well, i was going to make jokes but he seems so earnest;
engineering is a calling. you need to be versatile with math, (a lot) you’ll eventually learn tubing/pipe sizes, threads, sealants, tools, … it can’t be listed but I’ll just say it is a vocation one is naturally akin to, has the aptitude for.
I’ve never spend ONE day in the deck dept. came up thru the hawse pipe to Chief oceans and probably made more than anyone aboard except the captain but then, I didn’t ask him.
You get use to working shift work, the only thing that makes that hard is getting called out for a emergency situation or having to work well into your sleep time but it’s all part of the job when you can look back over a few years!
dangerous? depends on how unaware or plain stupid you are. Hearing and handling certain fluids were my pet peves, that and eye protection.
yes, the engineer gets all over the ship, and yes, you’ll have to fix stuff on the bridge as well, and climb the highest and lowest places. (you’ll love double bottoms and strainer cleaning when run aground or driving thru kelp fields and other stuff )) It’s the only team aboard that can get the ship underway, and figure out where to go close enough to find something to tie to!!! … ok, that’s enuff!!!
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