in boatbuilding or commercial marine work
• Core bonding and structural laminating
• Gelcoat repairs or application
• Composite repairs

Why join Cheetah Marine

• Build high-performance commercial and recreational boats
• Secure, long-term role in a growing marine manufacturer
• Skilled hands-on work where quality matters
• Supportive team environment
• Training and development opportunities
• Competitive pay based on experience
• Company pension scheme