NWWB Meeting Mon. Feb. 17 Diesel Engines with Meredith Anderson – A Gal Who Wants to Help You Become Familiar with the All-Important System That Runs the Boat You Love

Photo courtesy of Jan Anderson

For this meeting only instead of upstairs we will meet on the first floor in the foyer behind Fisheries Supply, just past Marine Sanitation and Supply, look for signs

You’re going to meet a smart and passionate gal, in an area of business of interest to all of us and one that is intensely male dominated. Meredith Anderson, a trained engineer, just opened her own business, Meredith’s Marine Services. She works as a heavy diesel mechanic in the Puget Sound. Meredith also teaches marine diesel classes hosted by the likes of Flagship Marine and Olympic Yacht Club.

Meredith will be there for us Monday night to talk diesel engines. She’s always been fascinated by them and loves the work with them. As a woman and one who’s taught other women, she can speak in a relevant way about the subject.  She can possibly help some of us get over any anxiety we may have facing what may seem a vibrating mass of metal.

For her training she attended the officer candidate program at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy,or MARGRAD. It is a US Coast Guard (USCG) program attached to the Maritime Academy. From her training she received a 3rd Assistant Engineers license, and a 100-ton Masters with a sailing and towing endorsement.

For several years, as a trained engineer, she worked on diesel engines at a truck shop (vehicle mechanical systems are ultimately more sophisticated than boats.) Always drawn to her first love, boats, she moved from there to a boat yard in Anacortes then to Marine Service Center in Anacortes.

Meredith has observed, “Most places don’t have trained mechanics, just back yard mechanics.” Because of her training, the guys at both truck shops and boat yards gave her a lot of respect because she was the only fully trained diesel mechanic.

Unlike many mechanics, or electricians, Meredith likes empowering and educating folks about the work she does for them. It’s why she developed the classes she teaches. If you hire her she likes having you there and engaged with her as she does her work. She’s seen a lot of people get ripped off.

“For anyone,” said Meredith, “the biggest thing is to not be afraid to jump in in the first place.” She feels women, especially women who are married or boating with a partner, need to know about engines and boats.

Meredith doesn’t look at boat work as gender-defined. She looks at having knowledge about the boat as being a good mariner. Her feeling… “To be a good mariner you should know enough to trouble shoot all your systems if not work on them yourself outright.”

Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to learn good, basic information about the engine driving that boat you love. 

Date: Monday, February 17th

Time: 7:00pm – till 9:00 pm or so (Hors d oeuvres, snacks, wine, etc. are welcomed but not required. We enjoy socializing after the presentation.)

Location: 1900 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103

We wiil be meeting behind Fisheries Supply at the top of Lake Union. For this meeting there is a slight change when you walk into the foyer behind Fisheries instead of going upstairs, look to the right after passing Marine Sanitation and Supply We will meet in the conference room on the first floor.

Questions: Email nwwbviv@gmail.com

NWWB Meeting Mon. Feb. 17 Diesel Engines with Meredith Anderson – A Gal Who Wants to Help You Become Familiar with the All-Important System That Runs the Boat You Love

Photo courtesy of Jan Anderson

You’re going to meet a smart and passionate gal, in an area of business of interest to all of us and one that is intensely male dominated. Meredith Anderson, a trained engineer, just opened her own business, Meredith’s Marine Services. She works as a heavy diesel mechanic in the Puget Sound. Meredith also teaches marine diesel classes hosted by the likes of Flagship Marine and Olympic Yacht Club.

Meredith will be there for us Monday night to talk diesel engines. She’s always been fascinated by them and loves the work with them. As a woman and one who’s taught other women, she can speak in a relevant way about the subject.  She can possibly help some of us get over any anxiety we may have facing what may seem a vibrating mass of metal.

For her training she attended the officer candidate program at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy,or MARGRAD. It is a US Coast Guard (USCG) program attached to the Maritime Academy. From her training she received a 3rd Assistant Engineers license, and a 100-ton Masters with a sailing and towing endorsement.

For several years, as a trained engineer, she worked on diesel engines at a truck shop (vehicle mechanical systems are ultimately more sophisticated than boats.) Always drawn to her first love, boats, she moved from there to a boat yard in Anacortes then to Marine Service Center in Anacortes.

Meredith has observed, “Most places don’t have trained mechanics, just back yard mechanics.” Because of her training, the guys at both truck shops and boat yards gave her a lot of respect because she was the only fully trained diesel mechanic.

Unlike many mechanics, or electricians, Meredith likes empowering and educating folks about the work she does for them. It’s why she developed the classes she teaches. If you hire her she likes having you there and engaged with her as she does her work. She’s seen a lot of people get ripped off.

“For anyone,” said Meredith, “the biggest thing is to not be afraid to jump in in the first place.” She feels women, especially women who are married or boating with a partner, need to know about engines and boats.

Meredith doesn’t look at boat work as gender-defined. She looks at having knowledge about the boat as being a good mariner. Her feeling… “To be a good mariner you should know enough to trouble shoot all your systems if not work on them yourself outright.”

Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to learn good, basic information about the engine driving that boat you love. 

Date: Monday, February 17th

Time: 7:00pm – till 9:00 pm or so (Hors d oeuvres, snacks, wine, etc. are welcomed but not required. We enjoy socializing after the presentation.)

Location: 1900 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103

We normally meet at the Northwest Marine Trade Association conference room, 1900 N. Northlake Way, upstairs in #233. FOR THIS MEETING WE WILL BE MEETING IN THE SAME BUILDING BUT ON THE FIRST FLOOR. You’ll enter at the base of the stairway. Park at Fisheries Supply and go into the courtyard beside Fisheries Supply look for the entry at the base of the stairs. Look for signs.

Questions: Email nwwbviv@gmail.com

Marlinspike Instructor Sought

There is a request for an instructor to teach a Marlinspike Class for the USCG Auxiliary in Gig Harbor.  If interested you don’t really need information about different types of line or splicing, just hands on training to tie the following knots:

Bowline Knot – Bowline Knot on a Bite – Mooring Hitch – Cleat Hitch – Clove Hitch – Rolling Hitch – Sheet Bend – Slippery Sheet Bend – Truckers Hitch

If interested, or for further information contact: Thomas Bliss, USCG Aux Vice Commander District 13, Division 4.  E-mail: thomas@northwestresponse.com.

NWWB Notes: We have amazing Women-On-The Water in the Northwest

What an incredible evening we had at the Women’s Inspirational Panel last
night at the Boat Show! We have so many impressive women-on-the-water in the
Northwest. Whatever endeavor/passion/hobby you pursue, look for women who
inspire you, look for mentors…they are there and, it seems, especially there
for women who boat in the Northwest

Thank you to our speakers. Each talked about the journeys to their accomplishments. Each shared how they grew through those journeys. Their stories were inspiring and in these days and times we need inspiration.

Ashley Bell parlayed her love of racing into directing the Pink Boat Regatta in the Northwest. When her mother faced breast cancer, she looked for what she could do to help. She found that path through fundraising around sailboat racing. The Pink Boat Regatta in the Northwest has raised over $600,000 toward breast cancer research due to her vision and willingness to step-up.

Danae Hollowed, after spending many years away from boating was trying, but insecure about finding a way back. She kept taking steps; kept reaching out and ultimately found herself on the trip of a lifetime down the coast as part of the crew of the vessel Maiden.

Linda Lewis is fully engaged in whatever she does and for years, that was her work as a Nurse Educator. Upon retirement she channeled her passion, intellect and creative energy creating an entirely new career for herself. She trains powerboaters onboard their boats.

Shelby Milne’s journey started with a divorce, a 4-year old and not a whole lot of confidence. After a chance encounter she took the advice shared, “take your fear as the cue to step up and do whatever you fear.” Each step along the way she took on her fears and ultimately found herself on the 2019 World Champion J24 racing team.

And, finally, with a big thanks to her willingness to fill in at the last minute due to a personal crisis in the life of Captain Sandra Bendexin, Rachel Emery shared the impressive/amazing adventure she stepped up to in 1979. She joined the first all-women team competing in the TransPac Open Ocean Race to Hawaii. The skipper was 21, they had never all sailed together until the day of the race, they had little money and a rented boat with the unfortunate name of Concubine, and the media coverage focused on who well they would cook along the way. But they finished the race and added inevitable notches to that invisible belt we all have marking our self esteem.

NWWB Note: Women's Day Activities at the Boat Show (Boat Show University Enrollment Still Open and Don't Miss the Inspirational Panel at 6pm)

NWWB Notes: Job Opening Relief Ferry Captain

Hat Island Community, Inc. 3616 Colby Ave, PMB 335 Everett, WA 98201 

Job Description 

Job Title: Relief Captain, Hat Island Ferry, an Inspected Passenger Vessel 

FLSA Classification: Part-time, Non-Exempt (Hourly) 

Pay Scale: $25 – $28 / hour DOE (Overtime after 40 hours) Typically, 12 to 40 hours per month plus additional shifts as required 

Reports To: Vessel Master and Island Manager 

Purpose: To provide passenger vessel service to Hat Island residents and their invited guests in a safety oriented professional manner. 

Position Overview: The vessel performs scheduled runs between Everett and Hat Island with supervision of up to two deck hands. Yearly USCG inspections are performed. There are occasional charters. 

Minimum Qualifications Required 

Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent Experience: 5 years experience as Master of a motor vessel Licenses, Certifications and/or Registrations: USCG 100 Ton License, Marine Radio 

Operators Permit Specialized Skills: Public speaking, crowd control 

For complete listing of responsabilities and to apply see website below:

To Apply: 

See our website www.hatisland.org under “Employment” fill out the Application Form, provide a Resume of Qualifications and include 3 professional references and scan/fax to the Hat Island Community Association Office at: 360-444-6644. If you need additional information please contact our office at” 360-444-6611. Our office hours are: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. 

OPEN UNTIL FILLED 

Questions may be directed to:

Joan Marie Van Gasken – Hat Island Ferry Captain – theonlyjoan@gmail.com

NWWB Notes: Mon. Jan. 20th Meet Rachel Emery and Carol Sorbie Who Competed On The First All-Women Transpac Team Racing To Hawaii, Then…Independently Circumnavigated.

January’s meeting in the NMTA conference room offers you a treat. You will meet and enjoy unique and exciting tales from Rachel Emery and Carol Sorbie, both were on the first all-woman Transpac team (they believe the first all-woman crew in an open ocean race). Seriously drawn to the water, both went on to circumnavigate, Carol with a family.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from and be inspired by these amazing Northwest women who built character, challenged themselves and triumphed in on-the-water adventures.  Invite a friend to enjoy the evening with you.

Date: Monday, January 20th

Time: 7:00pm – till 9:00 pm or so (Hors d oeuvres, snacks, wine, etc. are welcomed but not required. We enjoy socializing after the presentation.)

Location: 1900 N Northlake Way, #233 Seattle, WA 98103

We meet at the Northwest Marine Trade Association conference room, 1900 N. Northlake Way, #233. Park at Fisheries Supply and go into the courtyard beside Fisheries Supply and up the stairs, turn right and we are the furthest door on the left. (Located in the courtyard beside Fisheries Supply – UP THE STAIRS AND DOWN THE WALKWAY)

Questions: Email nwwbviv@gmail.com