West Coast Schooling?

[rowerowe101]

I'm a veteran with the G.I. bill and I want to make the move to get an education to have a solid foundation in the marine mechanic field but the only schools i'm seeing for this is UTI orlando. I don't know if I'll be able to make the move there, and I don't know if the schools is even that great for the cost (even though im not paying) due to all the mixed reviews I've seen. However I know in programs like that it really comes down to what you put into it and not everyone has that mindset.
But yea, back to main point lol, is anyone away for Marine Mechanic schools on the west coast?

 

[roscoe]

A little about your, mechanical background, and type of work you dream of doing ??
Small marina or recreational boat dealer? or large ship yard ?

You want to get educated on the equipment you will be working on.

 

[rowerowe101]

I'm interested in inboard/outboard. I own a boat and do the majority of the repairs myself but take it to dealer if I can't figure it out. In the Coast Guard I did some part swapping on diesel engines. I dream of opening my own mobile marine business and ideally working at a marina.

 

[roscoe]

May be worth checking out.



https://www.edumaritime.net/wisconsin/mercury-marine-university



https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/ca...-certification-training-on-a-permanent-basis/

 

[rowerowe101]

Right on, yea definitely a good idea, I did look into those apprenticeships and there has been none for and outboard/inboard technician for some reason over the past month, I guess it's a career field with a shortage of people?

And mercury would be sweet but I believe you need to be a technician with merc for them to take you.

 

[wahlejim]

Go talk to a well run boat dealer/maintenance shop/marina. By well run, i mean with structure and a designated maintenance department, not some guy out of a shed that happens to work on boats. Ask the maintenance manager how he got to where he is and what steps you can take to get there. Odds are you will be walking out of there with a better idea of what needs to happen. You may even walk out of there with a part time job in his department doing some grunt work but working around the boats nonetheless

 

[dingbat]

Your probably better off getting a factory certification than a general education.

i know three marine mobile mechanics. All three started life as factory certified techs then went out on their own.

 

[rowerowe101]

Your probably better off getting a factory certification than a general education.

i know three marine mobile mechanics. All three started life as factory certified techs then went out on their own.

Don't you have to work at a dealership that has a partnership with those type of companies to be able to get certified with them?

 

[rowerowe101]

Go talk to a well run boat dealer/maintenance shop/marina. By well run, i mean with structure and a designated maintenance department, not some guy out of a shed that happens to work on boats. Ask the maintenance manager how he got to where he is and what steps you can take to get there. Odds are you will be walking out of there with a better idea of what needs to happen. You may even walk out of there with a part time job in his department doing some grunt work but working around the boats nonetheless

Gonna look into this. I think it's good advice differentiating between the two. I spent the last week waiting for a call from this mom and pop shop that seemed very disorganized. Was pretty unprofessional and they'll probably call me monday but not sure i'm interested anymore.