marine jobs?

[mtduckhunter]

im going to be a senior in high school this year and was thinking about a job in the marine industry when i graduate. what kind of jobs are there in the marine industry? i thought about going to UTI for marine technitian, but its a bit pricey!

i want to work on boats (fiberglass repair, carpet, seat recovering) and motor work (outboards, inboards, and I/O).

what does someone that does this kind of work make an hour on average?

Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: marine jobs?

well, you are actually talking about 2 separate fields, the hull, and the power.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: marine jobs?

Right now, with boat sales places, etc. in a big slump, it's a tough thing to get an entry level position. That could change, of course, but it might not.

Today, getting an education before job hunting is a good idea. Boats and engines are getting more and more technical, like cars have done. The old method of getting some sort of job and learning as you go doesn't work as well as it used to.

Just for something to think about, our military offers great training in many fields, and you get paid for it. Lots of guys have spent some time in the service, then come out and found excellent jobs.

Take your goals down to the recruiting office and see what they can offer you. You might be surprised.

 

[gcboat]

Re: marine jobs?

Here's one of many places to look through:http://www.boatingcareerinfo.org/

 

[oops!]

Re: marine jobs?

joining the millitary is a fantastic idea.....i know it doesnt seem glamerous...but 35 years down the road....(it will pass quick !)...your set....

they will train you and pay you...then give you a pension.....plus youll skip the drugs and come out of the service as a responcible respected human being with a lot of self worth.

there is allways a need for boat mechanics....good ones. in canada a basic mechanic (traveling with or with out a shop) will make 70 an hour......work like a dog @17 hours a day in the summer.....come christmas time....nothn for a few months......

if you were in a all year round boating area....you could keep as busy as you wanted......keep in mind.....you will deal with "i want it now" coustomers that will blame you for everything

 

[Kev144]

Re: marine jobs?

At our marina we sell/repair/store etc high power boats such as large Fountain, Baja, outerlimites etc. It's actually quite a fun job working on these things. We dont really do any type of hull repair but we have done some interior work in the past. We are mainly performance motor wise. It can pay well if your good at it, but with the slumping economy, boats are not really selling. This type of field is probably not the best to get into until the economy swings upward again. It's not so bad for us because the only people buying expensive offshore boats are the rich and wealthy, who continue to buy. By all means though, it's one of the funnest jobs i've had.

 

[fixb52s]

Re: marine jobs?

Here is some advice from a former Air Force aircraft mechanic. I spent 22 years in the service working the heavy B-52. I not only came out with a lot of aircraft mechanical knowledge, but I was also an instructor, a flight Chief, Production Supervisor, Computer/LAN Manager and a Resourse Manager (Budget Management). As you can see, quite a few different jobs.

I contacted MMI and spoke with them at great lengths. Yes, the training is first rate and they will give you the background required. But with the economy today, there is really not enough jobs out there, and they really do not pay that well either.

While I was able to finish my BS degree in Aeronautics, I never did get my Airframe/Powerplant licence. I am now in the process of geting them, and will be looking for a job back in the aviation field. I would be hired on the spot if I had the A/P, so I kick myself for not getting it while I was in. I took a year off after retiring, and am ready to get back into the workplace.

Once I get FAA certified, I can go just about anywhere in aviation, and the BS degree will get me even higher. I have looked at careers in the other areas I was in while in the military, but I just love the aircraft maintenance field, and the pay will be much better than the boating industry.

Just some food for thought. Boats are fun and I say do something you love AND get paid for. If you have a strong desire to get into the boat industry, there are other things you can look at. Check out Newport News shipyard. They have an apprentice program where you will learn the skills AND get paid.

Just look at ALL options out there. There are many.​

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: marine jobs?

im going to be a senior in high school this year and was thinking about a job in the marine industry when i graduate. what kind of jobs are there in the marine industry? i thought about going to UTI for marine technitian, but its a bit pricey!

i want to work on boats (fiberglass repair, carpet, seat recovering) and motor work (outboards, inboards, and I/O).

what does someone that does this kind of work make an hour on average?

Thanks

Consider these points.....

The hull of a boat really does not need as much maintenance as the powerplant.

Even though the economy is in a slump ..... people will hang on to the older boats and maintenance will become more important.

Education is not as costly as ignorance. Student Loans, Plus loans, scholarships and grants will help pay for the eductaion. If you default on a student loan there is no tow truck that will come and repo your education. An education is your best investment.

As far as how much money you could make..... look at www.salary.com which is a good source of money advice.

I am pro military (and retired active duty Army)and when it comes to boats the US Army maintains and operates more boats than any other branch of service.

Currently I am a college admissions rep and I also support education.

Good luck!

 

[INJUN]

Re: marine jobs?

Another place to look is to get a copy of the magazine : "National Fisherman". They usually have jobs listed in their classifide section.

 

[haskindm]

Re: marine jobs?

There is no substitute for experience. Get some basic education - check if your local community college has a "marine engine" course. Get a job, any job, at any pay, in a marine shop. If you show some initiative, they will help you get the specialized training that you need (for example by sending you to training classes put on by the engine manufacturer for the engines they are authorized to sell/service). Then keep learning. The industry is changing - those that keep learning will do well, those that feel like they "know it all" will be left behind. Regardless of the economy GOOD mechanics (automotive, diesel, or marine) will always have work. Poor sales of new boats mean many older boats will need repair and maintenance. The military is an excellent source for training and experience. Just remember, no matter what you hear on late night TV advertisements, you will need to start at the bottom. You cannot go to school to become an experienced mechanic, only working in the trade will do that. Get the basic skills wherever you can and go to work. Top mechanics make top pay (some in excess of $100K per year) but it takes time, work, and study to become a top mechanic. Many people are not willing to work for entry-level wages in order to get started, but for those that are the rewards can be great.

 

[mtduckhunter]

Re: marine jobs?

thanks guys! lots of great helpful info!

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: marine jobs?

If you are interested in larger ships, the yards in and around New Orleans are desperate for workers. I know that N.G. Avondale will house and train new workers. The other big ones are Trinity Yachts, Bollinger, and Textron.

I just graduated from UNO with a degree in Naval Arch./Marine Eng. These companies are very very desperate for employees, they were on campus quite a bit trying to recruit.