Built on the deck plate
The Making of a Shipfitter is home to The Shipfitter's Handbook: From Apprentice to Foreman, written by Monte Gatlin, a shipfitter with more than 23 years in Navy shipbuilding and repair.
Monte started as a Shipfitter/Boilermaker apprentice in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and worked his way up through journeyman, advanced shipfitter, lead mechanic and foreman. Along the way he worked on carriers, submarines, destroyers and cruisers, ran a crew of 15 shipfitters and 15 welders, and was recognized for finishing critical work ahead of schedule and under budget.
The handbook passes that experience on: the safety habits, shop math, blueprint reading, layout and fit-up skills, and the leadership know-how it takes to move up in the trade.
Our promise
Practical, honest, field-tested information, written for the people doing the work.