What is the right way to hire an marine engine repair technician/mechanic?
Engine problems/failures are usually the result of a poor preventive maintenance program, and quite often occur to engines which have not had a major tune-up / inspection in years. Before spending a lot of time and money diagnosing one mysterious problem after another, make sure the engine has had a recent major inspection/tune-up/service as per the engine service manual preventive maintenance program… and if it hasn’t, perform one right away. When a mechanic is being contracted to work on your boat ask for proof of mechanic’s license, liability insurance, and workers’ compensation board registration before letting he / she on board. Get a written quotation for the work you want done. Clarify the tax status of the mechanic, and what taxes you will be paying. If the mechanic offers to work for cash to avoid any tax record, remember that a person who offers to make an arrangement to avoid paying provincial and / or federal tax is obviously not honest, and will be just as quick to steal
