 Using a FLIR camera to look for hot spots on wiring.
Electrical wiring problems can be difficult to see. They hide behind panels, corrode in bilges, and can spark fires if ignored. Salt air and vibration make it worse. The good news is you don’t need a full shop to catch them early. Grab a FLIR thermal camera and a multimeter. These tools turn guesswork into diagnostics.
You can start with the FLIR thermal camera. It’s like X-ray vision for heat. Scan your main distribution panel and wiring runs while the boat’s powered up under normal load—running lights, pumps, or charging. If there is no current on a circuit you will not find problems easily. If you are using the FLIR to find a problem with a bad connection that generates heat you have to be using the device. This may require you to raise and lower your anchor several times if you are trying to find a problem in the windlass circuit for example. Look for hot spots: A glowing orange/red on a connection means resistance from corrosion or loose terminals. The team at Marine Craft has spotted arcing faults this way that multimeters miss. Next, verify with a multimeter like this one from Marine Craft Supply. Set it to continuity or resistance (ohms) mode. Probe suspect spots from the FLIR scan—corroded terminals often show infinite resistance or erratic readings. We often do a “wiggle test” when looking for problems with the wiring. When your boat is sitting still there may be no issue. However, when you start banging around the ocean the wires may move revealing the problem. So grab the wires and move them around. The terminals should stay in place. There are ratings in the ABYC Standards for each wire size. But all wires should maintain good contact with light pressure and moving the wires around. Switch to voltage drop test: With the circuit loaded, measure across connections (should be under 3% drop per ABYC E-11). If you suspsect a flaky ground check for 0.2 ohms or less to the battery negative. You must check the positive and negative of a DC system. So many times we see problems on the negative side of the circuit. Once spotted, follow ABYC-recommended repairs for safe and reliable repairs. Clean corrosion with a non-residue contact cleaner, then re-terminate connections with heat-shrink tubing to seal against moisture. Always install overcurrent protection at the source and label circuits. If it’s beyond DIY, our ABYC Certified technicians can assist you. These tools and standards have saved us hours of tear-downs. At Marine Craft, we use these and other processes daily for ABYC certified world class workmanship. Spotting issues early keeps you having fun out on the water safely. We’ll see you out on the water.
Posted by Dave C., ABYC Master Technician 08 March 2026
Frequently Asked QuestionsHow can I find hidden electrical problems on my boat?Use a FLIR thermal camera to scan for hot spots while the system is under load. Look for glowing orange or red areas on connections, which indicate resistance from corrosion or loose terminals. Then verify with a multimeter using voltage drop and continuity tests. What is a voltage drop test and why does it matter?A voltage drop test measures how much voltage is lost between the battery and the device under load. ABYC E-11 recommends no more than 3% drop on most circuits. Excessive drop usually means undersized wire, corrosion, or poor connections. Why is the negative side of the circuit often the problem?Many boat owners only check the positive side. Poor grounding or high resistance on the negative return path is a very common cause of voltage drop, flickering lights, and erratic electronics. Always test both positive and negative sides. Can I use a residential multimeter on a boat?Yes for basic testing, but a true RMS multimeter is better for accurate readings on marine systems. Make sure it’s rated for marine use and always follow ABYC safety practices when working with live circuits. When should I call a professional for boat electrical work?If you find hot spots, repeated breaker trips, burning smells, or voltage drops over 3%, it’s time to call an ABYC-certified technician. These issues can quickly become fire hazards or leave you stranded. Why choose Marine Craft for electrical troubleshooting and upgrades?Our ABYC Master Technicians use professional tools like FLIR cameras and follow strict ABYC standards for every repair and upgrade. We provide world-class workmanship with a focus on safety and long-term reliability. Call 252-571-9980 to schedule your inspection.  Lithium upgrade in process
At Marine Craft we take a system wide approach to upgrading your boats electrical system. Vessels have several complex systems to keep them running smoothly. The transition from lead acid technology to lithium technology is one of the biggest upgrades you can do to your boat. No matter what anyone tells you, going from lead acid to lithium batteries is not a battery exchange, it is a system wide upgrade. We look at your system and work on the charging, discharge, user interface, and safety of the system. An ABYC Certified world class system starts with a design.
Design phase When you are ready to upgrade your vessel to a lithium battery system we will work with you to understand your goals and what capabilities you want to have at the completion of the upgrade. Are you looking to run your air conditioner all night? Do you have a dive compressor or induction cook top you want to use? We need to know your expected power use in order to gauge your battery storage, charge, and discharge requirements. This is one of the most critical aspects of an electrical upgrade that most installers skip. If your goals for this project are not understood by the system designer and installer how can they ever meet them? Our design process will span multiple phone calls, and emails as we work together to refine your design. Once we have your goals and the electrical system design completed we will review your vessels current electrical system to see where we are starting from and what we can use going forward. We will determine what charging sources you have, what monitoring systems you have, and if those systems will be compatible for a lithium system. The design phase will take on average between one to two weeks. Once we fully understand your current system and the design is agreed upon we then move onto parts procurement. Parts procurement and initial testing phase Each of our designs is unique to our owner’s preferences, goals, and vessel layout. Each of our owners expects and receives a world class system. As soon as the design is approved we will order your components. These parts will take on average one to two weeks to arrive and be inventoried. As parts for your system arrive our ABYC and Victron Certified technicians will start to assemble your system in our testing area. Each system is built and tested before it is installed in your vessel. This initial system testing allows us to identify any possible shortfalls before we begin to install the system in your vessel. We use this time to balance your batteries, make any updates to firmware for your components, confirm there are no failures of the components right out of the box, and we can personalize the components with your unique access codes or names. All of this prep work allows us to minimize the downtime of your vessel. We know you want to enjoy your boat and not have it sit in a marina during an upgrade any longer than is needed. Vessel System Installation Phase We will schedule your vessel to arrive at our facility in conjunction with the completion of our initial testing. When you turn over your vessel to us for the upgrade we will begin by removing the old components we are unable to repurpose for your upgrade. Then we will meticulously install every component, wire, fuse, circuit breaker, and terminal in accordance with ABYC and the manufacturer standards. Since we have already completed our initial testing and troubleshooting phase the Vessel System Installation phase can be completed within one or two weeks for large installations. Testing and owner handover Phase Once the new electrical lithium system is installed in your vessel and it has been QC checked by our ABYC Certified Master Technicians we will walk through the system with you. This phase will usually last one to two days. We will discharge your batteries to around 30% and demonstrate how much wattage you can now safely pull from your system. We routinely see discharge rates in excess of 8-,9,000 watts. Then we will begin recharging your battery bank with each of your charge sources so you are familiar with expected rates of charge and how and when to utilize the system. We will walk through how to access the data via Victron VRM, Bluetooth, or vessel mounted displays as appropriate. We want to ensure all of our owners are familiar and confident with our system to take it offshore and understand how this new complex system operates. Follow On Support Phase When you leave our facility with your newly upgraded system our service does not end. You are enrolled in our Marine Craft Service program for 6 months after the handover phase for no additional charge. This is a $450 value. We not only warranty our workmanship but also provide support no matter where you are in the world via email, text, call, or VRM if enabled. We want to make sure you have world class service for your Marine Craft installed system. Our five phase certified electrical upgrade process is best in class. If you are looking for your next electrical upgrade be sure to ask if your technician is certified for the installation. Do they have ABYC Master Technicians to QC their work? Have they developed a complete design that meets your goals? Do they provide handover and follow on support? If you are looking for world class upgrades to fit your boating needs there is no better place than Marine Craft. Check out our Electrical Repairs and Upgrades page to learn more about our quality upgrades. Email or give us a call today at 252-571-9980 to schedule the Design Phase of your electrical upgrade. You’ll be glad you did when you are at anchor next to a tropical island with a cold drink in your hand and hot appetizers on a plate made fresh from your ice cold freezer and induction cook top, all powered by your new Marine Craft electrical system. Check out our YouTube video on this subject here. We look forward to working with you and we’ll see you out on the water. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the first step in upgrading my boat to a lithium battery system?The design phase. We work closely with you to understand your power goals (e.g., running air conditioning overnight, induction cooking, or full off-grid capability). This involves multiple calls and emails to refine a system that meets your needs — not just swapping batteries, but a complete electrical upgrade. How long does the design phase take?Typically 1–2 weeks. We review your current system (charging sources, monitoring, compatibility) and ensure the new design aligns with ABYC standards and your specific vessel layout and usage. Do you test lithium systems before installation?Yes — we build and test the entire system in our shop first. This includes balancing batteries, firmware updates, component checks, and load testing. It minimizes downtime on your boat and catches any issues early. How long does the actual installation take?Most full lithium upgrades (with Victron components, inverters, solar, etc.) take 1–2 weeks once the vessel arrives. Pre-testing lets us move quickly and efficiently while maintaining ABYC quality. What kind of support do I get after the upgrade?You’re enrolled in our Marine Craft Service program for 6 months at no extra charge (a $450 value). We provide worldwide support via email, text, phone, or Victron VRM — plus our workmanship guarantee. We want you confident and safe on the water. Why choose Marine Craft for a lithium electrical upgrade?Our ABYC Master Technicians ensure world-class quality and attention to detail. We handle seamless 12/24/48V DC + 120/230/240V AC integration, Victron expertise, and full off-grid capability — so you can enjoy tropical anchorages with air conditioning, cooking, and more. Contact us at 252-571-9980 or visit our Electrical Repairs & Upgrades page to start.
Posted by Dave C., ABYC Master Technician 08 March 2026
Residential plumbing on a boat and why you should avoid it.
For part two of our series on recurring issues on a boat we will look at the potable water plumbing system. Most boats will have some combination of flexible hose and flexible tubing. The flexible tubing is most often PEX A or PEX B on vessels. This can come in several colors, usually red for hot potable water, blue for cold potable water and a teal for watermaker water that is filling the potable water tanks. Today we will discuss some of the pitfalls of going to your local home improvement store to pick up parts for your vessels plumbing system. The ABYC Standard H-23 governs the potable water system on vessels. While most of these standards are the same for residential plumbing as they are in the marine industry the most frequent issue you will come across if you repair a plumbing issue with home improvement parts is the size. If you walk into any home improvement store looking for PEX that may fit your vessel you will see sizes of ½” and ¾” for tubing, fittings, valves, etc. However if you were to purchase a similar fitting or tube from a marine supply store like Marine Craft Supply, Defender, or West Marine you will notice something different. The vast majority of options will be 15mm and not ½” or ¾”. Whale products will have reducers or other fittings to work to the sizes that are odd to marine use such as ½” or ¾” but the standard is 15mm. When you bring your new fittings from the home improvement store and install them on your vessel they may even appear to fit given the sizes are so similar. However, if they do not leak immediately when you install them they will leak soon. Always ensure you are using the correct sized fittings for your potable water system. If you want the ease of use of something like a Shark Bite fitting, Whale makes quick connect fittings that require no special tools. These fittings can be uninstalled and reinstalled several times in case you didn’t cut your PEX tubing perfectly to size the first time. You will see these fittings all over most modern vessels due to their ease of installation and lifespan in the marine environment. The Shark Bite fittings also may not be corrosion resistant in the marine environment. Another way to secure PEX fittings is to utilize Oetiker clamps and fittings. These fittings make a strong connection but they do require special tools to install and remove. Most boat owners do not have these in every tool kit. If you prefer this connection the tools are fairly inexpensive and easy to use. Whichever route you go to repair your vessels potable water system the first step and the most easily overlooked one is selecting the correct size. It may be hard to discern 15mm or ½” simply by looking at the tube. If you’re unsure grab some calipers and confirm before you make a run to the store. Some of the ABYC standards we discussed here are; H23.6.2 Metals and metal alloys shall be corrosion resistant, or coated to provide protection from corrosion, and mated parts shall be galvanically compatible. H23.6.5Joining compounds in potable water systems shall comply with the requirements for materials as stated inH-23.6.3. If you are looking for repairs to your marine plumbing systems let us know at Marine Craft and we can help ensure you keep the potable water in and the sea water out. You can also view our YouTube video for this subject here. We'll see you out on the water. Frequently Asked QuestionsCan I use residential plumbing parts like PEX and fittings on my boat?No — you should never use residential-grade PEX, fittings, or connections (e.g., SharkBite from home improvement stores) on a vessel. Marine environments require marine-grade, tinned, corrosion-resistant components. Residential parts often fail quickly due to vibration, saltwater exposure, and size mismatches (½" vs. standard 15 mm marine PEX). What size PEX tubing should I use on a boat?Always use marine-standard 15 mm PEX tubing (not ½" or ¾" residential sizes). Brands like Whale, John Guest, or similar marine suppliers provide the correct fittings. Using the wrong size leads to leaks — even if it seems to fit initially. Use calipers to confirm sizing before buying. Are SharkBite-style push fittings safe for boats?Only marine-grade versions (e.g., Whale Quick Connect fittings) are safe and recommended. Standard residential SharkBite fittings are not corrosion-resistant in saltwater and can fail under vibration. Whale fittings allow easy install/removal without special tools and are built for marine use. Can I use Oetiker clamps for boat plumbing?Yes — Oetiker clamps and fittings create very strong, reliable connections when installed correctly. They require a special crimping tool, but the tools are inexpensive and widely available. They’re a preferred option for many marine professionals. What does ABYC say about potable water systems on boats?ABYC Standard H-23 governs potable water systems. Key rules include using corrosion-resistant metals/alloys (H-23.6.2), galvanic compatibility, and joining compounds that meet H-23.6.3 requirements. Residential parts rarely comply, increasing leak and contamination risks. Where can I get the right marine plumbing parts and service?Shop at marine suppliers like Marine Craft Supply (www.marinecraftsupply.com) for correct 15 mm PEX, Whale fittings, Oetiker clamps, and more. For professional installation or repairs, contact Marine Craft NC at 252-571-9980 — we specialize in ABYC-compliant potable water systems so you keep fresh water in and seawater out.
Posted by Dave C., ABYC Master Technician 08 March 2026
Discover why discerning boat owners in North Carolina and beyond choose Marine Craft for world-class boat repair, upgrades, and full-service vessel care.
If you don't already know about the Chapman School of Seamanship in Stuart Florida they are the center of excellence for the recreational and professional marine industry. They provide a world class curriculum and are a Center of Excellence in the professional marine industry. Our owner Dave C. has attended several courses at Chapman and one of our technicians is currently attending their Yamaha Marine outboard course. At Marine Craft, we take technical training seriously—our team includes ABYC Master Technicians certified in Marine Electrical, Diesel, Systems, and Standards, plus specialized credentials in Yamaha outboards, NMEA electronics, Victron, and more. We always provide world class repairs and upgrades and have positioned ourselves to be the center of gravity for the recreational marine industry. We provide worldwide logistics for some of our partner manufacturers. We routinely upgrade vessels with complex electrical systems that are still intuitive for the end user that cover 12/24/48 volt DC and 120/230/240 volt AC systems. Check out our Electrical Repairs and Upgrades page to learn more. We have trained and skilled technicians for all of your outboard and inboard needs. We have our own brokerage and marine supply store onsite and online. We even have USCG captains on staff on hand to conduct vessel handling training and deliveries locally or worldwide. If you are looking for consulting with selecting and purchasing of your vessel at the beginning of this journey, parts, repairs and upgrades during your ownership, or are set to move on to new adventures and looking for the best way to let your boat go ready to immediately continue across the water with new owners look no further than Marine Craft. Check out this month’s newsletter from Chapman School of Seamanship and read about Marine Craft bringing skilled work, international business, and amazing customers to beautiful Pamlico County. Ready for unmatched quality on the water? Contact us today for your next service, upgrade, or consultation. We’ll see you out on the water. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat makes Marine Craft repairs “world class”?Our ABYC Master Technicians follow strict safety and quality standards, combined with years of hands-on experience on a wide range of vessels—from sailboats to powerboats. Do you handle complex electrical upgrades?Yes. We specialize in lithium battery systems, solar installations, inverter setups, and full rewiring projects—all done to ABYC E-11 standards. Why should I choose Marine Craft over other repair shops?We combine factory-trained expertise (Yamaha, Victron, NMEA), a quiet Merritt location with ICW access, and a genuine commitment to doing the job right the first time.
Posted by Dave C., ABYC Master Technician 08 March 2026
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