Member Moments: Helmut’s Marine Service, Inc.’s Chart Your Course introduced Bay Area trade students to the full range of marine careers through eight employers at the Sausalito Boat Show
Marine businesses nationwide are struggling to fill skilled positions, from the service bay to the parts counter to the docks. One California dealer is using its local boat show to build a pipeline. Helmut’s Marine Service, Inc., a Volvo Penta Power Center and the factory-authorized Volvo Penta distributor for the Southwest, hosted Chart Your Course on Saturday, September 26, at the Sausalito Boat Show at Clipper Yacht Harbor.
The program gives students in technical, trade and career-readiness programs a free day at the show to meet working marine professionals and discover the range of careers the industry offers, most of which they didn’t know existed.
How it Works
The format is simple enough for other dealers to adapt. Six Bay Area schools and youth programs referred students, who each received free show admission and a Chart Your Course Passport. Students then visited eight participating marine businesses, earning a stamp after each conversation. Completed passports were entered into a prize raffle at the Helmut’s Marine Service, Inc. booth.
Referring programs included the Marin County Office of Education’s Regional Occupational Program (ROP), Petaluma High School’s PHASE Automotive program, Spaulding Marine Center, Canal Alliance and Marin Foster Care Association, with students from high schools in the Novato, San Rafael, Tamalpais and Petaluma districts. Participating employers were Helmut’s Marine Service, Inc., Silver Seas Yachts, Call of the Sea, H&M Marine, Safe Harbor Marina Bay Yacht Harbor, Safe Harbor Sausalito, Cruiser Services and Modern Sailing School & Club.
“These are skilled, hands-on, well-paying jobs, and the people doing them genuinely love the work,” said Nadine Urciuoli, Vice President of Helmut’s Marine Service, Inc. “Most students have never been shown that a path into the marine trades exists. Chart Your Course puts them in front of the people who do this work every day.”
While many participants arrived interested in hands-on mechanical work, the day was designed to show them the whole industry. Participating employers represented engine service and repair, marina and yard operations, yacht sales, sailing instruction and maritime education. That breadth helps employers reach candidates for hard-to-fill roles beyond the shop, and it gives students a realistic picture of how many ways there are to build a career on the water.
Starting With Students Already in the Trades
Many participants were already studying automotive, transportation and manufacturing skills that transfer directly to marine work. One participating high school instructor noted that his program’s transportation, repair and manufacturing courses already cover much of what marine repair requires. Another educator summed up the program’s premise: “They have to see it to be it.”
A San Marin High School senior who already works on boats said the day sharpened his direction. “This connected me more to auto and gave me an interest in diesel,” said the student. “What surprised me was how there are not a lot of newcomers in the marine industry.” He added that employers told him they need people who understand the electrical systems on newer marine engines.
A Local Answer to a National Problem
For employers, the payoff is a workforce rooted in the community. “Our company will not be able to survive without developing the next generation of craftspeople, and this is a great step toward seeing this happen,” said Paul Kaplan, Regional Business Development at Safe Harbor. “Developing a local workforce helps overcome one of our largest obstacles: attracting team members from outside the Bay Area, given the cost and shortage of housing.”
Show organizers see the same value. “We want to build the industry and promote the lifestyle. Showing young people this wonderful world is critical to its future,” said Mitch Perkins, manager of the Sausalito Boat Show. “A strong pipeline would foster vibrancy and keep the waterfront a place for industry as well as recreation.”
For more information about the program, visit: helmutsmarine.com/chart-your-course.
About Helmut’s Marine Service, Inc.
Founded in 1988 by Helmut Ahollinger, Helmut’s Marine Service, Inc. is a family-owned Volvo Penta Power Center, distributor and service center located at 619 Canal Street in San Rafael, California. The company serves as the factory-authorized Volvo Penta distributor for California, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Guam, and is an authorized MAN Engine dealer.
Editor’s Note: Helmut’s Marine Service has been an MRAA Silver Member since 2024.
MRAA Member Moments spotlight real-world stories from MRAA Member dealerships, sharing best practices, lessons learned and examples of how dealers are finding success and overcoming challenges in today’s marine industry. These stories are designed to help other dealers learn from their peers while celebrating meaningful wins across the industry. Member Moments is managed by the Member Success Team within MRAA’s Dealer Development group, currently led by Stevie Cook, Director of Member Success, and Derek LaBarr, Member Success Specialist. Send in your own team’s personal success story and images to info@mraa.com.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA)
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the trusted catalyst for success in the marine retail industry. Dedicated to fueling dealer growth and strengthening the boating experience, MRAA delivers industry-leading insights, expert guidance and proven solutions that assist marine retailers in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. Through education, advocacy and innovative resources, MRAA empowers dealers to thrive, and helps drive a stronger, more sustainable marine industry. Learn more at MRAA.com.
