The correct diagnosis, repair, and maintenance of an inboard/outboard boat engine is the responsibility of a marine technician. The marine technician is trained to perform nearly any type of repair, from a simple oil change to the removal and replacement of an out drive unit. In most repair shops, the marine technician is in charge of ordering replacement parts as well as installing them once they arrive at the shop.
Diagnosing a problem is one of the most important and often difficult aspects of a marine technician’s job. To discover all of the vessel’s characteristics, the technician usually has to run it in open water. When the marine technician has narrowed the problem to a small area of the engine or vessel, he or she will return it to the repair facility to fine-tune the diagnosis. This is usually accomplished by running the boat motor in a water tank to keep the engine warm while the technician inspects it. When the technician is satisfied that he or she has correctly diagnosed the problem, the owner is usually informed of the issue and repair cost, and asked for permission to proceed with the repair.
People skills are frequently the aspect of a marine technician’s job that distinguishes the good from the average. To explain the nature of the diagnosis and the importance of completing the repair, communication skills are required. A technician’s typical career path includes obtaining a high school diploma and then enrolling in a marine mechanic school or course. A strong desire to work on boats, as well as a mechanical aptitude, are important factors in this career choice. While some mechanics are required to completely disassemble and repair an engine, the typical job of a marine technician is preventative maintenance in the form of tune-ups and oil changes.
Marine technicians can work in a variety of settings, including home-based repair shops, marinas, and boat dealerships. New boat dealerships offer some of the most beneficial educational opportunities. Factory training classes are offered on a regular basis to keep service technicians up to date on the latest information. Some technicians prefer to work with race teams and tour the racing circuit with a boat and crew, getting hands-on experience with cutting-edge engine and drive-line technology.