Episode 021 | Phones Ruined the Classroom — A Marine Instructor Tells the Truth with Ted Chamberlin
Description
Guest: Ted Chamberlin
Episode: 021
Recorded at: Cumberland Tavern Studio, Rhode Island
For almost 30 years, marine instructor Ted Chamberlin has trained students in marine engines, propulsion, and hands-on troubleshooting. In this conversation, Ted breaks down how smartphones reshaped the classroom, why mechanical reasoning is collapsing, and why the marine industry is facing a historic shortage of skilled workers.
Ted explains how dealerships are billing $175–$225 per hour for marine technical labor, how shops are booked weeks out, and how students who commit to the work go straight into well-paid, high-demand jobs. Jason reflects on what Ted’s program meant to him as a student, while Caleb and Brad explore the cultural forces that derailed a generation.
Topics Covered
• Phones and the collapse of attention
• Students entering trades unprepared
• Why mechanical instinct is disappearing
• The illusion of “YouTube learning”
• The $200/hour marine tech shortage
• Trade school reality checks
• What makes students succeed
• Ted’s favorite stories from the shop
• The future of marine mechanics
Ted’s Links
YouTube: @tedsmarinerepair8956
Marine Technology Program at NEIT:
https://www.neit.edu/academics/associate-degrees/marine-technology-as
Sponsors
Emergency Preparedness Kits:
https://PrepareWithCumberlandUnfiltered.com
Marine Apparel & Lifestyle:
https://ChasingTail.com
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