# Boat Rewiring Cost (2026) | How Much to Rewire a Boat | Long Beach Marine Electric > Boat rewiring cost in 2026: single circuits from a few hundred dollars, panels in the low thousands, full rewires much more. Priced by stage with the math shown. URL: https://longbeachmarineelectric.com/guide/boat-rewiring-cost/ Cost Guide # Boat Rewiring Cost: How Much to Rewire a Boat in 2026? Rewiring is priced by scope and hours. Here's how the stages break down, and why most owners rewire in stages. By Long Beach Marine Electric · Updated October 6, 2026 **Short answer:** Boat rewiring cost is driven by labor hours at $140–$200/hr in Long Beach. Re-running a single circuit typically costs $200–$600, replacing a DC or AC distribution panel about $1,500–$4,000 with parts, and a full rewire of a 35–40 ft boat often runs well into five figures, which is why most owners rewire in stages. [Long Beach Marine Electric](/) connects boat owners with marine electricians for rewiring, and this guide explains boat rewiring cost the way the work is actually priced: by scope and hours. No published survey of Long Beach rewiring prices exists, so the ranges below are **typical labor hours multiplied by the $140–$200 hourly rate** that 2026 marine-electrician rate data supports, plus materials. They’re estimates to plan with. Your electrician prices each stage in writing. ## Rewiring cost by stage Stage Typical labor Labor at $140–$200/hr Plus materials Re-run one circuit (e.g. bilge or nav light) 1–3 hrs $140–$600 Cable, terminals, breaker Battery cables, switch and main DC fusing 4–8 hrs $560–$1,600 Heavy cable, fuses, switch DC distribution panel replacement 8–16 hrs $1,120–$3,200 Panel, bus bars, breakers AC panel and shore-power path 8–16 hrs $1,120–$3,200 Panel, ELCI, inlet, isolator Cabin and accessory circuits Varies by count Varies Cable, fixtures A complete rewire of a 35- to 40-foot cruising boat is the sum of these stages and more, and it commonly runs into hundreds of labor hours. That puts it well into five figures, which is why it’s normally staged over a season or two. ## Why rewiring costs what it does The wire itself is a small part of the bill. Tinned, UL 1426 marine cable costs more than automotive wire, but the hours go into: - **Tracing** what each existing wire does, on boats where decades of add-ons were never documented. - **Access**: opening lockers, headliners and engine compartments, and putting them back. - **Routing and support**: cable runs secured along their length, protected where they pass bulkheads, kept away from heat and moving parts. - **Termination**: ratcheted crimps and adhesive heat-shrink on every end, with overcurrent protection sized to the wire. - **Labeling and testing**: both ends labeled, voltage drop tested on critical circuits under load. ## Staging a rewire Most owners rewire in this order, so each stage leaves the boat safer and fully working: 1. **Batteries and main DC distribution.** This is where the highest currents and the most fire risk are. 2. **Critical circuits**: bilge pumps, navigation lights and electronics, held to ABYC E-11’s 3% voltage-drop limit. 3. **AC panel and shore-power path**, including an ELCI and galvanic protection. 4. **Cabin and accessory circuits.** ## When repair beats rewiring Not every old boat needs a full rewire. If cutting back problem wires shows clean copper an inch or two in, targeted repairs are fine. If the copper is black or green deep inside the jacket, faults keep moving, or a surveyor has flagged non-marine wire and missing overcurrent protection, staged rewiring costs less over time than chasing faults one at a time. ## Bottom line Budget **a few hundred dollars per circuit, low thousands per panel, and five figures for a complete rewire**, and spread the work across stages. Ask for a written price per stage. Start with a survey of the panels and problem circuits: see [boat rewiring](/boat-rewiring/) or call **(562) 374-7233** for a same-day callback. Want a real number for your boat? Get a same-day callback and a free estimate within 24 hours. [Call (562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233)[Request an estimate](#estimate) ## Sources - [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/) - [Wiring Harness News: ABYC E-11 wiring standards](https://wiringharnessnews.com/electrical-standards-for-marine-wiring/) [ Related service Boat Rewiring Aging automotive wire replaced with tinned marine cable, new AC/DC panels and labeled circuits, built to ABYC E-11. See the service](/boat-rewiring/) Free estimate Two quick steps. A callback the same day. Faster by phone: [(562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233) Straight answers ## Related questions ### How much does it cost to get a boat rewired? It depends on scope. Single circuits run a few hundred dollars; a panel replacement low thousands; a complete rewire of a cruising boat often well into five figures. Labor is the main cost, at $140–$200/hr in Long Beach. ### Why is rewiring so labor-intensive? Old wire has to be traced, removed or abandoned safely, and new cable routed through bulkheads, lockers and headliners, supported, protected from chafe, terminated and labeled. Access, not the wire itself, drives the hours. ### Can I save money by doing part of the rewire myself? Owners sometimes do removal and access work, such as emptying lockers and removing trim, which saves billed time. Terminations, overcurrent protection and AC work are best left to the electrician so the result meets ABYC E-11. ## More guides - [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/) Get a marine electrician to your slip Same-day callback · Written price before work. [Call (562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233) [Get a Free Estimate](/contact/)