Expand mobile version menu

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technician

What They Do

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Career Video

About This Career

Repairs and adjusts electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines.

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics cluster Facility and Mobile Equipment Maintenance pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Starts motors and monitors performance for signs of malfunctioning, such as smoke, excessive vibration, or misfiring.
  • Documents inspection and test results and work performed or to be performed.
  • Mounts motors to boats, and operates boats at various speeds on waterways to conduct operational tests.
  • Repairs engine mechanical equipment, such as power tilts, bilge pumps, or power take-offs.
  • Performs routine engine maintenance on motorboats, such as changing oil and filters.
  • Replaces parts, such as gears, magneto points, piston rings, or spark plugs, and reassembles engines.
  • Idles motors and observes thermometers to determine the effectiveness of cooling systems.
  • Inspects and repairs or adjusts propellers or propeller shafts.
  • Adjusts carburetor mixtures, electrical point settings, or timing while motors are running in water-filled test tanks.
  • Sets starter locks and aligns and repairs steering or throttle controls, using gauges, screwdrivers, or wrenches.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Requires getting into awkward positions
  • Lighting is either extremely bright or inadequate
  • Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Judging how far away an object is, or which of several objects is closer or farther away
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Detecting sounds and hearing the differences between sounds of different pitch and loudness
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
  • Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Boat Mechanic
  • Boat Motor Mechanic
  • Boat Rigger
  • Marine Mechanic
  • Marine Propulsion Technician
  • Marine Technician
  • Mechanic
  • Outboard Motor Mechanic
  • Outboard Technician
  • Service Technician