Tech Talk & Tips
Ahoy. My name is Bill Grannis and I have been a marine technician for almost 50 years. Over that time span I’ve worked with and have been trained on many types of engines and propulsion systems along with various boats and accessories. My strong suit is the Johnson-Evinrude outboard as I worked mostly for those dealers in the Midwest and the South and in addition spent a few years with OMC Engineering Department in Waukegan, Illinois in the latter 1960s. My other experiences and training include Yamaha, Volvo, OMC/Cobra, and MerCruiser engines and drives.
This blog will be for the do-it-yourselfer who likes to work with his or her hands and for the gear-head who wants to learn more about the technical aspect of engines and related systems. I am one of the few marine mechanics that like to help the DIY person as long as they work in a safe manner and show interest in learning to do repairs correctly. Readers are encouraged to ask questions and to express their feelings about what they see here.
My aim is to give hints and tips to make maintenance easier, more stress-free’ and less expensive whenever possible. We may review and write about handy tools and other items for the DIY types. Over the coming months we hope to introduce you to new products in the marine field including how they work or what makes them tick. Other articles may consist of explanations of Federal laws concerning gasoline-engine in boats and how items are tested in the labs to meet the Coast guard safety standards.
It doesn’t matter if you are a professional with $10,000 worth of Snap-on Tools tucked away in huge roll-away boxes or if you only have wrenches and screwdrivers hanging on a pegboard in your garage, I hope to be able to offer ideas, hints, and help which should enhance your mechanical skills and make your boat more reliable and enjoyable.
If you have any thoughts of what you would like to see covered here, please do not hesitate to write. To paraphrase a popular TV commercial, “This Blog’s for You.”
