A boat electrical survey is a full inspection of a boat's AC and DC electrical systems, measured against ABYC standards. It shows what's safe, what isn't, and what will need attention, before it becomes a problem on the water.
Who it's for
- Buyers: a general marine survey covers the whole boat, but often only briefly checks the electrical system. An electrical survey goes deeper, so you know what you're buying and can negotiate repairs before closing.
- Owners: a baseline for an older boat, or a plan before a refit, so upgrades are done in the right order.
- Insurance: documentation when an insurer asks for electrical findings to be addressed.
Boats coming to Lake Michigan
Many boats in Chicago harbors were bought on the coast, in Florida or on other lakes. A boat that lived in salt water may still have zinc anodes and corrosion that doesn't suit fresh water. A boat that spent years in storage may hide cold and moisture damage. We look for these specifically when a boat is new to the lake.
What we inspect
- Batteries, battery switches, cabling and overcurrent protection
- DC and AC distribution panels, breakers and wiring condition
- Charging sources: chargers, inverters, alternators and solar
- Shore power inlet, cord, polarity, isolation and leakage to ground
- Bonding system and corrosion protection
- Generator electrical connections and transfer switching
- Electronics power supply and wiring
The report
You get a written report with photos that lists findings by priority: safety issues to fix now, items to plan for, and items in good shape. If you want us to do the repairs, we quote them separately, and you're free to take the report to anyone.
Request a quote for a survey. Tell us the boat, where it's kept and whether you're buying, selling or maintaining it. If you're buying, tell us your closing timeline too.