POWERBOAT SERVICING TECHNICIAN 28
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY
POWER INTO THE MARINE INDUSTRY writer PETER WHITE // photographer LOGAN WEST “Take the opportunities given to you to try new things,” says JAMIE SCHWALGER-DAVIS. “You never know, you might like it.” The 22-year-old works for Marine Works in Westhaven, Auckland. In April 2021, he finished his apprenticeship and qualified as a powerboat servicing technician. Jamie has made every post a winner since taking part in a Launch it, School to Work programme run through MAST Academy (Marine and Specialised Technologies Academy of New Zealand) at Glenfield College. In Year 13, Jamie took Physics, Automotive Engineering, Calculus, Maths, English, Robotics and PE. He had a few ideas of what he wanted to do career-wise but was not sure. It was his school’s careers department who advised him to look at the MAST Academy programme. MAST Academy works with employers and schools to help create career pathways for Year 12 and 13 students. Students get to experience marine and other industries while earning NCEA credits. “The positive thing about it is I didn’t know where to start and they were able to point me in the right direction,” says Jamie.
THE WORK VARIES QUITE A LOT. I COULD BE DOING A basic service on A 2.5 OUTBOARD OR I COULD BE REPOWERING A BOAT WITH 300–450 HORSEPOWER OUTBOARDS or i could be working on TWIN DIESELS. JAMIE SCHWALGER-DAVIS
“They helped me find what I wanted to do, especially with doing work experience and seeing what the job is all about. It gave me a taste of what these guys do day-to-day and I actually quite enjoyed it and still do. They were able to put me on to a good company as well with Marine Works.” Jamie recommends the MAST Academy programme for students deciding what they will do when they finish school. “They will never know until they try it. I am glad I got to try it first, otherwise I don’t know what I would be doing now.” What Jamie likes most about working at Marine Works, and with his boss Steve Whitford, is the team atmosphere. He says there is a really good culture, everyone is a team player and they look after each other. “We work on some of the best and newest technology with outboards, stern drives and Mercury-based engines. Mercury is my favourite brand as well. The work varies quite a lot. I could be doing a basic service on a 2.5 outboard or I could be repowering a boat with 300–450 horsepower outboards or
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