The refurbished Amesbury Fire Department rescue boat as it is returned to the department. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech) 
Kiley Markarian, from Rowley, Leonidas Flores, from Haverhill, and Lincoln Gilbert, from Haverhill work scraping the deck of the boat before it was repainted. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech) 
Joshua Manseau, from Merrimac, and Kiley Markarian, from Rowley work on the fire boat. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech) 
From left, Nathaniel Guaron, of Georgetown, Connor Hastings, of Amesbury, Parker Jolivet, of Amesbury and Daniel Hanshumaker, of Haverhill, stand with the refurbished Amesbury Fire Department rescue boat. Students in the Whittier Tech Marine Service Technology program refurbished and repaired the boat for the Amesbury Fire Department. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)
HAVERHILL — Superintendent Maureen Lynch is pleased to report that students in the Whitter Tech Marine Service Technology Program repaired a rescue boat for the Amesbury Fire Department.
The Amesbury Fire Department’s only rescue boat was out of service and had been in need of repairs. Last year, representatives of the department reached out to Whittier Tech for help with getting the boat repaired and back into service. The boat needed a new engine and Amesbury Fire Chief James Nolan also requested that the boat’s steering system be changed.
Students in Grades 9 and 10, under the direction of Instructor Mike Murray, took on the challenge of repairing the boat as part of their studies and turned the work into a project that enabled students to learn their trade while also benefiting the community.
Students stripped down worn-out non-skid paint on the decks of the boat, repainted the decks, and sanded the boat’s hull and painted it red with assistance from the Auto Body/Collision Repair shop.
Students also converted the boat from tiller steering to remote steering by adding a console, steering system and side controls. Students also repowered an old and unreliable engine that was on the boat and installed a new engine.
Members of the Amesbury Fire Department then used the boat to break in the new motor, and Marine Tech students also performed 20 hours of service on the motor to get it into top working order.
“This project provided students with a great opportunity to use the skills they have learned at Whittier Tech to work collaboratively with our surrounding communities,” said Instructor Murray. “Students learned the importance of giving back to our local community by assisting the Amesbury Fire Department, who service our general public.”
“Without the Marine Tech Program and the diligence of the students and teachers, the AFD’s boat would not be in service for the foreseeable future,” said Chief James Nolan. “The members of the Amesbury Fire Department wish to thank the Whittier Tech Marine Technology Program students and teachers for all of their hard work and effort in helping to enhance the safety of Amesbury’s waterways.”
Students who contributed to the project are 10th-graders Daniel Carron, from Haverhill, Leonidas Flores, from Haverhill, Lincoln Gilbert, from Haverhill, Daniel Hanshumaker, from Haverhill, Forrest Gonzales, from Ipswich, Connor Hastings, from Amesbury, Parker Jolivet, from Amesbury, and ninth-graders Nathaniel Gauron, from Georgetown, Joshua Manseau, from Merrimac, and Kiley Markarian, from Rowley.
Students in the Marine Service Technology program learn how to operate, maintain, repair, rebuild and install onboard systems, as well as hull maintenance and repair, marine canvas fabrication and repair, gas and diesel engine operation and repair, and welding and precision metal fabrication.
They also earn relevant certifications, learn how to operate a boat safely, and obtain their boating license. Students will have the opportunity to earn their captain’s license during their senior year.
According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the recreational boating industry in Massachusetts has an economic impact of $4.4 billion and employs more than 20,000 men and women. However, there is a substantial workforce shortage in the industry, both in Massachusetts and nationwide.