# Boat Rewiring Long Beach | Panel Upgrades to ABYC E-11 | Long Beach Marine Electric > Boat rewiring and AC/DC panel upgrades in Long Beach: tinned marine cable, sealed connections and labeled circuits to ABYC E-11. Free estimate. Call today. URL: https://longbeachmarineelectric.com/boat-rewiring/ Upgrade · Free estimate # Boat Rewiring & Panel Upgrades in Long Beach Blackened automotive wire, a panel nobody can read, and faults that keep moving? Circuits re-run in tinned marine cable with new panels and labels, to ABYC E-11. [Call (562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233) [Get a Free Estimate](/contact/) ![Technician crimping wire at an open DC breaker panel inside a sailboat cabin](/images/photos/technician-crimping-wire-sailboat-cabin-dc-panel-1408.webp) - ABYC E-11 AC & DC systems - Tinned UL 1426 marine cable - 3% / 10% voltage-drop sizing - Labeled circuits & wiring notes - Overcurrent protection sized to wire - Free estimate within 24 hours Last updated: October 6, 2026 [Long Beach Marine Electric](/) connects boat owners with licensed, insured marine electricians for boat rewiring: re-running failed circuits, replacing aging AC and DC panels, and bringing decades of add-on wiring back to one clean, labeled, documented system built to ABYC E-11. Rewiring is usually done in stages, starting with the circuits that matter most, so you can spread the work and cost over seasons. ## What happens on the first visit 1. A survey of the panels, main feeds and the circuits giving trouble, including cutting back a sample wire end to see how far corrosion runs inside the jacket. 2. A list of every load on the boat and which circuit feeds it. On older boats this is often the first time anyone has written it down. 3. Voltage-drop checks on critical circuits: navigation lights, bilge pumps and electronics. 4. Review of overcurrent protection: is each wire protected by a fuse or breaker sized to the wire, close to its source? 5. A staged plan with priorities and a fixed price for each stage. ## Signs a boat needs rewiring, not another repair - **Black or green copper** when a wire is cut back, especially on untinned automotive wire. Corrosion travels inside the insulation. - **Faults that move.** Fixing one connection makes another circuit misbehave. - **A panel full of add-ons**, with multiple accessories stacked on one breaker and unlabeled wires piggybacked on terminals. - **Survey findings** such as unprotected circuits, non-marine wire or household components. - **Heat damage**: discolored insulation, melted terminal blocks, or a breaker that runs warm. ## What 'built to ABYC E-11' means in practice ABYC E-11 is the U.S. standard for AC and DC electrical systems on boats. For a rewire, it means tinned, fine-stranded copper cable listed for marine use (UL 1426), conductors sized so voltage drop stays within **3% on critical circuits and 10% on non-critical ones**, overcurrent protection sized to the wire and installed close to the power source, wire supported and protected from chafe, and ignition-protected components anywhere gasoline vapor can collect. It's also what surveyors check against, which matters when you sell or insure the boat. ## Staging the work A full rewire of a 35- to 40-foot boat is a large job, so most owners stage it. Usually that means the battery and main DC distribution first, then critical circuits (bilge, navigation lights, electronics), then the AC panel and shore-power path, then cabin circuits. Each stage leaves the boat safer and fully working. See the [boat rewiring cost guide](/guide/boat-rewiring-cost/) for how the work is priced. ## Insurance, warranty and who pays Rewiring is owner-paid. Insurers generally treat aging wiring as maintenance, though some require survey electrical findings fixed before renewing coverage. Each stage gets a fixed written price before work starts. Typical labor rates in Long Beach are $140–$200/hr. ## What's included - Wiring survey and load inventory - Staged rewiring plan with priorities - Tinned UL 1426 cable throughout - New AC/DC distribution panels - Overcurrent protection sized to wire - Sealed, heat-shrunk connections - Labeled circuits at both ends - Updated wiring notes for the owner ## DIY vs cheap fix vs proper rewiring DIY Cheap operator Proper marine work Wire Household or automotive Untinned stranded Tinned UL 1426, sized for 3% / 10% drop Connections Twist-on, tape Bare crimps Ratcheted crimps, adhesive heat-shrink Protection Missing Sized to the load Sized to the wire, near the source Routing Loose, chafing Zip-tied to hoses Supported, grommeted, away from heat Documentation None None Labeled both ends, wiring notes ## Related resources - [Boat Rewiring Cost: How Much to Rewire a Boat in 2026?](/guide/boat-rewiring-cost/) - [ABYC Electrical Standards: What They Require and Why Your Boat Is Measured Against Them](/guide/abyc-electrical-standards/) - [DIY Boat Wiring vs Hiring a Marine Electrician: Where to Draw the Line](/guide/diy-boat-wiring-vs-marine-electrician/) ## Sources - [Wiring Harness News: electrical standards for marine wiring](https://wiringharnessnews.com/electrical-standards-for-marine-wiring/) - [Trawler Forum: 2026 marine electrician labor rates](https://www.trawlerforum.com/threads/labor-rate-for-high-quality-electrical-work-by-abyc-certified-marine-electrician.78378/) Survey flagged wiring? Get a staged plan and a fixed price for each stage. [(562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233) Mon–Sat 7am–6pm · Free estimate within 24 hours Standards applied - ABYC E-11 (AC & DC systems) - UL 1426 boat cable - SAE J1171 ignition protection - 33 CFR 183 (USCG) [Estimate your cost](/tools/marine-electrical-cost-estimator/) How it works ## How boat rewiring works 1. 01 ### Survey Panels, feeds and problem circuits inspected. Call or send the form for a same-day callback. 2. 02 ### Staged plan Priorities set by safety first, with a fixed price for each stage. 3. 03 ### Rewire Circuits re-run in tinned cable, protected, supported and labeled. 4. 04 ### Test & document Voltage drop tested under load; you get labeled panels and updated wiring notes. Get boat rewiring at your slip today Same-day callback. Written price before any work. [Call (562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233) [Get a Free Estimate](/contact/) Straight answers ## Boat Rewiring questions ### How do I know if my boat needs rewiring? Cut back a wire end on a problem circuit. If the copper is black or green beyond the first inch, or faults keep moving from circuit to circuit, repairs are chasing corrosion and a staged rewire of the affected circuits will cost less in the long run. ### Can I rewire my boat in stages? Yes, and most owners do. Start with battery and main distribution, then critical circuits like the bilge and navigation lights, then AC and cabin circuits. Each stage is priced and completed on its own. ### Why can't I use automotive or household wire on a boat? Automotive wire is usually untinned and corrodes from the inside in salt air. Household wire is solid-core and cracks with vibration. ABYC E-11 calls for tinned, fine-stranded marine cable, which is also what surveyors look for. ### How long does a boat rewire take? A single circuit can take an hour or two. A main panel replacement is often one to two days. A full rewire of a cruising boat can run weeks, which is another reason to stage it. ### Who does the work, and how do I know they’re qualified? Long Beach Marine Electric is a free service that connects you with an independent, licensed and insured marine electrician who holds the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) Marine Electrical Certification. Ask your electrician for proof of license and insurance before work starts. ## Related services [Boat Electrical RepairDead circuits, flickering panels, intermittent faults. A dockside electrician traces the fault with a meter and a voltage-drop test, then fixes it at your slip.](/boat-electrical-repair/) [Boat LED LightingNavigation lights to COLREGs, underwater lights, and cabin and deck LED retrofits that cut DC load.](/boat-lighting-installation/) [Marine Electrical InspectionPre-purchase electrical checks and repairs for the electrical items your surveyor or insurer flagged, measured against ABYC.](/marine-electrical-inspection/) Get a staged rewiring plan for your boat [Call (562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233) [Get a Free Estimate](/contact/)