Marine & Powersports Technician

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Control pumps or pumping equipment.
• Provide transportation information to passengers or customers.
• Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
• Clean facilities or work areas.
• Clean machinery or equipment.
• Clean vehicles or vehicle components.
• Inspect motor vehicles.
• Maintain vehicles in good working condition.
• Maintain watercraft engines or machinery.
• Measure the level or depth of water or other liquids.

Typical Working Conditions

• Having face-to-face discussions.
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Meeting strict deadlines.
• Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
• Frequent decision-making.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Exposure to hazardous equipment.
• Working outdoors exposed to weather.
• Dealing with external customers.
• Responsibility for others’ health and safety.
• Dealing with unpleasant or angry people.

Tools & Technology used by Marine & Powersports Technician

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Marine & Powersports Technicians

• Helping Others—Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Repairing—Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Maintaining Equipment—Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Managing Time—Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Marine & Powersports Technicians

• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Chemistry—Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
• Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Sales and Marketing—Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Conventional—Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing high growth compared to other careers. There will be a 11.5% growth need for Marine & Powersports Technicians to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career is best for those with at least a high school degree, but many professionals attend some college. This job does not require a license, but certifications could aid in showcasing knowledge.

Visit the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence for more information about this career, as well as links to education and training programs in Minnesota.

View the local post-secondary education options for this career from Central Lakes College.

Spotlight on Central Lakes College

• Why consider CLC?
• Virtual Campus Tours: Brainerd Campus, Staples Campus
• Learn more about the CLC Honors Program.
• Attend CLC, and you may never need to buy a textbook.

If you have a physical, mental, developmental, or cognitive condition that requires educational support, learn about support options at CLC.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Accounting
• Algebra I and II
• Automobile and Diesel Mechanics
• Business English
• Chemistry
• Industrial Technology
• Manufacturing System
• Metalworking
• Physics
• Pre-Calculus
• Transportation Technology
• Trigonometry

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise