A spotlight on Atlantic Boats' very own master technician, Brandon Doze

What began as scrubbing down recreational and fishing vessels has turned into 18 years of boat technician service for Wareham resident Brandon Doze. 

A veteran with the United States Marine Corps and long-time mechanic, Doze has been in town for almost two decades. Those years have been spent not only climbing up the ladders into various vessels, but within the ranks of Atlantic Boats too. 

"Everybody I started with — a lot of them have moved on and retired," Doze said. "Now I'm the old guy in the shop." 

Atlantic Boats, 2820 Cranberry Highway, is a marine dealership established in 1989 that offers new and used boat sales, a marine parts store and repair services. Though most days he can be found cracking jokes and helping in the shop, Doze's skills reach far beyond Wareham.  

Traveling down to Georgia, Doze just recently completed one of the hardest certifications in the boat technician industry. 

"I'm a Yamaha Master Technician," Doze explained. "There's a very low pass rate on the master tech test."

Yamaha is a major Japanese manufacturer specializing in motorcycles, marine products and motorized vehicles. To earn the certification, experienced marine technicians must complete six week-long courses covering outboard engine operating systems, proper installation, service and maintenance procedures and troubleshooting skills. 

Out of hundreds of applicants, approximately 30 technicians pass Yamaha’s certification exam on an annual basis. Doze said equipment is intentionally damaged and "bugged" during the physical portion of the exam and that the written portion takes skill.

"You have to pay very specific attention to the way they worded the question. They're trying to make sure that your attention to detail is spot on," he said. 

Doze began his knack as a technician helping his grandfather work on cars in Kansas. He said the act of "solving puzzles" has kept him coming back all of these years and that the friendship within the shop is a highlight to the job. 

"Put the puzzle pieces together and fix it — boom. Somebody can take their boat out and enjoy themselves," he said.

Joy can also be found in finding what he's fixed out in the wild, too. Doze worked on two boats that helped to build a bridge in New York which are vessels he remembers fondly for how hot it was working inside them.

"I was driving one time and I saw them by a pier and was like "Oh! Those are my boats!"" he said. 

As the summer season gets started and Doze continues to work away at boats, he plans on getting certified in other motor companies. He said Suzuki is working on a technician program he's willing to take with confidence he'd become certified. 

"I'd be very confident that I could pass that. Not to toot my own horn! But, if I was able to pass the Yamaha test and I work a lot more with Suzuki here in the shop — I can probably pass that easy," he said. 

For now though, Doze is busy doing what he does best as a self-proclaimed completionist: fixing boats.