The Types of Boats Marine Technicians Repair
The world of marine service and repair is an exciting and fulfilling one. These careers provide significant perks, such as a location in an ideal climate and the ability to work outside and on the water frequently. However, one of the unsung benefits of a career as a marine technician is being able to work on a wide variety of watercraft and marine vessels.
Students enrolled in a marine mechanic school can receive hands-on training that can prepare them for a number of careers in the marine world, but it can also get them ready to work on a number of different boats. You can read on to learn about a few of the types of boats professional marine technicians work on and improve.
Sport Fishing Boats
Sport fishing boats are power boats with a large deck that are meant for open water fishing. Depending on the type of fish, sport fishermen may have to travel far offshore to be in a location where they can reel in their intended catch. This means that sport fishing boats require a lot of engine power and can easily become exhausted, which can be identified by clouds of black smoke coming out of the exhaust.
Marine technicians required to optimize a sport fishing boat’s engine will need to install trim tabs, inspect the battery, upgrade the propeller, and replace any key switches, wiring harnesses, or rigging tubes.
Motorboats
Some of the most popular boats in any given marina are motorboats. Ranging in shapes and sizes, motorboats have a number of purposes. While some motorboats are made for quick, easy travel, others make up some of the most luxurious boats to date. What’s common among all motorboats is the amount of debris they accumulate, especially on their propellers.
An experienced marine technician will frequently be hired to remove the propeller from a given motor boat, clear the debris, and secure the propeller for optimal performance.
Sailboats
The smooth, free feeling of being on a sailboat is often unparalleled. Whether it’s a one-person catboat or an expansive schooner, a series of parts make up the actual sailing apparatus.
The rig of a sailboat includes the mast, sails, turnbuckles, and shrouds, but the first level of support is the chainplate. This important piece on the boat will require a skilled marine technician who can detect any rust, deformation, corrosion hindering its ability to function. Expert repair may be needed to install a new chainplate for better support and performance.
Pontoon Boats
Pontoon boats have become a popular choice for many over the years, especially for those who are by a river or lake.
A pontoon boat relies on buoyant aluminum tubes that are located on each side of the main platform. If these tubes are damaged, it is possible for a pontoon boat to begin taking on water, which will require repair. You may power your pontoon by oars and paddles, but it also may have an outboard engine attached, so there are times when repairs are necessary.
Bay Boats
For the saltwater fishing fans out there, a center console boat is the way to go. There are all kinds of different center consoles out there, but you’ll find they’re typically split up into offshore boats and inshore boats.
Bay boats are a great choice in coastal saltwater areas and along the Gulf coast in particular. Bay boats may require repairs to the anchoring systems, casting decks, or propulsion systems. Bay boats need to be fully prepared for the rough seas, so it’s always critical to stay up to date with all repairs.
Runabouts
The average runabout checks in around 20 or 30 feet, is offered with either sterndrive or outboard power, and has an open bow with seating for a small crowd and a walk-through windshield. To maximize the interior space, a runabout can be equipped with an outboard engine.
If a runabout does have outboard power, and you begin to get close to 30 feet, a boat owner may need twin engines in their runabout.
These engines need proper maintenance and care throughout the year to keep the runabout ready for the next trip out on the water. While outboard engines make plenty of horsepower, they’re a bit different than the high-torque sterndrive V6 or V8. Regardless of the engine located in the runabout, it needs to be properly maintained.
Watersport Boats
A runabout may not be a perfect fit for a family that loves watersports. Water skiing and wakeboarding are popular activities, and watersports boats can be the way to go. While a runabout will typically have the outboard or sterndrive engine, a watersport or “tow boat” uses an inboard engine.
The tow boat market today is highly competitive, with models geared towards wakeboard and wake surfing. Need to take care of that tow boat? A marine technician can repair ski poles and towers, which hold boards, speakers, and all kinds of equipment.
Start Your Marine Mechanic Career Today
A marine technician will have the opportunity to set foot on a wide variety of boats, including many more than just the ones listed above. With the marine industry on the rise, demand for experienced and skilled marine technicians will result in opportunities for those with the proper marine mechanic school education and experience.
Fascinated by the world of marine service and repair? Download our eBook, Top 5 Ways to Boost Outboard Engine Performance, to learn about one of the exciting duties of a marine technician.
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