InTheBite

  • Home
  • News
    • All News
    • Featured Stories
    • General News
    • Captain of the Year
    • Tournament Results
    • First Builds
    • Splash Reports
    • Old Salts Rule
    • Tackle Tips
    • Dock Talk
    • Crew Records
    • Conservation
  • Tournaments
    • Calendar
    • Captain of the Year
    • Champion’s Cup
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • Subscriptions
    • Back Issues
    • Shirts
    • Hats & Visors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Release Rulers
  • Classifieds
  • Job Board
  • Contact
    • Contact InTheBite
    • InTheBite Media Kit
  • Log in

Lazy Ain’t Learning—Lessons from the Mechanic

July 20, 2021 By InTheBite Digital Editor

By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie

I’ve participated in many major engine rebuilds over the years. In the process, I’ve developed great relationships with groups of elite mechanics. Working with these guys has taught me how to save thousands of dollars in labor. Recently, I’ve witnessed some super lazy crews just hanging out on the dock doing nothing while the mechanics are in the engine room. They could literally be saving the owner thousands of dollars helping the mechanics.

  • OIOpublisher.com

In my opinion, crew should be involved in every aspect of the project. They should be watching and learning everything, absorbing all the knowledge they can from the mechanics while the motors are coming apart and then going back together. To start with, we set a time for the mechanics arrival so that we can start tearing down the motors before they arrive. Then my crew and I get to work. First, we drain all the oil from the engines and remove the filters. We also drain all the water from the heat exchanger. By the time the mechanics arrive all fluids have been removed and disposed of so they can begin working immediately.

This saves time and money. As the specialists are working, the crew and I go through each part they remove from the motor. We clean every component, along with every gasket. Parts are sanded or wired brushed anywhere a seal or an O-ring will be found. We label every piece before cleaning and organize every nut and bolt. Then we prep and paint all the parts before they are reinstalled.

I always try to keep someone on hand for the mechanics to use as a runner for anything they need. This can range from handing them a tool or getting a part from the truck, to grabbing something from the parts store. This way the mechanics can focus on the rebuild rather than having to crawl out of the hole just to get something out of their pickup bed. At the end of each day, we are sure to clean and wipe down all the work areas and cover the cockpit area in preparation for the next day’s work.

I’ve seen plenty of rebuilds where the mechanics are left to do absolutely everything themselves—cleaning, scraping, painting, organizing, etc. This ends up taking twice as long and costing a lot more money. Highly specialized mechanics are paid by the hour, and the rate they command reflects their skill. It doesn’t make sense for the boss to pay for many additional hours of their time to perform work that can be just as easily accomplished by the crew.

Beyond the money side of the equation, there is also a world of knowledge to be gained by the crew in helping the mechanics. This is to say nothing of the fact that as crew you should know about your motors anyway.

When it comes time to repower, don’t be lazy. Instead, get dirty, learn a lot, and save your boss thousands of dollars while getting the job done much faster. You’ll develop a relationship with your mechanics that will last your career. Mechanics will remember this—your help goes a long way.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.

    Filed Under: Boats, Featured Stories, Maintenance Tagged With: boat engine, boat engine rebuild, boat maintenance, engine repair

    Recent News

    Builder’s Choice Repeats as Marina Casa de Campo Open Champion

    Builder’s Choice, a 64-foot Jarrett Bay, hasn’t fished the Marina Casa de Campo Open for two years, but the team never missed a beat. The boat led the field of 14 boats from the start to win the 2023 Marina Casa de Campo Open, which concluded last wee … [Read More...]

    Mission and Purpose

    By Ken Kreisler “To be or not to be.” While this well-known Shakespearean quote is not associated with the boating experience, if we filter it through our marine sensibilities, it just might be coaxed into reading this way: Walkaround, express or con … [Read More...]

    2023 Chub Cay Classic Won by Following Seas

    Following Seas, a 58-foot Viking run by Capt. Charlie Vanderbeck, claimed top honors at the 2023 Chub Cay Classic billfish tournament. The third annual event was held March 9-11 at the Chub Cay Resort and Marina. Following Seas released a blue and … [Read More...]

    Weathering the Storm

    While nasty conditions offshore are generally unpleasant for anyone on any vessel, offshore fishing on an outboard-powered center console typically means that the captain and crew will be more exposed to the wind and seas than the crew of a larger … [Read More...]

    Massive Sargassum Weed Line Approaches Florida

    If you’ve ever headed offshore in search of dolphin under patches or lines of sargassum weed, you know the weed can be difficult to find at times. That seems to happen every time I fish a dolphin tournament at least! But all that may soon change. … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Subscribe to InTheBite Magazine Today!

    InTheBite current cover image

    Our latest issue is hitting the docks now! Be sure to subscribe to the hottest bluewater mag on the market. Purchase or Subscribe »

    InTheBite Champion’s Cup

    InTheBite Champions Cup Logo

    New for 2022, the Champion’s Cup is an optional paid entry with a winner-takes-all prize format for teams who want to up the stakes in each division utilizing our longstanding tournament scoring formula.

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings

    COTY / ITB Cup Logo

    News

    • Builder’s Choice Repeats as Marina Casa de Campo Open Champion

      Builder’s Choice Repeats as Marina Casa de Campo Open Champion

      Builder’s Choice, a 64-foot Jarrett Bay, hasn’t fished the Marina Casa de Campo Open for two years, but the team never missed a beat. The boat led the field of 14 boats from the start to win the 2023 Marina Casa de Campo Open, which concluded last weekend in the Dominican Republic. With Capt. Brent Gaskill at the helm, the... [Read More...]

    • 2023 Chub Cay Classic Won by Following Seas

      2023 Chub Cay Classic Won by Following Seas

      Following Seas, a 58-foot Viking run by Capt. Charlie Vanderbeck, claimed top honors at the 2023 Chub Cay Classic billfish tournament. The third annual event was held March 9-11 at the Chub Cay Resort and Marina. Following Seas released a blue and white marlin to earn 700 points to top the field. Under the all-billfish release format, blue marlin scored... [Read More...]

    • Massive Sargassum Weed Line Approaches Florida

      Massive Sargassum Weed Line Approaches Florida

      If you’ve ever headed offshore in search of dolphin under patches or lines of sargassum weed, you know the weed can be difficult to find at times. That seems to happen every time I fish a dolphin tournament at least! But all that may soon change. Sargassum, an algae that’s commonly mislabeled as a “weed,” is headed toward the U.S.... [Read More...]

    • InTheBite Hires Industry Veteran John Brownlee as Editor-in-Chief

      InTheBite Hires Industry Veteran John Brownlee as Editor-in-Chief

      Dale Wills, Founder and President of InTheBite, has announced the hiring of marine industry veteran, John Brownlee, as ITB’s new Editor-in-Chief. “Under Brownlee’s leadership in editorial and digital media, his intelligent perspectives and vast industry knowledge will move the brand forward with his long list of proven skill sets,” Wills said. “It’s only fitting as we move past our 20th... [Read More...]

    • Proposed 10-Knot Restrictions

      Proposed 10-Knot Restrictions

      It’s Not Over! The Viking Yacht Company and the marine industry’s grassroots campaign to stop the advancement of a proposed 10-knot restriction along the Eastern Seaboard continues into 2023. And now, thanks to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), we have a tool at our disposal that makes it super easy to make your voice heard. In one click, send a pre-written letter... [Read More...]

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2023 InTheBite, LLC · All Rights Reserved.