Ways to Give

Kenny Grauer: Boatbuilding & Restoration '09, Marine Systems '10

Kenny Grauer How did you come about applying to the Boatbuilding & Restoration program?

Kenny Grauer (KG): A friend had been through the program and thought highly of it and thought I would like it too.

Did you have a background in sailing or woodworking?

KG: I grew up in Newport but had very little experience with boats and sailing. I did always love woodworking. From my junior year in high school I worked in a cabinet shop during my school breaks and summer vacations.

What type of work did you do there?

KG: At first I just did the basic milling, crown molding and things like that. After a while they let me work on things like mantel pieces and the mahogany bar we built for the Boat House Restaurant in Tiverton.

What were the most useful skills you learned in the Boatbuilding & Restoration program?

KG: Drafting. It comes in handy a lot now. Before I start a project I always draw it first.

Has the teamwork practiced at IYRS proved useful at Cay Electronics?

KG: Yes it has, although at IYRS I had a difficult time relying on someone else at first. I was accustomed to working alone. Right now I’m working on a team of five.

What made you decide to further your education by enrolling in the IYRS Marine Systems program?

KG: It seemed like the more dominant side of the industry when I was graduating. I also had a lack of knowledge in that area. There are definitely more jobs to choose from in systems. My systems education gave me the confidence to go right to work without further on-the-job training.

What types of projects are you working on now?

KG: Initially, it was service calls—troubleshooting refrigeration systems and things like that. Right now I’m working on installing wiring and high tech LED lighting in a custom 82-foot carbon fiber cruiser/racer being built by Carbon Ocean Yachts in Bristol.

Do you feel you are a more valuable employee because of your dual-program IYRS education?

KG: Yes I do. I’ve already been asked to do jobs that Cay normally would have subbed out. I built a wooden instrument panel on the 1885 teak motor yacht Amazon docked at Mystic Seaport. I’ve also been asked to fabricate mounts for AC units. In both cases I’ve used my IYRS woodworking skills.