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If you’ve ever walked down a dock and felt that little tingle when you grabbed a metal ladder or stepped into the water — that’s not something to ignore. It might not knock you down, but it’s a warning. That “tingle” means there’s stray electricity leaking somewhere. Around water, that can be deadly.
Down here in Naples, we deal with that kind of problem more than most folks realize. Between salt air, moisture, and constant exposure to the elements, dock wiring and boat lift circuits take a beating. That’s why GFCI and GFPE protection aren’t optional — they’re required, and for good reason.
At Coharbor Electric, we’ve been wiring docks and marine systems around Southwest Florida for years. We’ve seen everything from flawless installations to old setups that should’ve been shut down a decade ago. So, let’s walk through how GFCI and GFPE protection work, what the 2024 electrical code requires for marine systems, and how we make sure a Naples dock stays safe — for people, boats, and everything in between.
It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to underestimate how much current it takes to cause harm in or near water. A single damaged wire, loose connection, or corroded terminal can leak voltage into metal structures or the water itself.
That’s what’s known as Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) — when current flows through the water and paralyzes a swimmer before they even know what hit them. It’s silent and quick, and it’s exactly what modern code changes are designed to prevent.
You’ve probably heard both terms — GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) and GFPE (Ground Fault Protection of Equipment). They sound similar, but they do two very different jobs.
GFCI protection is about people. It’s designed to trip if it detects even a small difference in current between the hot and neutral wires — as little as 4 to 6 milliamps. That’s just enough to sense if electricity might be flowing through a person instead of the circuit. When it trips, it cuts power in a fraction of a second.
GFPE, on the other hand, is about equipment. It protects wiring, motors, and devices from damage caused by larger ground faults — usually between 30 and 100 milliamps. That’s too high to protect a person but just right to stop overheating or arcing in large systems.
On docks and boat lifts, both matter. GFCIs keep swimmers and people safe. GFPE devices protect the motors and electrical gear that keep your lift running smoothly.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) has tightened rules around docks every few years, especially after multiple fatal ESD cases nationwide.
Here’s what the 2024 NEC says for residential docks and lifts:
All 15- and 20-amp receptacles near the dock or lift must have GFCI protection — no exceptions.
Hardwired boat lifts must also have GFCI or GFPE protection, depending on the setup.
Feeders and branch circuits supplying the dock must have ground fault protection not exceeding 30 milliamps.
Metal structures on or near the dock (like frames or lift arms) must be bonded properly.
And of course, all wiring must be rated for wet locations — that means sunlight-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and properly sealed.
These updates aren’t just to satisfy inspectors; they exist because of real incidents. Every year, swimmers and boat owners are injured or killed by stray current that could’ve been stopped by a $30 GFCI.
We’ve been called out to plenty of Naples docks that looked fine from the surface. But once you start testing, you find voltage where it doesn’t belong.
It could be a cracked conduit allowing water in. A corroded neutral connection. A motor that’s leaking current. All of those problems create small voltage differences between the metal lift and the surrounding water — and that’s all it takes.
A few years back, we inspected a dock where the homeowner said, “Sometimes I get a buzz when I touch the lift frame.” Turned out the motor housing had a ground fault, and the panel feeding the dock didn’t have GFCI protection. One breaker swap and some grounding repairs later, the problem was gone. That’s how close it can be.
When we wire or upgrade a dock system, there’s a checklist we follow every single time.
Panel Location and Rating
The first thing we check is where the dock power originates. It should come from a dedicated breaker with a disconnect in sight of the lift. If the run’s long, we make sure it’s rated for voltage drop and protected for moisture all the way.
GFCI Protection at the Source
All 120-volt outlets and lighting circuits get GFCI breakers or devices. For lift motors and higher-voltage equipment, we install GFPE breakers that provide the right level of fault protection without unnecessary nuisance tripping.
Marine-Grade Wiring and Conduit
We only use tinned copper wiring, watertight connectors, and liquid-tight flexible conduit rated for sunlight and corrosion resistance. Standard wire breaks down too quickly in coastal conditions.
Sealed Connections
Every splice gets a heat-shrink connector with adhesive lining. Every box gets a gasket. We even use stainless hardware so corrosion doesn’t creep in through mounting points.
Bonding and Grounding
We bond every metal structure — lifts, ladders, frames, rails — to ensure there’s no potential difference between components. If something ever faults, the breaker trips instantly instead of energizing the metal.
Testing and Verification
After installation, we test everything with a megger and GFCI tester. That way, we know the protection trips exactly where it should.
You’d be amazed at how many “repairs” cause more harm than good. Here are a few of the biggest offenders:
Regular breakers instead of GFCIs: Homeowners replace tripping GFCIs with standard breakers because “it keeps shutting off.” That defeats the entire purpose.
Loose or corroded grounds: Even one bad connection can stop a breaker from tripping properly.
Improperly sized wire: Too small a gauge or the wrong insulation leads to heat buildup and early failure.
No bonding on metal lifts: If the lift structure isn’t bonded, a single fault can energize the whole frame.
Using indoor wire outdoors: We’ve seen Romex stapled under docks — it turns to mush in a year.
Every one of those shortcuts increases the risk of shock or fire.
Adding or upgrading GFCI and GFPE protection isn’t expensive compared to what it prevents. A full dock and lift circuit inspection and upgrade typically runs a few hundred dollars in labor and parts.
Replacing an entire lift motor or repairing electrical damage after a surge or corrosion failure? That can run into the thousands. Not to mention the safety risk in between.
The cost of doing it right is always cheaper than fixing it later.
We recommend a full marine electrical inspection once a year — ideally before boating season starts. Florida’s weather and salt air break things down faster than most people expect.
During an inspection, we check every connection, test GFCIs, verify grounding continuity, and make sure no circuits are leaking voltage into the water. If something’s starting to fail, we catch it before it becomes dangerous.
We were called out to a waterfront property not far from Vanderbilt Beach. The homeowner said their lift kept tripping the breaker, but only on humid days. Turned out the lift motor’s junction box had corroded just enough to leak current through the mount.
Once we replaced the box, added proper GFPE protection, and sealed all connections with marine-grade fittings, it ran perfectly — and safely. The homeowner told us later that their old setup had never tripped once in ten years. That sounds good… until you realize it was never protected in the first place.
Electricity around water isn’t forgiving. You don’t get second chances.
That’s why we always design marine systems to exceed the minimum code requirements. We use marine-grade wire, watertight boxes, and GFCI/GFPE protection that reacts in milliseconds. You’ll probably never notice it working — but it’s protecting every second you’re near that dock or lift.
If your dock or boat lift hasn’t been inspected in the past year, it’s time. Even small issues like loose fittings, corroded grounds, or outdated breakers can create real hazards around water.
At Coharbor Electric, we specialize in coastal and marine electrical systems. We understand the salt, the heat, and the constant exposure that comes with living near the Gulf. Whether you need new wiring, updated breakers, or a full safety inspection, we’ll make sure your dock is safe, compliant, and ready for another season on the water.
⚡ Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule a dock and lift safety inspection. We’ll test your GFCI and GFPE systems, verify your grounding, and make sure everything’s built to handle the Naples coast — safely and reliably.
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