With Stejcraft now up and running, quickly becoming one of Australia’s biggest boat producers in the 70s, family was again involved in the next step. Having grown up seeing his dad build boats, Tim was infatuated. At an early age, Tim left school to pursue an apprenticeship of his own in outboard engine mechanics. This worked perfectly as the business expanded. Boat yards were also starting to join the Stejcraft empire and this gave Tim plenty of opportunities to work and develop his skills as an engine mechanic.
And it was lucky too that Tim was getting all this work experience! Just as he finished his apprenticeship, already with an astounding level of knowledge and experience in the boating industry for such a young man, Tim was thrown in at the deep end. Stejcraft’s factory manager went rogue, leaving Sam in the lurch and in need of a new factory captain ASAP.
In steps, Tim Catanese. And that was just the beginning.