Did you know there are almost twelve million boats found in the United States? Whether it’s for recreation or maritime transport, most boats require some form of electricity to run properly.
If your boat is experiencing electrical problems, you shouldn’t contact any old electrician. Instead, you should pick one that specializes in marine wiring. Still not convinced?
In this article, we’ll go over all the reasons why you should hire a professional marine electrician. That way, you can stay safe when you’re on the water. Let’s get started!
What is a Professional Marine Electrician?
Before we go over the reasons to hire a marine electrician it’s important to first understand who they are and what they do.
As their name suggests, a marine electrician is someone who both installs and performs maintenance on their electrical systems found in boats and ships.
Oftentimes, marine electricians are working with electricity in the water. So, they need to know how to do this safely. Typically, their job includes things like installing wiring, engines, batteries, navigation equipment, and radio equipment.
However, they may also work with existing equipment to identify a problem like an electrical short or faulty radio. Or, they may work to upgrade an existing system with new parts.
Now that we know more about what they do, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you should hire them.
Reason One: Water and Electricity Don’t Mix
This is the main reason why a standard electrician just won’t cut it for a boat or ship’s electrical system. It’s also the reason why you should never try to mess with a boat’s electrical system by yourself.
Water is a huge conductor of electricity. This is especially true of saltwater. Marine electrical work around water without training is a recipe for disaster. The person working could be injured, or even killed, by simple accidents.
What’s worse, so could everyone around them. So you want to make sure you go with someone who has specific safety training when working in or around water.
Reason Two: Prevents Potential Accidents
Old marine electrical systems, or ones that have been installed poorly, are prone to accidents. Sometimes an accident might just shut down the electricity of the entire boat.
However, more commonly it could start an electrical fire. This idea of a fire in the middle of water often seems ridiculous to new boat owners. But, the reality is that they happen often.
And the last place you want to be when your ship is ablaze in the middle of a body of water. Regular maintenance from a marine electrician is vital for preventing these types of accidents.
They make sure all your equipment meets safety standards. And, if anything is out-of-date, they’ll help you with replacing it.
Reason Three: Ensures Liability Coverage
If your boat is damaged due to electrical problems, you might expect insurance to cover it. But, remember that insurance companies will do everything in their power to shift the blame back on you.
If you hire a regular electrician to maintain your boat’s electrical system, you’re asking for trouble. This is especially true if they aren’t insured. Insurance companies can use this fact to make you cover the costs.
But, if you go with a professional marine electrician, you’ve shown that you did everything you can to make sure electrical systems are in order. This goes a long way for liability coverage in the event of an accident.
Reason Four: Gives You More Options
Let’s say you want more advanced electronics on your boat or ship. A professional marine electrician brings the know-how to accomplish these features.
Here are just some of the additional add0ons that these pros can bring to the table:
- LED flood light fixtures
- Underwater fish lights
- Motor controls
- Photocells
- Rope lights
- GFCI outlets
If a regular electrician tried to handle these types of installation, they could easily get hurt.
Reason Five: Wiring Will Last for Years
Remember that it costs a lot more to replace an electrical system than it does to maintain it. So, if you get a certified marine professional to check in on your wiring now and then, it can last for years.
However, it’s important to remember that every electrical system will fail eventually. But, a specialized electrician can make sure that when it does fail it does so safely.
How to Find an Electrician for Marine Wiring
Hopefully, by now we’ve convinced you of the importance of finding a proper marine electrician. But, exactly how do you find a good one? The most important thing is to find one that specializes in boats and ships.
They should also have been doing it for a while. An inexperienced marine electrician is likely to do a poor job which can cause electrical accidents. Ideally, you want someone with decades of experience working with ships and boats.
Finally, you want someone well-rounded. It should matter if you have a simple recreational boat or a large transportation ship, they should still be able to help.
For example, this marine electrician can handle any residential or commercial ship, big or small. Finally, you want to make sure they have good reviews. This will give you a good sense of the average customer’s experience.
Enjoy Learning About Marine Electricians? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped convince you to hire an electrician that specializes in marine wiring. It’s true, the customization and money-saving are good reasons to call marine electricians.
But, at the end of the day, the main reason should be to keep you safe on the water. If you found this article informative, then you’re going to love some of the other topics that we have.
We have categories in everything from pets to real estate. So, keep reading to learn more.
