Hixson resident Bill Eaves is bringing a lifetime of experience to Bill E’s Custom Marine, his shop focused on boat-propeller repair and sales which opened in Red Bank this month, just as boating season is beginning to ramp up.
“I’m mostly dealing with bass boats or high-performance boats for racing,” said Eaves, who previously worked for 19 years at another propeller-repair shop in Soddy-Daisy and specializes in working with stainless steel and aluminum. “I do quality work that’s reasonably priced, and most people who get to know me feel like family.”
His willingness to come to his customers on the lake to help diagnose a propeller problem sets him apart from other repairmen, and he said customers also appreciate being able to speak personally with the person who will actually be repairing their boat.
Eaves sponsors several Outboard Drag Boat Association World Championship winners, and he travels to races all over the region to promote his business as well as indulge his love for drag boat racing.
“I love the speed of the boats,” he said. “I still get chill bumps when I watch them run.”