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Marine technicians diagnose, repair and maintain inboard/outboard boat engines, often requiring communication skills to explain diagnoses and repairs. They may work at repair shops, boat dealerships or marinas, and can benefit from factory training classes.
A marine technician is responsible for the correct diagnosis, repair and maintenance of the inboard/outboard boat engine. From a simple oil change to removing and replacing an external drive unit, the marine technician is trained to complete virtually any type of repair. At most repair shops, the marine technician is responsible for ordering replacement parts and installing them when they arrive at the repair facility.
One of the most important and often difficult components of a marine technician’s job is diagnosing a problem. The technician generally must operate the boat in open water to discover all the characteristics the vessel is exhibiting. When the marine technician has narrowed the problem down to a small area of the engine or vessel, he will return the vessel to the repair facility and continue tweaking the diagnostics. This is usually done by running the boat’s engine in a tank of water to maintain engine temperature while the technician examines the running engine. Upon satisfaction that he or she has correctly diagnosed the problem, the homeowner will usually be notified of the problem and the cost of the repair and asked for permission to proceed with the repair.
People skills are often part of a marine technician career that proves to separate the good guys from the average. Communication skills are needed to explain the nature of the diagnosis and the importance of completing the repair. The typical career path for a technician is a high school diploma, followed by completion of a marine mechanic school or course. A desire to work on boats and a mechanical aptitude are also a big component of the career choice. While complete disassembly and repair of an engine is often required by some mechanics, the typical marine technician’s job is preventative maintenance in the form of tune-ups and oil changes.
Job opportunities for the marine technician range from home operated repair facilities to working at a boat dealership or marina. Some of the most beneficial educational opportunities are offered by new boat dealerships. Factory training classes are routinely offered to keep service technicians equipped with the latest information. Some technicians also choose to work with race teams and race a boat-and-crew race course, working on cutting-edge performance enhancements in engine and driveline technology.
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