Since October 21, my adventure over at Boothbay Region Boatyard has been outstanding. I have learned so much from everyone there. In my last portfolio update I was just starting to work in the outboard department with Rob Shaw. Now that I have been working in the outboard department things have gotten even better. During this time of year we work on auxiliaries which are very small outboards that usually go onto the stern of the boat and act as a backup outboard for the main engine.

Since November I have been winterizing a lot of auxiliaries and getting them ready for the spring. Mr. Shaw and I, with the help of our co-worker Andy, recently finished all the winterization for all the outboards that Boothbay Region Boatyard does. Also, after about two hundred auxiliaries, we have managed to finish winterizing them too. Now that things are slowing down around the shop we just got a shipment of two brand new 4.2L 250 Yamahas and we will be working on all the repowers and most of the outboards that have lower unit damage to them.

Getting this opportunity to work at BRB and getting to feel part of the crew is amazing. Mr., Shaw goes to a Yamaha outboard school every summer all over the nation to learn about what Yamaha has updated on their outboards and to see what has come out that is new and what he will need for next year. Mr. Shaw has been kind enough to share all the knowledge he gets from all those schools and shares them with me. It is sort of like me getting all the knowledge but not going to the school. Everyday I remind myself that these people don't have to do this ... they could care less if they have someone following them around all day. It is a privilege to get to work side by side with a master mechanic like Mr. Shaw.

Since I have been at BRB, I have learned how to do carburetor work, internal engine work, electrical work, and all around hands on work. If you are a person that doesn't like to sit in a classroom all day and loves hands on work, BRB is for you. My uncle recently came in and wanted his outboard worked on. Mr. Shaw gave me the task to troubleshoot it and find out what was wrong which is a pretty big deal considering I'm not too good at it yet. Turns out my uncle’s engine was full of bird seed so Mr. Shaw and I went through the whole block of the engine to get all the bird seed out. While we were taking it apart, Mr. Shaw named off parts to me and taught me what each of them did. When you have a family member, or just someone you know come in and tell you "thank you for your work" knowing that you fixed the problem makes it that much better. That is why BRB has such a great reputation and I am glad to be a part of it.