Boat and marine cables are designed for marine applications and are generally used for marine circuit wiring. Since they are used in wet environments, boat and marine cables are highly water-resistant and can withstand temperatures up to +105°C. Boat cable typically consists of two or three conductors laid in a flat construction. However, some primary and battery cables are also suitable for use in marine applications.
The conductors in boat wire are often built from tinned copper, which makes them more resistant to corrosion and abrasion. Copper can oxidize quickly, which makes it lose current carrying ability. Tinning the conductors provides extra resistance to wet environments. Boat and marine cables also feature a durable PVC jacket, with insulation manufactured to make these cables flexible. While most boat wire is versatile, some applications require a custom cable to meet certain Navy or ABYC specifications.
Our Custom Boat Cable Solution
One customer needed a marine-grade cable with requirements that couldn’t be found in standard boat cables. They needed a round boat cable with five conductors and a mylar tape shield. A sales representative suggested that the customer design their own cable through Allied Wire and Cable and assisted the customer every step of the way.
This custom boat cable had five stranded and tinned copper conductors, each 18 AWG in size. Each 18 gauge conductor was color-coded for easy identification: one black, brown, red, green, and white. This marine-grade cable also featured PVC insulation and a PVC jacket. Typically, a marine cable is not shielded, but per the customer’s request, a mylar tape shield that provided 100 percent coverage was added. This cable was rated and 600 volts and had a temperature rating of 105°C in dry locations and 75°C in wet locations.
Allied’s new customer was very impressed with our customer service and quick lead time for their custom cable-- they received their order within five weeks of placing it. Do you need a quick turnaround for your application? Visit our Custom Cable Design Center or Contact Us today! Allied Wire and Cable also offers a wider variety of Value-Added Services.