Developing his career as a boat builder has been a labour of love for 23-year-old Alton O’Connor, but perseverance has paid off as he nears the conclusion of his first big job.

“You’ve got to do what you love,” Mr O’Connor told The Royal Gazette. “I have to do it — it would hurt me too much to do anything else.”

It started in high school with his desire to go out fishing on the weekends.

Five years ago, as a student at the Berkeley Institute, he was commended in Bermuda’s Senate for his first creation: a fishing boat assembled from scratch in the school’s carpentry workshop, with training from teachers Trevor Haynes and Gregory Sargeant. At the age of 17, Mr O’Connor put together a 13ft by 5ft vessel.

He used a design he had found online and modified. Berkeley staff felt he was ready to join the industry by the time it was finished.

In 2011, the former Sea Cadet went on to study traditional wooden boat building at the Landing School on the shores of the Kennebunk River in Maine.

Graduating in 2013, Mr O’Connor decided to venture into his own business back home: Boatbuilder Marine.

His first major job, the restoration of a 29ft sailboat at Jew’s Bay, has been an opportunity to learn and develop his own personal style.

With the aim of manufacturing customised boats, Mr O’Connor plans to come up with his own catalogue of designs for next year.

“Right now I’m working on restoration that we hope will be done by March or April,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to become a manufacturing company.”

To learn more, see the company’s Facebook page or e-mail Mr O’Connor at boatbuildermarine@hotmail.com.