Marine service technology is constantly evolving. The need to relearn aspects of maintenance and installation can be frustrating. But the desire to learn, the love of a challenge, and the ability to share a passion for boating keeps the best technicians coming back for more.
As the American Boat & Yacht Council was preparing for International Marine Service Technician Week, April 21-25, these five experts — all winners of the 2024 Outstanding Technician Awards sponsored by Yamaha — offered thoughts about the industry’s future and shared what has surprised them throughout the years.
BJ Benson
Viking Marine, Poulsbo, Wash.
Boating is a family affair for BJ Benson. Beginning with his grandparents and continuing with his children, BJ’s lifetime on the water gives him firsthand knowledge as a service provider. He especially enjoys providing solutions for deeply interested clients. One of his favorite things, he says, is “taking the time to be sure they understand their options and why I am making the recommendations I am making. I absolutely love it when a client wants to be involved and hands on.” By working with clients who are as excited about boating as he is, and by always finding something new to learn and refine, BJ’s passion for boating and boat systems has only grown stronger over time.
Advice: “A mentor of mine long ago instilled three rules to follow. Number one: verify. Number two: verify. Number three: verify. When these three rules are followed, mistakes and oversights are remedied.”
Sean Fabio
Gage Marine, Williams Bay, Wis.
Growing up with hobbies like watersports, fishing and cruising the Chain O’ Lakes in northern Illinois makes working on boats seem like an obvious career choice. Sean Fabio added restoration, nautical and mechanical skills to his tool kit before landing at Gage Marine, where he sells and services “lake life” fun. Marine service technology is a collaborative experience for Sean, who appreciates the time he gets to spend learning from and teaching others in his community. “There is a special satisfaction when I can save a customer’s weekend with a quick repair and the positive feedback from that,” he says. What keeps Sean on his toes is how much and how quickly technology evolves. There are always new things to learn in order to do the job well.
Advice: “It’s OK to ask questions and say, ‘I don’t know.’ With experience, you will have answers and eventually say, ‘Let me show you.’”
Thomas Huthmaker Jr.
Port Annapolis Marina, Annapolis, Md.
Thomas Huthmaker Jr. began marine service work so he could always have time on the water, but he also attributes his career path to a waterman who told him, more than 10 years ago, that there would likely be a shortage of marine technicians. Thomas’ team at Port Annapolis Marina is supportive with work and personal life, but the most rewarding part of his job is his relationships with some of his customers, who have come to feel like family. “It’s been a positive motivation push, knowing people have my back and support my journey,” Thomas says. “I feel more appreciated … and know that people still have a good heart.” He’s a little surprised by how much skill he’s gained since he began his career and appreciates when people come to him for technical support.
Advice: “Get your hands on everything you can. Whether it’s engine work, systems, going up a mast — which has those great views — even sanding, there’s a lot to learn, and the more exposure you can get, the more you’ll learn.”
Cliff Manlapaz
Diversified Marine Services, Annapolis
While crewing on deliveries in his 20s, Cliff Manlapaz realized the value of being “the engineer” on board. He was a handy person and began as an apprentice. He’s been growing as a service technician ever since and is now learning from veterans of the trade at Diversified Marine Services. One part of service technician work that surprised Cliff was how each boat can be so different. Even production boats from the same year and model can differ, and the vast amount of custom work he sees just adds to that reality. However, variety on the job and the ability to keep learning always bring him back for more. “Every day is different,”
he says. “It’s a blessing and a curse, but I tend to enjoy it more times than not. You can be a plumber, electrician and a carpenter in the same day.”
Advice: “Knowledge is power. The more you know, the better you and life will be in the industry. Build on good fundamentals and habits.”
Jason Ustaszewski
Cape Marine Survey, Cape Coral, Fla.
Jason Ustaszewski inherited his love of boating from his grandfathers. One was a supertanker captain for Esso Oil, and the other was a lifelong boater on Nahant Bay in Massachusetts. Jason was an automotive mechanic before he entered the marine service field. He worked on his own boat on the side, but after years of servicing cars and working in sales, he felt called to be a marine technician. He hasn’t looked back, especially with his current work at Cape Marine Survey. Jason says he often finds that in the marine service trade, skill and effort are inconsistent, but he believes the industry can do better. Above all, he says, it’s the “daily mental challenge and the uniqueness that keeps me going, especially considering the rapid pace of technological advancement that has exploded in the last 20 years. … While some assignments were mundane, the harder assignments were what drove me to perform at my best.”
Advice: “In both recreational and commercial marine, the technology has advanced at warp speed over my career, but the fundamentals have not. Barring an anomaly, there is no question that if somebody has a lot of knowledge, a lot of natural talent and a lot of repetitions, they will be successful.”
PHOTOS: COURTESY ABYC
