Marine Technician Specialist

Students will be introduced to professional work standards; shop safety; and the proper use of hand, measuring and precision tools. Students will learn the fundamentals of engine repair and operation for the internal combustion engine, including two-stroke and four-stroke operations. Also covered will be the lubrication, cooling and exhaust systems, as well as the differences between outboard and sterndrive systems. Students will learn to perform the steps required to diagnose and service marine engines with mechanical-related concerns.

Students will become familiar with the designs and functions of outboard and sterndrive motor-cooling systems. They will learn to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair cooling systems to manufacturers’ specifications. Students will learn the benefits of properly designed and maintained exhaust systems for outboard and sterndrive systems. Students will become familiar with the operation of various manufacturers’ lower unit assemblies and perform the diagnostic and troubleshooting procedures required to determine problems within the lower unit.

Students will learn to perform procedures for rigging outboard motors, aligning sterndrive engines, instrument gauge installation and electrical hookup, remote control, and pre-delivery adjustments. The importance of rigging as it relates to customer satisfaction will be emphasized. Students also will perform setup, installation and maintenance procedures for common optional equipment, including trolling motors and depth finders.

Students will become familiar with various service department job functions at dealerships of major manufacturers, including Honda Marine, Mercury Marine, MerCruiser, Suzuki Marine, Volvo Penta and Yamaha Marine. They will learn how the technician functions in the dealership when dealing with parts, inventory, warranties, repair orders, technical bulletins, flat rates and service manuals. Students will use hands-on approaches to learn the importance of the various roles in these areas. They will be required to demonstrate knowledge and abilities through written tests and the use of unique training workstations that utilize manufacturers’ computer software.

Students will learn to identify carburetor systems and EFI fuel systems on various outboards and sterndrives. They will gain hands-on experience in diagnosing minor fuel system problems, rebuilding carburetors and performing basic carburetion synchronization adjustments on various fuel system configurations. Upon completion of this course, students will be familiar with procedures to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair various fuel systems with special attention to carburetors and EFI systems. Various types of oils and lubricant rating systems used in the marine industry are covered, as well as troubleshooting and repairing different types of lubrication systems.

Students will become familiar with the basics of electrical theory and components. They will learn to read all ranges of the ohmmeter, voltmeter and ammeter, and test components of known value to ensure accurate readings. Students will become proficient at wiring repair, replacement and maintenance. Instruction also will cover various manufacturer electrical test equipment, such as coil testers, spark testers and battery testers. Safety procedures required for working with electricity and electrical systems will be emphasized.

Students will become familiar with the design and function of the starting, ignition, charging, lighting, engine-management and accessory systems. They will learn to use all ranges of the ohmmeter, voltmeter and ammeter to test electrical systems and verify electrical systems are functioning to manufacturer specifications. Also covered will be the electrical test equipment of various manufacturers, including peak voltage meters and direct voltage adapters. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to identify the different types of outboard ignition, charging, starter, warning, lighting and accessory systems, and be proficient at diagnosing minor problems within each system.

Students will diagnose minor electrical problems within the outboard ignition, charging, starter, warning, engine management, lighting and accessory systems. They will expand their basic knowledge of electrical systems, with an emphasis on problem diagnostics of both newer technical systems and unique older systems.

Students will learn to perform service and maintenance on marine diesel engines used in pleasure craft and light commercial applications. They will become familiar with the theory of diesel compression ignition and combustion fundamentals, including the four-stroke engine cycle. Students also will learn the basic operation of a diesel engine, including essential subsystems such as air intake system, exhaust system, cooling system, lubrication system and engine accessories. Students will get hands-on experience performing entry-level inspection and preventive maintenance in accordance with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) guidelines. They also will diagnose basic system malfunctions using specially designed diesel engine training aids.

Students will become familiar with the basic operation of marine diesel fuel systems and electronic engine management used in pleasure craft and light commercial applications. They will learn about various marine diesel fuel systems, including rotary distributor pump systems, inline injection pump systems, high-pressure common rail (HPCR) systems, electronic unit injection (EUI) systems and hydraulically actuated electronic unit injection (HEUI) systems.

Students will take a hands-on approach to diagnosing operational issues with marine diesel fuel-injection systems and electronic engine management. They also will use electronic tools to diagnose and troubleshoot fuel systems and engine accessories, including electronically controlled turbochargers and compressors with basic fuel delivery systems.

Students will become familiar with Volvo Penta of the Americas products and learn to identify Volvo Penta gasoline sterndrive engines. They will learn to perform setup and maintenance tasks on these engines as well as on Volvo Penta drive systems. Students will gain hands-on experience diagnosing Delco EST ignition systems. They also will learn about Volvo Penta’s marine electronic fuel injection used on gasoline engines.

Students will be introduced to American Honda Marine products and learn to identify the various models of Honda four-stroke outboard motors. They will demonstrate an understanding of Honda’s outboard warranty policy and be introduced to factory Honda outboard special tools. Students will troubleshoot Honda’s DC-CDI and TMI ignition systems, perform maintenance tests on charging systems, and service electronic trim and tilt assemblies. They also will troubleshoot outboard fuel systems, including Honda’s programmed fuel injection system.

Students will become familiar with Yamaha Motor Corporation products and learn to identify Yamaha outboard motors. They will inspect, troubleshoot and perform tasks on Yamaha fuel systems (carburetors, electronic fuel injection and high-pressure direct injection), oil-injection systems, ignition systems Capacitor Discharge Ignition (CDI and microcomputer-CDI) and valve trains. They will learn to troubleshoot engines using a computer and Yamaha diagnostics.

Students will be introduced to Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. products and learn to identify Suzuki two-stroke and four-stroke outboard motors. Students will learn to use specialized Suzuki outboard tools and diagnostic equipment, including the Suzuki Diagnostic System (SDS). They also will diagnose Suzuki outboard ignition and charging systems, service four-stroke outboard timing belts and chains, and troubleshoot engine vibration and noise complaints.

Students will gain the knowledge and experience required to become entry-level technicians in the Mercury Marine dealer network. The course is equipped with current Mercury Marine outboard products. Students will become familiar with Mercury’s method of service administration and the emphasis placed on customer service and satisfaction. Proper warranty, pre-delivery inspection and seasonal maintenance procedures will be covered. Students will learn procedures to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair cooling, exhaust, charging and ignition systems specific to Mercury Marine products.

Students will take their manufacturer-specific skills to the next level with advanced training on the MerCruiser Marine products. They will learn procedures to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair problems related to starting systems. Students also will get hands-on experience with diagnosing, troubleshooting and repairing fuel systems, including EFI and carbureted.

Students will demonstrate key competencies related to the entire Marine program in this three-week course during which they display the application of their knowledge in a hands-on environment. Performance testing in this course may include but is not limited to gas and diesel engine components and adjustments, lower units and outdrives, rigging, service operations and parts management, fuel and lubrication systems, and testing electrical systems and engine management systems. Students will demonstrate their skills on a wide range of manufacturer engines, including Mercury Marine, MerCruiser, Honda Marine, Yamaha Marine, and Suzuki Marine.