Pontoon Open Day Guide

Boathouse 4, an iconic building within the Historic Dockyard constructed during the massive 1930’s rearmament period, is open to the public as a historic boat restoration centre and exhibition. The boathouse has many original features and operational gantry cranes. There is always something to see! The Dockyard’s most unique attraction is FREE to enter and showcases wooden boats of all shapes and sizes including many operational historic craft. 

Do you love Portsmouth and our Naval Heritage? Wooden boats? Could you tell visitors our Boathouse 4 story? Would you like to join our team of enthusiastic volunteers and help bring Boathouse 4 to life for our visitors.

Whilst we have many regular volunteering opportunities available at Boathouse 4, this volunteering role is specifically for our pontoon open days which we hold one Saturday a month from April to October. Open days are when we have our pontoons and operational boats open freely to the public so we need extra guides for these days specifically due to visitors being out on the water.

Here are some things you will be doing (Information and training will be provided):

·       - Welcome and interact with our visitors.

·       - Acting as tour guide on the pontoons telling visitors about Boathouse 4, the work underway and our operational boats.

·       - Be stationed on one of our operational boats, helping visitors get on and off the boats safety.

·      -  Show visitors the interior and exterior of the operational boats on our pontoons.  

Volunteers for this job role in particular will be required for any of the following dates:

o   8th of April

o   27th of May

o   1st of July

o   29th of July

o   12th of August

o   9th of September

o   21st of October

·       There is no requirement to do all these dates.

·       It is helpful for volunteers to be here for 9:30 for briefings.

·       The Boathouse is open from 1000 – 1630 but we can be flexible on timing.

Skills

·       A love of wooden boats and naval heritage

·       A willingness to work as a member of a team and without direct supervision

·       Keen to work and engage with people of all different walks of life

·       Good sense of humour

·       Can-do attitude to volunteering tasks.

·       Must be willing and able to follow Health and Safety requirements.

·       You do not need to be an expert! We’ll give you plenty of help and support.

·       For health and safety reasons must be over the age of 18.