Top Reasons Why It's Worth It to Hire a Marine Electrician

A Marine Electrician Understands Water's Dangers

Do you know how electrical fires start? Poor maintenance, poor adherence to safety standards, and outdated equipment are three of the most common reasons. Unless you're an expert in marine electrical work, you're going to need help avoiding these sorts of issues.

It may seem odd discussing fires for projects around water, but boats and docks can still very much be set ablaze. This isn't to mention water's ability to carry a current, which we discuss more below.

Unfortunately, water has a habit of wearing down various electrical protection matters much faster than in something like the average home or yard setup. It takes a licensed marine electrician, like those at Buell Electric, Inc., to fully grasp how to protect against water's unique properties.

For example, here at Buell Electric, we are sure to use the highest grade weather-resistant conduits available, referred to as Schedule 80. This makes maintenance easier and the risk of fire and other electrical dangers far less of a concern.

An electrical project involving water doesn't just need to work, it needs to last. It also needs to fail in a way that hopefully won't be too dangerous. This requires decisions the average person doesn't have the expertise to make.

Water Is a Conductor, Saltwater Even Moreso

It's true that water carries a current, although the science of that fact is a bit more complicated. In truth, the real danger is water containing impurities. This doesn't just refer to water that seems "dirty" either, but rather, any water that is not purely H2O (which is to say, almost all of it).

Water with sodium content (saltwater) is highly conductive, becoming dangerous far before just tasting it would make the impurities that noticeable. Trace metal salts, which can easily get into water from pipes (especially poorly maintained ones), can also carry a current.

As a general rule, assume all water you're dealing with can at least somewhat conduct a current. If you're not an electrician trained for dealing with electricity near water, this means you should stay away if you think electricity is going to be added to that equation. The wrong decisions made in water, doubly so for saltwater, could injure or kill you, anyone nearby, and even start electrical fires.



Trying to work with electricity near water when you aren't a trained professional is a recipe for disaster. Treat this as yet another reason that, for your own safety, you should hire a marine electrician when it comes time for such electrical work.

Experts Open Your Options Up

We've often said residential and commercial marine wiring is a specialty niche within this industry. It's rare for those outside it to fully grasp all the intricacies of marine work. While we've already discussed how this applies to safety measures, it also applies to what options can be made available to you.

To give just a short list of what marine electricians like ours can offer you, a marine electrician can install:

• Marine-grade GFCI outlets
• Double-headed LED flood fixtures
• LED rope lights
• Photocells
• Waterproof time clocks
• Control switches
• Motor controls
• Underwater fish lights
• Pedestals
• Sub-panels
• And most other marine-related devices

Many of these options are going to be confusing or even dangerous for a non-expert to install. It should be fairly obvious how things like installing outlets near water, or lights under the water, could go wrong if someone doesn't know what they're doing.



A marine electrician can also tell you what is and isn't possible, based on the general condition of a given area. They understand how water can corrode and damage installations, and when maintenance costs of a project may end up much higher than you're expecting. 

Good Wiring Can Last a Very Long Time

If a marine electrician does their job, their wiring work will outlast a dock. That's a claim we at Buell Electric, Inc. don't make lightly either. We really believe in the work of our expert electricians. 

Proper installation, good parts, and just basic maintenance can guarantee your wiring will last for years. On top of that, a marine electrician can make a given system more likely to fail safely if it does fail. They can also lay out a proper inspection and maintenance routine for you to help catch problems before they become serious.

This is perhaps the real worry of non-expert work. It's too easy to install wiring so it seems correct and to be in working order for a few months or years. However, you need an expert to futureproof your wiring and to help avoid problems that may go unseen until disaster strikes.



As we've touched on throughout this article, electrical disasters are dangerous, especially when around water. They also have the potential to be expensive; a dock fire can catch nearby buildings and boats ablaze. There is no excuse for not hiring a certified marine electrician to make sure you're doing everything to avert such issues.

The Experts You Need

At Buell Electric, Inc., we've got certified marine electricians, residential electricians, commercial electricians, and more! Located in Palm Harbor and able to serve most of the surrounding area, we'd love to help you with any and all of your electrical needs by sending a good marine electrician out.



If you have questions about whether we can help with a particular issue, contact us! It's our mission to help our clients get the results their looking for safely, efficiently, and professionally. We're proud of the work we do and would love to add you to our list of happy clientele.