made to look perfect for the next guests, just
like a hotel room.
When asked his favorite part of his job,
Will replies, “Repair runs.”
Motors accidently hit rocks that might
break one of the prop fins. The damaged
motor won’t guide the boat straight, so a call
will come in for help. Several of the dock
boys along with a mechanic will man a boat
with supplies and replace the fin. Sometimes
the small fishing boats are accidently sunk.
They have to be saved, which often means
Will, as one of the younger dock boys, might
get wet. The water can be cold. The flooded
boats usually can be pulled to land and then
the water tipped out.
“If it’s in Anderson Bay, I watch out for
that turtle,” Will jokes.
Engines don’t like water. Sunk ones have
to be rebuilt. The engine is completely torn
down. The outside housing is taken off, the
gastankdrained,thetubingblownout,thecarburetor drained and dried, and all reassem-
bled in hope that the motor will run again.
“I love to tear apart an engine,” says Will,
who wants to be an engineer someday.
There is little down time. Trash has tobe
hauled to the dumpster on the back property,
lawns need to be mowed, the flowers watered,
and any damage on the boats will need to be
fixed. The day ends with Will making sure
boats are ready for early arriving guests. He
punches out at the time clock and commutes
by boat back to the cabin. The sun descends
into the western horizon, and he’s smiling as
he docks his boat.
“Best job ever!” Will beams. “I’m out on
the lake all day.”
A supper of fresh walleye and then maybe
some evening fishing. Darkness falls, and
Will watches meteors streak to earth as the
blue, green, and purple northern lights undu-
late across the night sky. Bedtime is early
becausethateaglenevertakesa dayoff.
PUNCHESOUT MEANS HE INSERTS HIS
TIMECARD INTO THE TIME CLOCK TO
MARK HOW MANY HOURS HE’S WORKED. PRETTY GREAT JOB.HE DOES HAVE AEXCEPT FOR THAT
16 EAGLE! YIKES!