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Engineer required


andyb116

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Andy, it is appreciated that you have asked for the authority to go ahead before placing your advert. Could you please tell us a little more: for example, is this for someone to work for you personally, or for a big company, or what?

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Further to my first post, I've now been given authority my the mods.

i'm the workshop manager at Tattenhall marina near Chester, we're looking to recruit a narrowboat engineer on a semi casual basis, this is an employed position, but not full time. Ideally this person would have a good background in narrowboat repairs and maintenance but with a leaning towards woodwork/carpentry.

for details I can be contacted on 01829 771775 and leave a message and I'll get back to you or pm me on here

Thanks Andy B

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And some wonder why when we pay for a "professional" to do a  job and we get a sub-standard job. Notice no qualifications asked for so presumably the RCR chap who is a  truck driver but does a bot of repair work on the side (from another topic) will do as long as he is a carpenter as well.

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2 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

And some wonder why when we pay for a "professional" to do a  job and we get a sub-standard job. Notice no qualifications asked for so presumably the RCR chap who is a  truck driver but does a bot of repair work on the side (from another topic) will do as long as he is a carpenter as well.

This is unfair. The ad acknowledges that people can be good without formal qualifications. No indication is given of the testing of the applicant's abilities so it is not possible to make a judgement on whether they would guarantee a good recruit.

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18 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

And some wonder why when we pay for a "professional" to do a  job and we get a sub-standard job. Notice no qualifications asked for so presumably the RCR chap who is a  truck driver but does a bot of repair work on the side (from another topic) will do as long as he is a carpenter as well.

 Andy has approached us politely. Could we, please, be polite back to him? You do not know that, when applicants come forward, he will not ask for paper qualifications; but in the first instance "a good background in narrowboat repairs" is an appropriate starting point for someone whose job will principally be...repairing narrowboats.

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The add does say they want a person with " a good background in narrowboat repairs and maintenance but with a leaning towards woodwork/carpentry". It looks to me as if they are looking for a "Jack of all trades" and we know how that saying goes. Despite the title the add does not even mention "engineer".

3 minutes ago, Athy said:

 Andy has approached us politely. Could we, please, be polite back to him? You do not know that, when applicants come forward, he will not ask for paper qualifications; but in the first instance "a good background in narrowboat repairs" is an appropriate starting point for someone whose job will principally be...repairing narrowboats.

I do not feel I was impolite, however I may well have touched upon a raw nerve. So you would be happy for a welder to work on your boat electrics or a carpenter to rebuild your engine? Specify the phrase "repairing narrowboats".

Assuming the OP is not looking for a Jack of all trades then as the add stands he will have a lot more weeding out of candidates than he need. Actually I read the add as being for not much more than a yard hand.

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9 hours ago, Victor Vectis said:

Are you advertising for and Engineer or a Technician?

Exactly.

why would a workshop manager in a marina need an engineer to work for him?   what would he be doing - designing new hull shapes, propulsion methods and ground-breaking green electrical systems?

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12 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

I do not feel I was impolite, however I may well have touched upon a raw nerve. So you would be happy for a welder to work on your boat electrics or a carpenter to rebuild your engine?

Now you're just being silly, aren't you? I fully realise who you are, having read your expert technical advice in the boatimags, though I have no idea whether you have paper qualifications, or whether you learned about boats as a youngster by watching over Sid the fitter's shoulder and passing him the correct spanner, or both. I certainly know men who can carry out mechanical repairs and construct fit-outs with equal facility. It is not unreasonable for Andy to be seeking such a person.

12 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 Specify the phrase "repairing narrowboats".

 

Assuming that you mean "define", then "making the parts which don't work, work" would be close. How would you define it?

 

In another thread, I read a recent statement that some new members were put off CWDF by the frosty reception which they received from some more established members. I was reluctant to believe it. Let it not be the case here, please.

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You don't need a lot of training and qualifications for oil and filter changes, repacking the stern greaser, swapping batteries, replacing the morse cables especially if someone else does the final adjustment.  I suspect with many modern boaters the above makes up much of the yard work.  So without knowing the actual job and level of supervision I think you are being a bit harsh.  I know in the original post the op referred to an engineer, but unfortunately in this country the person that installs washing machines is now an engineer, which I no longer get upset about - I am a qualified engineer, and so many times I have been asked when telling people that I am an engineer "do you like doing a dirty job then?".  

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I suspect that many, if not most, people working on the cut have no formal qualifications in boat maintenance. 

I would feel happier giving work to somebody who had years of experience of fixing boats than somebody with a formal automotive qualification and no boat experience. And just what qualification should a boat "engineer" have? Able to service and do basic repairs on engines and gearboxes, boat plumbing skills, 12 volt and 240 electrics (but 240v done differently to domestic) and woodwork skills....and hand brushing enamel paint. Maybe an enterprising university will provide a degree course.

As for the abuse of the word "engineer", language evolves and engineer now means "anybody who works with their hands on any sort of machinery". And technician now means a more specialist engineer.

I am a professional engineer but I no longer get upset by this, It ain't gonna change.

......................Dave

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5 minutes ago, dmr said:

 

As for the abuse of the word "engineer", language evolves and engineer now means "anybody who works with their hands on any sort of machinery".

I can think of a fitter word for that job.

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1 minute ago, dmr said:

I know somebody who's a trainer, I always assumed she was some kind of teacher but maybe she drives a train?

..............Dave

No, if she was she'd be a choo-chooerist. 

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4 minutes ago, dmr said:

I know somebody who's a trainer, I always assumed she was some kind of teacher but maybe she drives a train?

..............Dave

Is she not half a pair of casual footwear?

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3 hours ago, Chewbacka said:

You don't need a lot of training and qualifications for oil and filter changes, repacking the stern greaser, swapping batteries, replacing the morse cables especially if someone else does the final adjustment.  I suspect with many modern boaters the above makes up much of the yard work.  So without knowing the actual job and level of supervision I think you are being a bit harsh.  I know in the original post the op referred to an engineer, but unfortunately in this country the person that installs washing machines is now an engineer, which I no longer get upset about - I am a qualified engineer, and so many times I have been asked when telling people that I am an engineer "do you like doing a dirty job then?".  

Brilliant, thanks mate,I installed my own washing machine, so i can call myself a engineer.

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4 hours ago, dmr said:

I suspect that many, if not most, people working on the cut have no formal qualifications in boat maintenance. 

I would feel happier giving work to somebody who had years of experience of fixing boats than somebody with a formal automotive qualification and no boat experience. And just what qualification should a boat "engineer" have? Able to service and do basic repairs on engines and gearboxes, boat plumbing skills, 12 volt and 240 electrics (but 240v done differently to domestic) and woodwork skills....and hand brushing enamel paint. Maybe an enterprising university will provide a degree course.

As for the abuse of the word "engineer", language evolves and engineer now means "anybody who works with their hands on any sort of machinery". And technician now means a more specialist engineer.

I am a professional engineer but I no longer get upset by this, It ain't gonna change.

......................Dave

Language can be made to evolve in a particular direction, though.   At least the term "Chartered Engineer" is protected.

When faced with a pretend engineer (mechanic, fitter, technician etc) I've been known to enquire which institution granted his/her charter.   

 

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5 hours ago, dmr said:

As for the abuse of the word "engineer", language evolves and engineer now means "anybody who works with their hands on any sort of machinery". And technician now means a more specialist engineer.

I am a professional engineer but I no longer get upset by this, It ain't gonna change.

......................Dave

I gave a tow to a boat for an hour on Sunday, whose electrical system appeared to have died completely.

When I noticed his jacket read "University of Cambridge Engineering Department" I did have a bit of a tease....

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