A Quick Guide on Marine Cabling

Due to harsh conditions in marine environments, marine-grade cabling is required for use on all water vessel installations. All marine grade cable should meet or exceed all UL 1426, US Coast Guard Charter boat (CFR Title 46) and ABYC standards. The best manufacturers produce cable that stays flexible even in extreme cold (-40°F / -40°C), resists salt water, battery acid, oil, gasoline and ultra-violet radiation and utilizes stranding that resists fatigue due to vibration and flexing.

Cable flexibility is something to consider when selecting the appropriate cable. Two major components influence the flexibility of a cable: wire strand size and jacket hardness. With wire strand size, as wire strand size decreases, overall cable flexibility increases. For boat cable, UL 1426 requires at least 19 individual strands for cables 16 gauge and larger. Jacket hardness is measured by durometer, with lower measurements reflecting a more flexible material.

Cable can also be provided as a round cable or flat options. Round cable is easier to install through bulk heads, walls, panels or holes, while flat cable is easier to route through long distances since it can be moved through a smaller space.

When bundling cable, ABYC states: “Conductors that may be exposed to physical damage shall be protected by loom, conduit, tape, raceways, or other equivalent protection. When AC and DC conductors are run together, the AC conductors shall be sheathed, bundled, or otherwise kept separate from the DC conductors. Loom used to cover conductors shall be self-extinguishing. The base product (or resin) shall be classified as V-2 or better, in accordance with UL 94, Tests For Flammability Of Plastic Materials.”

These details can be confusing at first, so we are happy to walk you through everything, determine your requirements, and help you select the correct cabling.