Marine Mechanic Training

Marine mechanics — also called boat mechanics, marine engine technicians, and marine equipment mechanics — repair and adjust the electrical and mechanical equipment of boat engines. They work with 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, inboard and outboard engines, and both diesel and gasoline boat engines.

Small outboard engines are typically brought to the mechanic's shop by the customer, but larger outboards as well as inboard engines require the mechanic to go to the boat, so marine mechanics must be prepared operate a mobile shop, doing most of their work at docks and marinas.

Like automobile mechanics, boat mechanics use a variety of techniques to diagnose a boat's engine problem. A marine mechanic should be able to determine the problem quickly and repair it efficiently, but as with any mechanical equipment, repairs that seem simpl at first can mushroom into serious, complex repair projects without warning.

Areas of Engine Operation and Repair

Marine mechanics need training and experience in repairing all types of inboard and outboard engines. They need specialized knowledge of inboard gasoline engines, diesel engines, marine engine lubrication systems, marine engine cooling systems, outdrives, boat electrical systems, and a variety of marine mechanical accessories, such as bilge pumps, engine ventilation systems, and navigation lights.

A boat's engines and associated systems may require the marine mechanic to deal with more than 200 electrical wires — frequently with no schematic, and often with numerous aftermarket modifications made by a series of previous owners.