I do, but they are wearing thin..



and fast


BREW

 

Brother, believe me, I know what you're talking about...

I've got two no starts to look at first thing tomorrow morning, one an '01ish F150 that needs a fuel pump that conveniently has a full tank and a bed cap on it, so I can't lift the bed off it and I don't have anything to put all that gas in. Yes, fighting with 25+ gallons of fuel sounds like fun to me first thing on a Monday morning. I love my job, I love my job, I love my job...

 

HAHA..I hear you too bro. Im so sick of the same old..." my battery is dead" and then when we go to the boat and hook up the jump pack or charger, all the friggen lights come on, the owner gets that stupid look on his face, and says...hmmm, they werent on when I left last weekend!


No, of course not...someone came down here and turned all your lights on, just for the heck of it.

Then the best part is when they dont think that after wasting an hour of my time, they need to pay for anything since it was just a dead battery.

you're right..I love my job, I love my job, I love my job....


BREW

 

Brewdude,
I actually have an '84 Suzuki DT50E. Imagine that. I just pulled that boat back from LA to where I live in GA. It's a 16' Duracraft aluminum flat bottom. (I'll get some pics eventually.) It's not much to look at, but it floats and it runs. The boat sat in my dads shop for about 8 years without being ran. When I got it here, I fiddled with it until I got it to run. I talked to local marine shop, he said even though it's running, there still could be trash in the carbs that could affect it down the road (er, water?). He also said that they recommend replacing the water pump impeller every year. I'm a decent mechanic, and would have no problem doing the work, but I just don't think that it needs it. I've had the boat out 4 or 5 times, and it ran good all of them. Tached up to about 5200 WOT and ran like a champ. I always keep an eye on the tell-tale and make sure it's pissing out water. No problems there either. I don't care to part with $150 to rebuild the carbs and $220 to replace the impeller, if it's unnecessary. Thanks for listening, and any advice would be appreciated.

 

Here's some pics (sorry bout hijacking the thread.. ) Aren't these digital camera thingies great? Sorry about the mess, we took it out yesterday and I haven't hed time to clean it.

 

Quintin,

I am/was kind of in the same boat you are in right know. I have worked for the 2nd biggest natural gas company in the US as contract labor for the last seven years. Well, the money is GREAT but being contract labor has its downfalls, I pay for all of my own insurance, car, 401K, blah, blah. But since the pay is good I knew at some point if I wanted to get out and get back to what I really want to do I had to have that piece of paper, you know the one with the little embossed stamp of a college. So, I looked around and started school last year. I have one year left for my BSBA in Management. At that time I can either decide to pursue full time with this company or change careers which it looks like I will do.
I want to get back into management. There are a lot of ***** running companies and employees down the drain and I want to take their jobs.
I would suggest online school. I have been at Colorado Technical College, like I said, for better than a year. They are well accredited. In other words its a college that people will recognize and the credits you earn could transfer to a KSU or a GU type if you wanted a masters. Its VERY time consuming in the evening. I take about 2-3 hours a night to work on it but right know my GPA is 3.89 so I don't mind the commitment. They give you some credit if you have military or any type of certifications. It seems to be decently easy just time consuming. It takes about 2 years to get a Bachelor in Science in whatever field you choose. It is nice to have the Bachelors in Science (BS) vs. the bachelors in arts (BA). The BS degree is better looked upon. I have been on some interviews just practicing up on the skills when the time comes. The general consensus in the online degree doesn't have the stigmatism it once had. In fact out of 5 or 6 interviews, 2 of the interviewers where using online education to get their Masters. Its just an option but I thought I could give some info about it.
You can find cheaper accredited colleges online. I found out too late that CTU was one of the more expensive ones, but I borrowed every last red cent. That will be part of some of my hiring package, the new company paying some of that cost down. Anyway, good luck and keep it in mind. Its scary as heck starting, because of the commitment and stuff, but once you do that first class it is all good from there.

 

98Lariet...looks like a pretty cool little rig you got there. I would recommend doing the water pump impeller every 2 years, if you're not having any problems with it. The main concern is preventative maint. And what happens is, after the boat sits for a while, the rubber impeller takes shape, which basically means that it looses its ability to withstand the water pressure, therfore the blades give way and allow water to slip past instead of forcing it up to the powerhead where its needed. Of course, it will be at its weakest while your out fishing and cause an overheat and you'll end up paddeling home. Also, if its running as good as you say, then the carbs dont need to be cleaned. It wouldnt hurt to run some outboard carb cleaner through them just to loosen up any junk or gum thats in there. But I wouldn't take them apart just for the heck of it. And if they get bad enough to need to be torn apart and cleaned, just box 'em up and send them to me. Ill do it for ya.


BREW

 

If that becomes necessary, I'll send a case of beer with it.
Actually, we just got back from the river, and it's running awesome. Now all I need is to get my yellow top Optima, and I'll not see another Saturday at hime until collage fottball starts again...

 

Quintin, I was in the same boat as you 4 years ago. I am an ASE Cert. Mechanic with 7 years experience and a degree in Diesel Technology. I got sick of the same things you are sick of so I went back to school. I got a 2 year degree in Architectural Construction Technology and started as a CADD Tech. I now design Buildings and specalize in car dealerships. I have done 6 different dealerships and am working on one now. I also have a very strong lead on a teaching job at a high school teaching Auto Mechanics and CADD in their Technical/Vocational Department. I think this job would be perfect for me and I will get 3 months out of the year to keep my auto skills sharp. My point in typing all this is that it can be done. People change careers all the time. I will say it was kind of a tough decision, believe it or not, and I do miss wrenching quite often. Good Luck

 

Quintin,
Might take a look at industrial/tech sales. I run an Industrial Supply Company, and after 16 years, am still amazed at the number of reps that don’t have a clue about what they are selling. You probably have the same thing at the dealership: guys trying to sell you a left handed monkey wrench.

For someone who knows tools/tech items, it might be a good field. And a GOOD salesman can make a good living without all of the barked knuckles and 25gl of gas sloshing around. Of course it ain’t perfect, but my cousin with 2 engineering degrees went into tech sales and is making more than he ever did with General Dynamics as a lead engineer.

Woof
Bowser

 

I'm in the Liqour Biz... as in I work for others but would love to own my own store(s) and/or bar(s). And business is always good as long as you know what and where you are doing it.

John

 

Quintin, I have worked for a large communication company for the past few years and do IT stuff at work and off. I have my A+ and Net+ certification link its what a lot of companies (at least out here) look at is what you are certified in. I never went and got any other certs. I make good money and it easy but Boring at leat to me. Like you I was thinking about a career change. I have a few friends that are Firefigters they are always happy and never complain about the job. Soo last year I started, I got EMT certification (yeah more certs) and past the written exam for the Phoenix fire dept. but ran out of time by like 30sec on the CPAT physical exam. It real hard to get on but I am going to do it Good luck and check out that link.

 

How 'bout being a FF like Tuff did? At least it won't be boring and it'll keep ya in shape....