DISCOVER THE BEFORE DECKING TEAM AT IGUANA SHIPYARD BY: FABRICE CHIRAIN

For our avid newsletter readers, it’s a familiar routine to find a piece spotlighting the dedicated teams steering the Iguana crafting journey.

In this edition, our focus turns to the before-decking step, with a special spotlight on Fabrice Chirain. Discover more about how his team transforms a simple hull into a wonderful and powerful amphibious boat. 

Here is Fabrice Chirain, our before-decking leader, as he shares his perspectives on the realm of Iguana Yachts.

HOW DID YOU START YOUR CAREER?

I have a degree in electromechanics and worked in industrial maintenance at Moulinex for 15 years, starting at the age of 23 after a stint in the army. After Moulinex closed, I opened my own business installing kitchens for 10 years. Later, I switched to building renovations and then became an employee at Lapeyre as a carpenter. Finally, I was contacted by Iguana’s human resources and received a job offer to join the company. Even though I had no experience in boats or marine activities, I accepted the challenge to explore something new.”

WHEN DID YOU START AT IGUANA?

Fabrice Chirain, Before-decking Leader

I joined Iguana about three years ago and initially had a versatile role, working on various tasks such as electrical work, pre-decking, and post-decking due to my diverse experience. After six months, I proved my skills and had the opportunity to become the pre-decking team leader. Working with my team has always been enjoyable; they are smart and efficient, creating a pleasant working environment. I had previous team management experience when I had six employees under my responsibility. I always strive to encourage my team to excel and find it important to pass on my knowledge, especially emphasizing the importance of safety

In my team, everyone is trained for various roles, whether in pre-decking, some positions in other post-decking teams, or even as electricians. This means each team member excels in their tasks or can help other teams on different boats. At this point, the boat can move to other stages, and anything that needs to be added above the deck can be incorporated.”

I love my work at Iguana; it is very exciting. What I appreciate here is that everyone gets along,
Everyone works in a good atmosphere.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK FOR IGUANA YACHTS?

“On my arrival day, they were decking a boat, not the initial one, which reassured me that many had been done before. When you see a boat rolling into the shipyard, it’s surprising. Crafting my first Iguana as a team leader was amazing, realizing that we are the only ones in the world who can produce this. Since I decked an Iguana as a team leader, dozens of boats have passed through my team’s hands. It is something I am really proud of.”

Initially, I had never heard of an amphibious boat; it’s really cool to be able to make an Iguana, and it’s a source of pride. I’m the only pre-decking leader for an amphibious boat globally. By building boats like this, we can be recognized for our technical skills and use them to the best of our abilities. I draw a lot of positive aspects from my experience.

In Iguana, there is a lot of mechanical work due to its amphibious nature. We handle mechanisms like activating arms and tracks, all placed in compartments beneath the deck and within the hull. Our role involves preparing these compartments, installing mechanical elements, connecting them, and then sealing the deck onto the hull. The boat is like a box with a lid, but once closed, the lid cannot be removed. In summary, before the boat moves to the next stage in our shipyard, I must deliver the hull with the integrated deck and functioning mechanics.

It’s always interesting and challenging when a new boat arrives in the factory, especially with new models. Starting from scratch and providing precise and quality work on a hull we don’t know yet is exciting. We step out of our comfort zone. For example, we look forward to working on the new Iguana Bow Rider or custom projects, like the shorter Iguana we recently made for a client. For this example, we had to reconsider locations and part sizes, and rethink the boat’s plan. We often collaborate with the Design Office, whether for managing special projects or creating method sheets for our organization.”

The before decking team:

  • Fabrice Chirain (leader)
  • Maxime Gasson
  • Théo Galinière 
  • Alexandre Quetineau 
  • Mathieu Medard 
  • Madison Larabi

Interested in joining our team? Check out our latest positions. 

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