Brian O'Leary and the OBJ Community

[BoatGirl]

Hi OBJ community,
My name is Anne O'Leary, I am the daughter of the late Brian O'Leary who was the former owner of Outboard Jets in San Leandro, CA. Currently, I am a college student and I am taking a journalism class my final assignment is about partaking in an experience and writing about it. I found this online community a few weeks ago when I was searching my dad's name along with Outboard Jets and found several posts on here that mentioned him. Upon talking with someone in this community, I've been told that my dad was a really big part of this community, and many people on this site had worked with him before and have possibly known him for years since he worked at OBJ for a very long time.

When I saw all the nice messages written about him, I realized that I don't really know his work-life very well and the people he impacted in this community with his kindness. So for my project, I want to speak to several people in the OBJ community who were his clients and have experiences with him. The interactions don't have to be super detailed or numerous, I'm interested in knowing what your experience was like as a client for him. If you are interested please private message me and we can get in contact. I can also keep identities anonymous if that works better for people. I'd really like to know some stories to connect more with my dad, as he, unfortunately, passed while I was quite young. Please message me for questions, details, etc.

Thanks,
Anne

 

[BoatGirl]

I am mentioned in the obituary as well: Brian David O'Leary's Obituary (1959 - 2018) East Bay Times

 

[poorthang]

so, tell us which university you attend. and please provide links to your fathers work , as some here are interested in jet propulsion for their boats.

 

[DaleH]

Hi Anne:

I am not a jet boat person so our paths never crossed, but my deepest condolences to you and your family. It does appear your Father was held in well regard - you all should be proud!

Some post from searching on his name are here:

PSA: Outboard Jet Inner Seal

I recently locked up the bearings in my Mercury 90/65 pump. I ordered a replacement bearing kit 429 directly from Specialty Manufacturing so I could rebuild the pump. When I got the kit I noticed the inner seal installed in the upper seal ring was installed opposite of the instructions that...

www.tinboats.net

4 stroke 60/40 on 1648 River Rhino with UHMW??

You should check your impeller so that you will know for sure what you have. The aluminum 6 7/8 has the part number 10623 stamped on the lower end. The stainless has the part number 855708T60 cast on the inside of the upper end. Whoever converted the motor may have already swapped a stainless...

www.tinboats.net

Outboard jet units?

I've been thinking about this for a while, and the low tide out here yesterday has finally convinced me, I need to put a jet unit on my outboard! My jetboat has spoiled me, and I'd like to be able to run my Triton with the 50 merc in the same areas I can run with my jetboat. I found a site...

www.tinboats.net

 

[BoatGirl]

so, tell us which university you attend. and please provide links to your fathers work , as some here are interested in jet propulsion for their boats.

He was the former President and co-owner of OBJ in San Leandro, California. There's a company website you can look up: Outboard Jets if you're interested.

 

[BoatGirl]

Hi Anne:

I am not a jet boat person so our paths never crossed, but my deepest condolences to you and your family. It does appear your Father was held in well regard - you all should be proud!

Some post from searching on his name are here:

PSA: Outboard Jet Inner Seal

I recently locked up the bearings in my Mercury 90/65 pump. I ordered a replacement bearing kit 429 directly from Specialty Manufacturing so I could rebuild the pump. When I got the kit I noticed the inner seal installed in the upper seal ring was installed opposite of the instructions that...

www.tinboats.net

4 stroke 60/40 on 1648 River Rhino with UHMW??

You should check your impeller so that you will know for sure what you have. The aluminum 6 7/8 has the part number 10623 stamped on the lower end. The stainless has the part number 855708T60 cast on the inside of the upper end. Whoever converted the motor may have already swapped a stainless...

www.tinboats.net

Outboard jet units?

I've been thinking about this for a while, and the low tide out here yesterday has finally convinced me, I need to put a jet unit on my outboard! My jetboat has spoiled me, and I'd like to be able to run my Triton with the 50 merc in the same areas I can run with my jetboat. I found a site...

www.tinboats.net

Hi Dale,
Thanks for the nice comment, I really appreciate it. I am very proud to be his daughter.

 

[FuzzyGrub]

I'm sorry for your loss. He sounds like a great man to have known.

I recently got my first jet, and found the website very refreshing with allot of technical and parts information. Much more than what is provided by Yamaha. I do my own maintenance and repairs, so this was very important for me. I have had good response time on a couple of questions, too. I love the vintage pictures, as well. I can only imagine when they were developing and testing these pumps. That must have been some fun times.

 

[Tin Man]

Anne, my deepest condolences.
I did not know your father, but I'm sure he would be very proud of you!