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As the high season approaches, the reliability of a boat's electrical system becomes a central issue. Batteries, wiring harnesses, circuit breakers, chargers, solar panels, on-board electronics, all converge on one sensitive point: safety on board and continuity of navigation. In Arcachon, two local players are combining their skills to act upstream rather than after damage.
On-board electricity, the first weak link in safety
An engine failure often triggers an intervention at sea. But in the background, the initial cause is often electrical: discharged battery, bad crimping, oxidation of a terminal, charging fault.
Figures from boating safety monitoring organizations show that the electrical cause is a recurring theme in reported incidents. Even more worrying is the fact that, according to data quoted by BoatUS, more than 55% of fires reported on pleasure craft originate from an electrical malfunction. The BEAmer also notes this factor in several accident reports.
And the boat's profile matters little. Whether it's a traditional Bassin pinasse, a semi-rigid family boat or a cruising sailboat equipped with electronics and utilities, all carry live circuits exposed to humidity, vibrations and salt.
For yachtsmen, the problem is clear: how to limit the risk of fire on board a boat, while ensuring safe departures at sea.
Lithium batteries and home automation, a growing complexity
Evolving uses are changing the face of marine electrical installations. Lithium batteries, MPPT controllers for photovoltaic panels, 230 V inverters, multifunction displays and air-conditioning add new technical layers.
An inadequately protected lithium battery, without a suitable BMS or calibrated circuit breaker, can generate a rapid rise in temperature. Conversely, the classic problems persist: loose terminals, undersized cables, lack of fuse protection close to the source, connections exposed to galvanic corrosion.
A serious inspection involves a number of technical points, including checking the size of cable cross-sections, the condition of insulation, the quality of crimping, the presence of suitable protection, and compliance with current ISO standards for low-voltage electrical installations on board pleasure craft.
For an owner who only sails for a few weeks a year, these checks are not always a priority. However, it's often before launching or the first outing that defects appear.
Prevention rather than repair: a change in logic
In this context, the partnership between ElectroBoat a specialist in marine electricity and electronics on the Bay of Arcachon, and Armengaud Assurances , a local brokerage firm, is based on a simple approach: act before the loss occurs.
The system has three components:
- Firstly, an electrical audit offered to policyholders to check the integrity of essential systems, starter and service batteries, connections, engine power supply and distribution to equipment. The aim is to identify weak points before the season.
- This is followed by an insurance audit for the technical specialist's customers. The aim is to assess the overall condition of the vessel, in order to tailor cover, based on several risk carriers. For the owner, this means a finer reading of exclusions and ceilings relating to electrical installations or lithium batteries.
- Finally, continuity of navigation. In the high season, a breakdown can immobilize a boat, when there are few time slots available. Reducing claims also means avoiding towing and weeks lost at quayside.
A local issue, but universal questions
On the Bassin d'Arcachon, boating activity is concentrated over a few months. Pressure on workshops and insurers increases between June and September. But the problem extends far beyond the region.
All boaters are faced with the same questions: whether to replace a battery preventively, how to check a 12 V circuit, when to rebuild an electrical panel, and how to protect a lithium installation against thermal risk.
As Clément Gisquet, founder of ElectroBoat, sums up, " Many problems could be avoided with a simple pre-season check. Whether it's a new boat or a fifteen-year-old sailing yacht, a reliable installation extends the life of the equipment and avoids unpleasant surprises."
For his part, Olivier Armengaud, President of Armengaud Assurances, stresses the importance of prevention Insurance is not just about contracts and compensation. As a broker, risk management requires a service offering geared towards prevention, and the establishment of partnerships with experts."
In the final analysis, the issue is not just one of insurance. It has to do with the technical culture of yachtsmen. A well-wired boat, properly protected and regularly checked, means fewer interventions at sea and more hours at sea.
