Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 21,700 people employed as motorboat mechanics and service technicians in the United States. The median annual salary is $43,300. Entry level employees earn approximately $27,110 per year and senior employees earn approximately $66,230 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

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

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