How to Become a Marine Electrician

Unlike commercial and residential electrician training programs that are readily available at vocational schools, training academies and electrician career training centers, marine electrician training programs are typically offered by schools of seamanship and specialized trade schools. Marine electrician training programs prepare students to work on electrical projects associated with boats, ships and other marine equipment. Students learn the basics of electrical theory, system design, maintenance protocol and acquire some specialized skills that can be used throughout their careers. Electricians who have already completed an apprenticeship program and achieved certification may end up completing marine electrician training to advance in their careers.

Marine Electrician Training Program Basics

Marine electrician training programs are typically geared towards professional mariners, certified electricians and boating enthusiasts who want to acquire the practical skills needed to operate and troubleshoot marine equipment. Most of the courses in a marine electrician training program cover system design, troubleshooting and repair, and provide summaries or overviews of different types of electrical systems in various devices, machinery and vehicles.

Completing an electrician training program can give students the advanced skills and knowledge they need to excel in their careers, and also fix common problems associated with their boats, ships and other marine-related devices.

Marine Electrician Courses

Marine electrician training programs train students on the operations and distribution of electrical power within a boat, ship and other marine equipment. Understanding how these machines work can give the student a better idea of how to install and repair different types of electrical systems, how to check their equipment and perform various tests, and how to follow a set of blueprints to install and fix different types of wiring problems.

The courses in a marine electrician training program are very specialized and may build upon existing knowledge on electrical theory. Some of the different types of courses that make a marine electrician training program include:

  • Basic Electrical Theory
  • Batteries, Banks and Circuitry
  • Multimeters and Ammeters
  • Load Testing
  • Battery Equalization
  • Hydrometer and Specific Gravity
  • Wire Ampacity and Circuit Protection
  • Crimping, Distribution Panels and Switches
  • System Design
  • Basic Troubleshooting
  • Galvanic Corrosion and Bonding

Skills Acquired with a Marine Electrician Training Program

Marine electrician training programs give students a number of advanced and specialized skills that they would otherwise not learn through a general electrician training program or other type of electrician studies. Students who complete a marine electrician training program learn how to check various types of electrical equipment, work with blueprints, install and fix various types of wiring systems in a boat, ship or other marine devices, and also connect power supply circuits to radios and other electronic equipment.

Marine electricians are also trained to use specific hand tools, soldering irons, voltmeters, ohmmeters and phase rotation or power drills to complete various tasks. Students also learn how to strip insulation from wire ends, respond to breakdowns and blown fuses, follow safety protocol when working with different electrical systems and gases, and connecting various types of equipment to the shipboard power system or generators. All individuals interested in becoming a marine electrician must have good mechanical abilities and manual dexterity. They should also be comfortable working in very small spaces, and must perform all tasks with precision.