# Marina ELCI Requirements Explained (NEC & ABYC) | Long Beach Marine Electric

> Marina ELCI requirements explained: NEC 555.35 sets 30 mA pedestal protection, ABYC E-11 calls for an onboard ELCI at 30 mA/100 ms. What it means for you.

URL: https://longbeachmarineelectric.com/guide/marina-elci-requirements/

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# Marina ELCI Requirements: What NEC 555.35 and ABYC E-11 Mean for Your Boat

Why marinas changed the rules, what your boat is expected to have, and what to do if it doesn't pass.

By Long Beach Marine Electric · Updated October 6, 2026

**Short answer:** Marina ELCI requirements come from two places. The 2023 NEC 555.35 requires marina shore-power receptacles to have ground-fault protection tripping at no more than 30 mA (100 mA on feeders), and ABYC E-11 calls for an ELCI on the boat's main shore-power disconnect with a 30 mA, 100 ms trip, unless an isolation transformer is fitted.

[Long Beach Marine Electric](/) explains marina ELCI requirements here because they’re the reason so many older boats started tripping pedestals after marina rebuilds. Two different rulebooks are involved: the National Electrical Code, which governs the marina’s wiring, and the American Boat and Yacht Council’s standards, which govern the boat.

## On the dock: NEC 555.35

The National Electrical Code’s Article 555 covers marinas, boatyards and docking facilities. The 2023 edition, section 555.35, requires:

-   **Ground-fault protection not exceeding 30 mA** on each shore-power receptacle.
-   **Ground-fault protection not exceeding 100 mA** on feeders.
-   GFCI protection on other dock receptacles of 60 A or less, single-phase.

The code cites ABYC Foundation research identifying 30 mA as an acceptable threshold to prevent most electric shock drowning incidents. When a marina rebuilds docks or replaces pedestals, the new equipment is built to this standard. Long Beach’s Alamitos Bay Marina, rebuilt basin by basin from 2011, is a local example.

## On the boat: ABYC E-11

ABYC E-11, the standard for AC and DC electrical systems on boats, calls for an **ELCI (equipment leakage circuit interrupter) or Type A RCD at the main shore-power disconnect**:

-   **Trip level:** maximum 30 mA
-   **Trip time:** maximum 100 ms
-   **Exception:** a boat with an isolation transformer within 10 feet of the shore-power inlet

ABYC standards are voluntary for owners, but builders design to them, and surveyors and insurers measure boats against them. An older boat without an ELCI is a common survey finding.

## What this means for your boat

**If your boat trips the pedestal**, it’s leaking more than 30 mA. Adding an onboard ELCI won’t fix that, because the ELCI detects the same leak and will trip too. Find the fault first. See [why a boat trips the shore power breaker](/guide/boat-tripping-shore-power-breaker/).

**If your boat doesn’t trip but has no ELCI**, adding one gives you leak protection on your own boat. You’ll know immediately if a fault develops, rather than finding out at the next marina. A 50 A ELCI main breaker such as the Blue Sea C-Series lists at about $719 before installation. Most installs take 2–4 hours.

**If you have a yacht with an isolation transformer** near the inlet, the transformer meets the requirement.

## A note on saltwater

The Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association describes electric shock drowning as happening in fresh water, where the human body conducts electricity better than the water around it. Salt water conducts better, so current tends to stay in the water rather than pass through a swimmer. That doesn’t make leaking boats safe in Long Beach marinas. Current in the water also drives stray-current corrosion, and leaks are a fire risk on board. But it’s why the pedestal rule matters everywhere, not only in lakes.

## Bottom line

Marinas must protect pedestals at 30 mA, and ABYC calls for a matching 30 mA ELCI on your boat. If you trip, fix the leak. If you don’t have an ELCI, add one. See [shore power repair](/shore-power-repair/) or call **(562) 374-7233**.

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## Sources

-   [NEC 2023 §555.35 excerpt (Mike Holt)](https://www.mikeholt.com/files/PDF/23_UNEC2_555.35.pdf)
-   [Cruising World: ABYC E-11 ELCI requirement](https://www.cruisingworld.com/?p=40379)
-   [Panbo: GFCI and ELCI breakers can be confounding](https://panbo.com/gfci-and-elci-breakers-can-be-confounding-but-heed-their-warning/)
-   [Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association: FAQ](https://www.electricshockdrowning.org/esd--faq.html)
-   [Sea and Land Supply: Blue Sea C-Series 50A ELCI price](https://seaandlandsupply.com/products/blue-sea-c-series-elci-main-circuit-breaker-double-pole-120v-ac-50a-3103)

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## Related questions

### Is an onboard ELCI legally required on my boat?

ABYC standards are voluntary for recreational boat owners, but builders follow them and surveyors and insurers check against them. The marina's pedestal protection is required by the electrical code, and that's what exposes leaking boats.

### What's the difference between an ELCI and a GFCI?

Both detect current leaking to ground. A GFCI trips at about 5 mA and protects people at individual outlets. An ELCI trips at a higher level (30 mA on a boat's main) and protects the whole shore-power system.

### Does an isolation transformer replace the ELCI?

Under ABYC E-11, an isolation transformer installed within 10 feet of the shore-power inlet removes the requirement for a separate onboard ELCI.

## More guides

-   [Why Does My Boat Keep Tripping the Shore Power Breaker?](/guide/boat-tripping-shore-power-breaker/)
-   [Burnt Shore Power Plug: Is It Dangerous and What Should You Do?](/guide/burnt-shore-power-plug/)
-   [Shore Power Installation Cost: Inlets, Cords, ELCI and Isolators (2026)](/guide/shore-power-installation-cost/)

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