A Day in the Life of a Marine Mechanic
Although as a potential marine mechanic you might be looking forward to a career filled with long days in the sun and even working in the water from time to time, the day to day life of a marine mechanic is not always that simple. In fact, you might find that the majority of your time is spent indoors working on motors. So what can you really expect from the day in the life of a marine mechanic?
Depending on your training, you will probably have a wide variety of knowledge when it comes to working on a range of different types of technologies. With that in mind, you could find that you are working with a different model or vehicle make on a daily basis.
On one day, for instance, you could spend your time on a Honda Marine and the TMI ignition system. On another day, you could spend the majority of your hours on the Marine Suzuki and the four-stroke outboard motor. Still yet, you might find yourself maintaining the Marine Yamaha oil-injection system.
Of course, you will often find that you are spending a good amount of time working with watercrafts. Most training schools will give you a good foundation and understanding when it comes to working as a watercraft technician.
As a marine mechanic you might have your own business, or you could work for a park, marine, yacht club, or boat yard. As more and more people purchase marine crafts, the number of people that are needed to repair and maintain those crafts will increase. Therefore, companies will be hiring more workers. However, this also means that the self-employment rate might also increase as those that are business savvy will want to venture out on their own.
If you work on your own, your schedule will differ than that if you were to work for a large company. If you work for a large company, you might find yourself with a typical shift that could possibly be 9-5. However, you might also have to work on the weekends, especially during the busy season. If you have your own business, then your hours might be more varied and not as structured. You might even find that you work longer hours from time to time.
On a day to day basis, your job duties will vary depending on the unit that you are working on. You might provide tune-ups, for example, and work on lubricating engines, concentrating on fuel systems, and maintaining emission systems.
On other days, you might find that you are spending the majority of the time running diagnostic tests in order to determine exactly what the problem might be with the unit that you are working on. You’ll have to use troubleshooting skills, as well as learn how to isolate the problem and determine what is salvageable and what has to be replaced.
Depending on where your place of business is located, you might work near the water or even on the water. Then again, you might not be located near the water at all. However, for the most part marine mechanics do tend to be located near the water so that when people have trouble with their marine vessels they don’t have far to go.
This can be a great incentive for those who love being near the water and like working with their hands at the same time. Although you will usually find that you are working long hours and that you have few breaks throughout the day, when you do get a break, you will be close to one of your favorite locations: the sea or even a lake.
Schools Offering Marine Courses:
New England Institute of Technology
This program is an intensive look at the marine technical industry and its implementation of the latest advances within marine technology.
Associate
Associate in Science in Marine Technology
Rhode Island
National Polytechnic College of Science
Marine Technology
Once you earn a Commercial Diving degree or certificate, you can find yourself making excellent money in the dynamic field of Marine Technology!
Programs offered
- Certificate in Marine Technology
- Associate of Science Degree in Marine Technology
Certificate, Associate
Certificate in Marine Technology (Commercial Diving), Associate of Science in Marine Technology (Commercial Diving), Certified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT)
California
Universal Technical Institute
Do boats appeal to you? Do you enjoy the outdoors, the marina environment, the roar of a boat cutting across the water? Universal Technical Institute trains marine mechanics at the Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI).
Certificate
Marine Technician Specialist
Florida
