Clean his shop, organize his tools.  Be there when he calls and asks you to hold stuff while he tacks it together. Listen to his Sea stories... He probably is looking forward to having you around.  I bet that is the best compensation in his opinion.

"always let your conscience be your guide" jiminy cricket
sounds like youve got the makings of a real good friendship there.
im sure hes not after money. things will even out,
with an open mind and a free heart and you can accomplish just about anything.
welcome to the forum
darren

I couldn't agree more with what Lawrence said and I can see your learning already.  Take care of your elders on the job and they will take care of you in more ways than you know.  I'd always offer to grab an elders tool bucket if I saw him coming down out of the steel or going up.  They taught me well for taking care of them.  You are doing a really good thing and will learn a lot by the sounds of it.