Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

[scjakester]

Hello everyone, hope you are all well. I have a really good friend who's son wants to be a marine technician. He is young (19) and will graduate from high school in a few months. He's a really good kid to be around and he's been working on motorcycles and ATVs since he was very young. He's really smart on that stuff, his Christmas list is always tools and parts - Ha! In fact, when I first met him he was 13 or 14, my ATV wouldn't start and he rode over with my friend to help me get it running. Within about 5 minutes he had it correctly diagnosed and patched up enough to use for the weekend hunting trip. The next week after school he came over,rebuilt the carb and the ATV has never once failed to start since.

He picked up an old Ranger bass boat with an early 1980's Merc 115 from somewhere over the Christmas break and he's been overhauling the outboard on the weekends. He brought it over to the house Sunday to test it in the water and it runs like a new motor. We were standing out on the dock and he said he enjoyed working on it, learned a lot and would like to do something in the field for a living, but there aren't any technical schools here in South Carolina with marine technician programs, at least none we could find?!?!

He'd make an amazing technician and would do great in the field if he had the opportunity. Is there anyway he can get qualified locally? Do the ASE auto technician programs at the local technical schools translate well to this?

-Jake
Lake Murray, SC

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

In reality i had a similar situation with my step son and thankfully he listened to me and decided to go for automotive instead, the reality is that there is not a large number of jobs in Marine, of course if your friends kid is set on it then by God go for it but in my opinion the market is strongest in Automotive so focus on that and if he wants to diversify his education then marine would be fine, My Step son is interested in going to MMI/UTI in Phoenix and possibly Florida at some point to get his marine education. Locally I know that here in Denver we have Lincoln Tech, but you would have to check the local Trade Schools in your area, Lincoln and MMI/UTI develop ASE certified mechanics which is very important if you want to work in a dealership or custom shop and I would highly recommend your friends son get his certification, Lincoln and MMI/UTI run about $25,000 for the process which is about 18-24 months of education depending on the course study, another idea for your friend is to have his son join the service and then afterwards go to school on the GI bill my cousin is doing this here in Denver at Lincoln Tech. Another place is WyoTech which is one of the premier educational facilities, I have another friend that went this route and did the best of all I know in the field he now runs his own custom shop, they taught him not only the trade but the business side of things and he has done very well. I have a friend who is also my mechanic (rather his guys are) for my diesels, he will not touch anyone who is not ASE Certified although he runs a Diesel shop for a dealership so take that for what it is.

Good Luck to your friends son!!

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

I've been working in the boat industry for over twenty years and would advise the boy to go to collage.This business has really slowed down do to the economy and gas prices.Really were only working on someone's toy.

 

[Autotech]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

What CJ said... I have been teaching Automotive for 30 years and have had a lot of students that do marine work on the weekend and evenings just because they enjoy it. Not much future for marine tech in my area. In fact there is only one dealer and he only has two(2) techs. And one is his son I think. During summer months he will pick up a couple of retired guys to stay ahead of the rush.

 

[Slide]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

You just described my little brother to a T. He's a couple years younger but this is exactly what he wants to do, and he's gifted in the same way. I'm really interested to hear the responses here so I can give him better advice. I'm a college grad and I want to see him get his degree too, but it really is all about doing what makes you happy.

 

[woody66912]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

Tell him to go to collage. For IT or something else.
I have been a marine tech for 20 years now, it was very fun at first, but then life set in. I have seen labor rates go from $37 to $ 120 an hour. And seen my wage start at $9.00 And go to $18 and with the economy crash back down to $14.50 remind you all along with little or no benefits. And just remember you only get to work maybe 6 to 7 months a year. If I were him I would do the tech school and use it as a part time job or something to fall back on.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

Well, loving to work on motors, outboards, cars, etc., is different than making a living doing it. I love motors too, but I'd probably starve if I had to do it for a living. That said, if the boy wants/needs/has to do it, go to Marine Engine School, and move to a developed coastal area where there's lots of boats, all year around....like Florida. Good Luck to the boy!

 

[scjakester]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

It's a shame it's that difficult to make a living as a marine technician. He does enjoy it. I might send Dylan a link to this to thread because it sounds like the ASA automotive route is the way to go if you want to support a family on technician work. To be really honest, I was surprised to hear this, I know I pay $90 bucks an hour to the technician that helps me, (Mike over at Weed's Marine in Lexington) and he's worth every dang penny of it! I thought for sure there would be a lot more opportunity in the field for a youngster. Thanks to all who replied and anyone else that jumps in with their $ .02 worth.

-Jake

 

[scjakester]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

I guess it does make sense when you think about it purely from the numbers. I drive my truck 325-350 days a year, my wife drives her car 250-300 days a year, but even with 5 people in the household we only use the boat maybe 100-125 days per year at the most. Still kind of a sad though, ya know?

 

[JRJ]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

Our oldest went to Arizona Automotive Institute 25 years ago and hasn't been out of work since. He worked on some boats incidentally to being a diesel mechanic, and doesn't really care for them or Motorhomes, due to the confined space. Good luck to the boy.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Future Marine Technician - what are the options?

Up here in the Great White North we dont have specialists in Marine technician.......the are Small Engine Repair techs who work on all Recreational vehicles.....outboards , atvs, snowmobliles, motorcycles .....this ability to repair machines for all seasons keeps them employed year round and they are always in demand .......perhaps the young man should look at doing something like this rather than just limiting himself to one field.

 

[SvenTaow]

Originally Posted by Autotech
What CJ said... I have been teaching Automotive for 30 years and have had a lot of students that do marine work on the weekend and evenings just because they enjoy their college education and essay writing service tasks. Not much future for marine tech in my area. In fact there is only one dealer and he only has two(2) techs. And one is his son I think. During summer months he will pick up a couple of retired guys to stay ahead of the rush.

Hi @Autotech,
I think there's future for marine techs in the local coastal areas. I've just applied for a position at the PBSC’s Marine Service Technology program lab - they look for teachers now, as the new classes have been opened in August 2019. I worked as a boat mechanic for a couple of years and suring that time, I got my approved certificate at ATC.