Should I replace the shore power cord and the inlet at the same time?

If either shows heat damage, yes. A burned plug end damages a new inlet, and a damaged inlet damages a new plug. Replacing the mating pair together costs less than replacing one twice.

Is a SmartPlug worth the extra cost over a standard twist-lock?

For boats that see heavy continuous loads, such as liveaboards and boats running heaters or A/C, it often is. The locking, sealed design resists the corrosion and loose contacts that make standard connectors overheat. For a lightly used boat, a quality standard inlet is fine.

Does adding an ELCI fix pedestal tripping?

No. An onboard ELCI detects leakage, the same thing the pedestal detects. If the boat is leaking current, an ELCI will trip too. Find and fix the leak first, then add the ELCI for protection.

Shore Power Installation Cost (2026 Prices) | Long Beach Marine Electric

Short answer: Shore power installation cost depends on the job: replacing a 30A inlet runs about $180–$340 for the interior or $750–$1,175 for a SmartPlug inlet and 50 ft cord, a 50A ELCI main breaker about $1,000–$1,520, and a galvanic isolator about $885–$1,205 installed, at $140–$200/hr labor.

Long Beach Marine Electric publishes the shore power installation cost of the most common dockside jobs so you can budget before an electrician comes aboard. Each range below is published retail parts prices plus a typical labor time at Long Beach rates of $140–$200 per hour. They are estimates, not quotes. Access and boat condition change the hours, and your electrician gives a fixed written price after seeing the boat.

Shore power job costs at a glance

Job	Parts (published retail)	Typical labor	Estimated installed
30A inlet interior replacement	~$36 (Marinco)	1–1.5 hrs	$180–$340
30A SmartPlug inlet + 50 ft cord	~$540–$575	1.5–3 hrs	$750–$1,175
50A ELCI main breaker	~$719 (Blue Sea C-Series)	2–4 hrs	$1,000–$1,520
Galvanic isolator (fail-safe)	~$605 (ProMariner ProSafeFS)	2–3 hrs	$885–$1,205
Leakage diagnosis before any of these	None	1–2 hrs	$140–$400

Inlets and cords

The inlet is the most frequently replaced shore-power part on boats in Long Beach marinas. When an inlet’s contacts lose spring tension or corrode, resistance rises, the connection heats under load, and the plastic browns or melts. A heat-damaged inlet should be replaced, not cleaned. The cord end that mated with it should be replaced at the same time.

On many Marinco inlets the interior can be replaced on its own, which is the cheapest repair. Boats that run heavy loads for hours, such as liveaboards or boats with heaters and air conditioning, are often better served by a sealed locking system such as SmartPlug. At roughly $540–$575 for a 30A inlet-and-50 ft cord combination, it’s the bigger spend, but it’s designed to resist the corrosion that cooks standard connectors.

ELCI main breakers

An ELCI (equipment leakage circuit interrupter) at the boat’s main shore-power disconnect trips when more than 30 mA leaks, within 100 milliseconds. It’s what the current ABYC E-11 standard calls for. Surveyors and insurers increasingly flag its absence, especially on boats in marinas whose pedestals already have 30 mA protection under NEC 555.35. A 50A ELCI main breaker lists at about $719. Installation replaces the existing main breaker, which takes about 2–4 hours depending on panel access.

One caution: an ELCI doesn’t stop a boat tripping the pedestal. It detects the same leak. If the pedestal trips, find and fix the leak first. See why a boat trips the shore power breaker.

Galvanic isolators

A galvanic isolator in the shore-power ground blocks the low-voltage galvanic current that flows between boats sharing a marina’s ground, while still passing fault current safely. A fail-safe, ABYC A-28-compliant model such as the ProMariner ProSafeFS lists at about $605. Installation is usually 2–3 hours, mounted close to the inlet. Larger yachts sometimes use an isolation transformer instead, at a higher cost. See galvanic isolator vs isolation transformer.

Adding shore power to a boat that has none

Boats without shore power need an inlet, cord, a main breaker (ideally an ELCI), an AC panel or outlets, and correctly sized wiring between them. Using the parts prices above plus about 6–12 hours of labor, a basic 30A system typically lands somewhere around $2,000–$3,700, depending on how far the panel is from the inlet and how many circuits you add. This is the job where a written design and fixed price matter most.

What changes the price

30A vs 50A. 50A parts cost more, and 125/250V systems carry more conductors.
Access. An inlet with clear access behind it is quick. One behind a headliner or cabinetry is not.
What the test finds. If a leakage test finds a neutral-ground bond or a failed appliance, that repair is added.
Parts brand. Like-for-like replacement is cheapest. Upgrading to sealed locking connectors costs more and lasts longer.

Bottom line

Most shore power jobs in Long Beach land between $180 and about $1,500 installed, and a full new system around $2,000–$3,700. Start with a leakage test if the pedestal is tripping. For a price on your boat, see shore power repair or call (562) 374-7233 for a same-day callback.

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Shore Power Installation Cost: Inlets, Cords, ELCI and Isolators (2026)