Marine engineering technician jobs

Getting the Job, Job Definition and Nature, Education and Training Requirements

The Work's Definition and Nature

Marine technicians examine, maintain, and repair various types of boats. They test and repair boat engines, hulls, propellers, rigging, masts, sails, and navigational equipment with diagnostic equipment. Sanitation and refrigeration systems, cabinetry, electrical systems, driving gear, and accessories are also installed and tested.

Technicians must first remove boats from the water and place them up on blocks in order to inspect and repair them quickly. Supervisors and technicians inspect the boats and determine the type of work that has to be done as well as the time it will take to complete the repairs.

Scrapers, power washers, and sandblasting equipment are used to remove barnacles and loose paint from damaged hulls. They next replace any broken or rotting wood or fiberglass components, sand down the fixes, and repaint them.

Requirements for Education and Training

Although high school diplomas or the equivalent are not needed, many firms prefer to recruit applicants with them. Shop classes in high school can be beneficial. A growing number of technicians attend vocational or technical schools for two years of instruction. Blueprint reading, machine repair, woodworking, and fiberglass repair are all useful courses.

Most new employees are trained on the job by experienced technicians. Many employers send their technicians to boat and engine manufacturers and distributors for brief training courses.

Getting Hired

Marinas, boat sales and service yards accept direct applications. Job leads may come from school placement offices, newspaper classified ads, and Internet job sites.

Possibilities for advancement and the Job Market

There are few opportunities for advancement. Technicians might advance to supervisory positions in large marinas and boatyards. Some skilled technicians start their own sales and service businesses.

Marine technicians have a promising job outlook through 2014. Boat sales are projected to increase as people have more free time. However, because boat design is evolving, people with the best training and experience may have the most career chances.

Working Environment

Coastal locations are home to the largest boatyards and marinas, which can employ up to ten marine technicians. Smaller marinas with fewer employees are located near lakes and water leisure areas.

Marine technicians work for a variety of hours. Technicians may be needed to work more than forty hours per week during the spring and summer, including some weekend labor. Most of the work is normal maintenance in the winter, and some technicians may be laid off.

It might be noisy and filthy in the stores and interior places where marine professionals work. When working with fiberglass, resins, and other chemicals, technicians must take precautions. Although technicians employ machines for many jobs, they must frequently move big objects.