Rick Austin (right) and Randy Ekroot have started an inboard/ outboard boat motor repair shop near the entrance of the new Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais. The partners have only recently opened their doors but have been happy with the business and well-wishers who have stopped by. Called A&E Marine, they are located at 108 Gunflint Trail on the old Tilbury property.
With the slowdown in home building and construction in general, two longtime friends, two good guys, Rick Austin and Randy Ekroot, began thinking of ways to keep themselves employed.
It didn’t take long for them to realize that by putting together their individual skills—Randy is an A-plus mechanic and Rick is an astute businessman who can turn a wrench—they could open a boat motor repair shop. But would anyone come?
“Before we had a phone, before we had a sign up, people started bringing us their boat motors,” said Austin.
The business is named A&E Marine, and is located near the start of the new Gunflint Trail at 108 Gunflint Trail. To date the store is sparsely furnished and only has a small amount of inventory, but that stuff will come with time, said Austin.
“Right now our goal is to get motors serviced and fixed and back to the owners as fast as we can. Before we get to the store we will take care of our No. 1 priority, and that’s taking care of our customers,” he added.
Ekroot first started fixing small engines at Midway gas station (now Buck’s Hardware Hank) in high school. “That’s a long time ago, I know,” said Randy with a laugh.
In the years since, Randy has operated his own inboard/ outboard shop and worked as a boat motor repair mechanic in Florida. Along the way he has also worked as a carpenter, but he always comes back to fixing motors, and throughout the years he has learned his craft well.
“So far people have been driving up to see what we are doing. They want to know what’s going on. It’s been a far better response than we thought,” said Rick.
Plans are to update and stock the shop in the winter. “We’re looking for the best distributors we can find, too,” said Rick. As far as carrying outboard motors or boats, that will be in the distant future if it happens at all.
“We really want to concentrate on the repair and the maintenance business. Right now we are seeing a lot of motors that weren’t winterized right. There’s more to it than some people realize,” said Austin.
The oldest motor that has come into the shop so far was made in 1949. It was a far cry from the new motors, which carry computerized components and are much larger than their predecessors.
“I used to be able to pick up two 25-horse motors and carry them. Now I can barely pick up one,” said Randy. The changes in the size of motors has to do with making them compliant with new emission standards.
“That doesn’t mean they run better, but they pollute less,” Randy said.
The shop is open Monday through Friday from 9-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9-12. If you call and make an appointment they will—if at all possible—see you on Sunday. Their number is 1-218-387-1820.
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