Motorboat Operators

• Summary

• Details

Work Activities

• Secure boats to docks with mooring lines, and cast off lines to enable departure.
• Clean boats and repair hulls and superstructures, using hand tools, paint, and brushes.
• Tow, push, or guide other boats, barges, logs, or rafts.
• Follow safety procedures to ensure the protection of passengers, cargo, and vessels.
• Maintain desired courses, using compasses or electronic navigational aids.
• Issue directions for loading, unloading, and seating in boats.
• Maintain equipment such as range markers, fire extinguishers, boat fenders, lines, pumps, and fittings.
• Issue directions for loading, unloading, and seating in boats.
• Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms to guide boats on desired courses.
• Oversee operation of vessels used for carrying passengers, motor vehicles, or goods across rivers, harbors, lakes, and coastal waters.
• Service motors by performing tasks such as changing oil and lubricating parts.
• Organize and direct the activities of crew members.
• Take depth soundings in turning basins.
• Clean boats and repair hulls and superstructures, using hand tools, paint, and brushes.
• Direct safety operations in emergency situations.
• Arrange repairs, fuel, and supplies for vessels.
• Report any observed navigational hazards to authorities.
• Follow safety procedures to ensure the protection of passengers, cargo, and vessels.
• Perform general labor duties such as repairing booms.

Skills

• Systems Analysis
  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
• Reading Comprehension
  • Reading work-related information.
• Active Listening
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
• Critical Thinking
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
• Repairing
  • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
• Troubleshooting
  • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
• Equipment Selection
  • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
• Programming
  • Writing computer programs.
• Equipment Maintenance
  • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
• Coordination
  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
• Writing
  • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
• Science
  • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
• Quality Control Analysis
  • Testing how well a product or service works.
• Active Learning
  • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
• Complex Problem Solving
  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
• Service Orientation
  • Looking for ways to help people.
• Operations Monitoring
  • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
• Persuasion
  • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
• Management of Personnel Resources
  • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
• Systems Evaluation
  • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
• Mathematics
  • Using math to solve problems.
• Monitoring
  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
• Time Management
  • Managing your time and the time of other people.
• Operations Analysis
  • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
• Social Perceptiveness
  • Understanding people's reactions.
• Management of Financial Resources
  • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
• Management of Material Resources
  • Managing equipment and materials.
• Technology Design
  • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
• Negotiation
  • Bringing people together to solve differences.
• Installation
  • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
• Instructing
  • Teaching people how to do something.
• Speaking
  • Talking to others.
• Operation and Control
  • Using equipment or systems.
• Learning Strategies
  • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
• Judgment and Decision Making
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

Abilities

• Gross Body Coordination
  • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
• Visual Color Discrimination
  • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
• Oral Comprehension
  • Listening and understanding what people say.
• Speech Recognition
  • Recognizing spoken words.
• Peripheral Vision
  • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
• Depth Perception
  • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
• Glare Sensitivity
  • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
• Information Ordering
  • Ordering or arranging things.
• Finger Dexterity
  • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
• Deductive Reasoning
  • Using rules to solve problems.
• Spatial Orientation
  • Knowing where things are around you.
• Sound Localization
  • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
• Perceptual Speed
  • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
• Selective Attention
  • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
• Oral Expression
  • Communicating by speaking.
• Far Vision
  • Seeing details that are far away.
• Reaction Time
  • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
• Response Orientation
  • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
• Category Flexibility
  • Grouping things in different ways.
• Dynamic Strength
  • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
• Trunk Strength
  • Using your lower back and stomach.
• Extent Flexibility
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Hearing Sensitivity
  • Telling the difference between sounds.
• Visualization
  • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
• Speed of Limb Movement
  • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
• Static Strength
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
• Multilimb Coordination
  • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
• Memorization
  • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
• Speed of Closure
  • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
• Fluency of Ideas
  • Coming up with lots of ideas.
• Flexibility of Closure
  • Seeing hidden patterns.
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
• Time Sharing
  • Doing two or more things at the same time.
• Inductive Reasoning
  • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
• Control Precision
  • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
• Rate Control
  • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
• Auditory Attention
  • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
• Dynamic Flexibility
  • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Number Facility
  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
• Near Vision
  • Seeing details up close.
• Night Vision
  • Seeing at night or under low light.
• Stamina
  • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
• Mathematical Reasoning
  • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
• Problem Sensitivity
  • Noticing when problems happen.
• Written Comprehension
  • Reading and understanding what is written.
• Originality
  • Creating new and original ideas.
• Written Expression
  • Communicating by writing.
• Manual Dexterity
  • Holding or moving items with your hands.
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
• Explosive Strength
  • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
• Speech Clarity
  • Speaking clearly.

Knowledge

• Telecommunications
  • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Foreign Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
• 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.
• Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Philosophy and Theology
  • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Administrative
  • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• 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 methods.
• Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• 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.
• History and Archeology
  • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• Sociology and Anthropology
  • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
• Building and Construction
  • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
• Geography
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Personnel and Human Resources
  • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
• Biology
  • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Mathematics
  • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• 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.
• Communications and Media
  • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Physics
  • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
• Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Computers and Electronics
  • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• 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.
• Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Transportation
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Food Production
  • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• Fine Arts
  • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Economics and Accounting
  • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• 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.
• English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• 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

Education

Postsecondary certificate

Work Experience

Less than 5 years work experience

Training

No on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

×

Education and Training Opportunities

• Seattle Central College
  1701 Broadway Avenue, Seattle WA 98122
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 206-934-3800
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://seattlecentral.edu/
  Program Name
  Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer
  Length
  At least one but less than two years
  Award Level
  Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years
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Pay

Washington Annual Salary

62110/yr

Washington Hourly Wage

29.86/hr

Washington Employment Trends

Currently Employed

80

Yearly Projected Openings

10

Personality

Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They do well at jobs that need:

• Dependability
• Concern for Others
• Achievement/Effort
• Initiative
• Persistence
• Independence

Tools

• Adjustable wrenches
• Anchor lines
• Binoculars
• Blowers
• Boat Trailer
• Boathooks
• Carbon monoxide analyzer
• Collection tanks
• Complex controlling devices
• Depth indicators
• Desktop computers
• Dewatering pumps
• Direction finding compasses
• Electrical jumper cable
• Emergency dye signals
• Exterior ship or boat lighting
• Fire alarm systems
• Fire extinguishers
• Fire suppression system
• Flags or accessories
• Flame arrestor
• Flares
• Gasoline engines
• Gasoline outboard motor
• Glow stick or light stick
• Grease guns
• Hand sprayers
• Insulated or flotation suits
• Kerosene or propane or natural gas or butane lantern
• Life rings
• Life vests or preservers
• Lightning protection apparatus and accessories
• Marine craft communications systems
• Marine rudders
• Marine signaling systems
• Marine steering gear
• Masks or fins or snorkels
• Metallic mirrors
• Mobile medical services first aid kits
• Nylon rope
• Oil can
• Paddles
• Radarbased surveillance systems
• Radio access equipment
• Radio beacon
• Recreational motorboats
• Reflective apparel or accessories
• Rescue light
• Rope float lines
• Safety chains
• Safety horns
• Sail booms
• Shaft collar
• Smoke signal device
• Sonars
• Strobe or warning lights
• Sump pumps
• Swivel carabiner
• Throttle
• Tie down anchors
• Tillers
• Towing hook
• Two way radios
• Utility knives
• Winches
• Wire brushes
• Wire rope

Technology

• Analytical or scientific software
• Expert system software
• Internet browser software
• Map creation software
• Mobile location based services software