Is your boat floating? All launched and ready to go for the season? Well not this girl. We are close but the list of projects coupled with balancing our May madness of birthdays and other things to celebrate has put us back a bit. But that’s okay. Our New England weather has been cool and rainy this year so the urge to be on the boat has not been strong. But that’s okay, that is not the case for others. There are some who work through every stormy day and unfavorable timelines to ensure that our boats go in without a hitch. They are the unsung heroes of summer. They are the boat yard workers.
You have seen them. They are always on call when we need a hand or expertise. They walk among the boats with sore backs and a scar or two on their knuckles from reaching into small places we don’t want to go. They work with strict schedules often neglecting their own boats because the last thing they want to do at the end of the day is look at another problem to solve. Why would anyone do this, you ask? Because they love industry. They love making people happy when that boat leaves the yard and they love the camaraderie of working together.
How do I know this? Because my son is one of those people. This kid grew up on boats. He started cruising with us when he was just learning to walk, never mind having to learn how to balance on a heeling boat. He started sailing lessons at 5 years old and was racing Optis shortly after. He sailed and was on a crew team throughout adolescence. When at college there were many days when he was on the water with the sailing team. There has not been a time in his life when spring did not have the sudden panic of getting a boat in the water. So where do you find yourself with a fancy degree and the debt that goes with it? At a boatyard. But not as a boat owner but as a worker.
I will tell you, as a parent this is not a life path I envisioned after he graduated. This kid was always an academic. Studious, National Honor Society, for the most part reserved. His sport in high school was fencing (where he earned state titles). College bloomed him but I always envisioned him behind a desk or on a research boat as a career. Then came a summer job after graduation that changed his course.
My kid worked at a boat yard and hasn’t looked back since. It’s his love of boats for sure but more than that it’s the camaraderie with his fellow workers. These groups of individuals are family. They work great together professionally but it’s more than that. It’s him coming home talking about his coworkers’ empanadas which were brought in to share. It’s the potluck lunches they have together when they could be spending that hour apart. The jokes, the support, the encouragement when sometimes you’re not having a great day. These friends range from their 20’s to 60’s but they all have built a family on the docks and yard.
That’s all a parent can ask for. To have your child be happy and thrive. To work at a place that encourages advancement such as his ABYC certifications and other avenues for education and growth. To insist on excellence. To teach business best practices. To create an environment where happy employees will make happy customers. And to educate this mom that a degree does not dictate his path. His college experience was about maturity. Learning how to navigate relationships with roommates, cook meals, manage finances, meet new people, and everything else that you need in adulthood. It’s not the title on a business card or LinkedIn page.
So as I end this long post, take a moment this week to get to know these guys and gals in your own marinas and yards. They all have such a diverse path to how they found themselves there and experiences that go far beyond what most of us can do to get ourselves enjoying our summer weekends on the boats.
PSA: They love treats. An unexpected batch of cookies, a box of Joe or doughnuts, or any food item is a highlight of their day. It’s the food, of course, but that someone has thought of them and appreciates their work is priceless.
Photo: Noank Village Boatyard
