Rewiring a boat is mostly access. The cable itself is a small part of the bill, and the hours go into getting to the runs, removing and refitting joinery, and doing the terminations properly at both ends.
Done well, a rewire is also a chance to correct the accumulated additions of forty years, circuits added on top of circuits, unlabelled wires and fuses that nobody can account for.
We start by recording what is actually there, what stays and what goes, and what loads the new system has to support. That produces a circuit schedule and a distribution plan before a single wire is drawn.
Skipping this is why some rewires end up as expensive re-runs of the same mistakes.
A full rewire can often be split sensibly: distribution and charging first, then domestic circuits, then navigation and mast wiring. That spreads cost across seasons and keeps the boat usable, and it is a conversation worth having before committing.
Access is first, always. After that: the number of circuits, whether the panel is replaced, how much of the charging system changes, and whether the boat is in the water or ashore.
We assess on board, quote in writing and itemise it, so you can see what each part costs and decide what to include now.
A labelled panel, a circuit schedule, wiring diagrams, test results and a system where the next person can find things. That documentation is part of the job, not an extra.
Usually yes, and for many owners it is the sensible route. We plan the stages so each one is complete and safe in itself.
Rarely all of it. Access is planned to remove and refit the minimum, though older boats sometimes hide runs behind bonded joinery.
It depends almost entirely on access and scope, so we look at the boat first. Every quote is itemised in writing before work starts.
Free assessment on board, staged plan if you want it, itemised written quote and full documentation at handover.