Occupation

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

Human Advantage 64%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.7 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Repair and adjust electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines.

Also Known As: Boat Mechanic, Boat Motor Mechanic, Boat Outboard Engine Mechanic, Boat Rigger, Boat Tester, Certified Marine Mechanic, Experimental Outboard Motors Mechanic, Marine Diesel Mechanic +12 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Start motors and monitor performance for signs of malfunctioning, such as smoke, excessive vibration, or misfiring.
  2. Document inspection and test results and work performed or to be performed.
  3. Mount motors to boats, and operate boats at various speeds on waterways to conduct operational tests.
  4. Repair engine mechanical equipment, such as power tilts, bilge pumps, or power take-offs.
  5. Perform routine engine maintenance on motorboats, such as changing oil and filters.
  6. Replace parts, such as gears, magneto points, piston rings, or spark plugs, and reassemble engines.
  7. Idle motors and observe thermometers to determine the effectiveness of cooling systems.
  8. Inspect and repair or adjust propellers or propeller shafts.
  9. Adjust carburetor mixtures, electrical point settings, or timing while motors are running in water-filled test tanks.
  10. Set starter locks and align and repair steering or throttle controls, using gauges, screwdrivers, or wrenches.
  11. Disassemble and inspect motors to locate defective parts, using mechanic's hand tools and gauges.
  12. Adjust generators and replace faulty wiring, using hand tools and soldering irons.
  13. Repair or rework parts, using machine tools such as lathes, mills, drills, or grinders.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Explain repair procedures to customers.
  • Repair or replace engine mechanical equipment, such as power tilts, water pumps, bilge pumps, or power take-offs.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
54%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
24%
Some College Courses
12%
Less than a High School Diploma
7%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
5%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Facebook
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word

Software (10)

  • CDI Electronics M.E.D.S.
  • Engine diagnostic scanners
  • Inventory tracking software
  • Outboard engine diagnostic software
  • Rinda Technologies DIACOM Marine

Tools & Equipment (73)

  • Adjustable gap spark testers
  • Allen wrench sets
  • Automatic center punches
  • Ball peen hammers
  • Battery load testers
  • Battery terminal cleaners
  • Bearing retainer wrenches
  • Breaker bars
  • Carbon scrapers
  • Channel lock pliers
  • Coil function testers
  • Combination pliers
  • Combination wrenches
  • Cotter pin pullers
  • Crowfoot wrenches
  • Dead blow hammers
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • Dial calipers
  • Digital multimeters
  • Electrical diagnostic platform analyzers
  • Fixed tip snap ring pliers
  • Flat cold chisels
  • Flat tip screw starters
  • Fluted screw extractors
  • Flywheel holders
  • Fuel filter wrenches
  • Hex sets
  • Idle air control signal tester
  • Impact drivers
  • Inspection mirrors
  • Leakdown testers
  • Magnetic pickup tools
  • Measuring tapes
  • Mechanical fingers
  • Mechanics' pick sets
  • Metric flex sockets
  • Metric sockets
  • Mini hacksaws
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Parallel pin punches
  • Peak voltage testers
  • Penlights
  • Personal computers
  • Phillips screwdrivers
  • Piston ring compressors
  • Power drill bit sets
  • Propeller wrenches
  • Seal pullers
  • Shift cable tools
  • Slot screwdrivers
  • Socket wrench extensions
  • Solder guns
  • Spanners
  • Spark plug gap testers
  • Spark plug sockets
  • Speed handles
  • Standard flex sockets
  • Standard socket wrenches
  • Starter punches
  • T handle hex wrenches
  • Tablet computers
  • Taper feeler gauges
  • Tapered hand files
  • Temperature guns
  • Test lights
  • Tie rod end pullers
  • Torque adapters
  • Torque wrenches
  • Torx bit sets
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Wire crimpers
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Maintenance & Repair Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
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