What the heck is going on in the marine trades right now?
Is anyone else seeing this? Basically demand for techs that can work on boat systems is insane right now. I have no idea if this is universal or just the places I've worked lately.
Background: I'm a travelling marine electrician and delivery captain so I get around a bit. I've worked in US NE, California, Netherlands, Panama, Florida, and Spain in the last couple years. Basically people fly me in to work on boats when they have exhausted their local options. I've spent many years in yards and ran my own shop for a bit in San Diego, the work is pretty similar wherever and I love to see new places.
5 years ago, I was the expensive "hired gun" brought in for premium service. I was frequently told how expensive I was, and focus was on doing the hard parts so they could let locals finish the work for cheaper. This was fine, as I would rather troubleshoot a complex system than boring manual labor.
More recently, all I hear is how nobody is available to work on boats at all. Local shops have 6 month waiting lists, electricians and mechanics no show no call. I keep getting astonished "you actually showed up!" responses. Of course I showed up, I want your money lol. This isn't a hobby, its a job. All six of the yards I've worked at in the last 2 years have tried to hire me (or anyone with a pulse apparently) full time. I would love to believe its because of my skills but they are mostly meeting me for the first time and have no idea what I can do. I'm getting offers to fly out (for a pretty fair rate) and do what I honestly consider to be pretty basic stuff - autopilot screen installs or battery swaps instead of more complex work like an engine swap or rewiring a complete panel. No complaints, I'm happy to have the work, but are there not locals who can do this stuff?
I'm curious if I have a skewed perspective because I'm inside the industry looking out. As boat owners, are you guys seeing the same thing?
Also, for any of the younger crowd (or older), if you love boats and want to work in the trades, its a pretty easy hiring process (show up) and the pay is good. Talk to your local boat repair shop or yard. They are desperate for people right now, seriously.
https://redd.it/1oabnej
@SailingX
Is anyone else seeing this? Basically demand for techs that can work on boat systems is insane right now. I have no idea if this is universal or just the places I've worked lately.
Background: I'm a travelling marine electrician and delivery captain so I get around a bit. I've worked in US NE, California, Netherlands, Panama, Florida, and Spain in the last couple years. Basically people fly me in to work on boats when they have exhausted their local options. I've spent many years in yards and ran my own shop for a bit in San Diego, the work is pretty similar wherever and I love to see new places.
5 years ago, I was the expensive "hired gun" brought in for premium service. I was frequently told how expensive I was, and focus was on doing the hard parts so they could let locals finish the work for cheaper. This was fine, as I would rather troubleshoot a complex system than boring manual labor.
More recently, all I hear is how nobody is available to work on boats at all. Local shops have 6 month waiting lists, electricians and mechanics no show no call. I keep getting astonished "you actually showed up!" responses. Of course I showed up, I want your money lol. This isn't a hobby, its a job. All six of the yards I've worked at in the last 2 years have tried to hire me (or anyone with a pulse apparently) full time. I would love to believe its because of my skills but they are mostly meeting me for the first time and have no idea what I can do. I'm getting offers to fly out (for a pretty fair rate) and do what I honestly consider to be pretty basic stuff - autopilot screen installs or battery swaps instead of more complex work like an engine swap or rewiring a complete panel. No complaints, I'm happy to have the work, but are there not locals who can do this stuff?
I'm curious if I have a skewed perspective because I'm inside the industry looking out. As boat owners, are you guys seeing the same thing?
Also, for any of the younger crowd (or older), if you love boats and want to work in the trades, its a pretty easy hiring process (show up) and the pay is good. Talk to your local boat repair shop or yard. They are desperate for people right now, seriously.
https://redd.it/1oabnej
@SailingX
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