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STANDARDS · ABYC

ABYC standards: what they are and how surveyors use them

UPDATED 6 NOVEMBER 2026 · 9 FINDINGS · 4 SOURCES

What the American Boat and Yacht Council is, how its standards are written and kept up to date, why they're voluntary but still decide survey findings, how to get the full text, and the standards surveyors cite most.

AT A GLANCE
ABYC
OFFICIAL TITLE
American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Standards and Technical Information Reports
COVERS
Design, construction, maintenance and repair of recreational boats. ABYC lists 84 standards and technical information reports, grouped by division
SURVEYORS CHECK
The boat's systems against the standard for each one, and name the standard in the finding. Electrical, fuel, LPG, seacocks and CO detection come up on almost every survey
GET THE TEXT
The full standards are in ABYC's online Standards Library for members. Single editions of some standards are sold in ABYC's store

ABYC standards are the yardstick most US surveyors, and many elsewhere, use for a boat's systems. When a finding says "fit overcurrent protection within 7 inches of the battery", the number comes from ABYC E-11.

What ABYC is

ABYC describes itself as a non-profit member organisation that develops voluntary global safety standards for the design, construction, maintenance and repair of recreational boats. Its standards are written and revised by over 400 volunteer marine professionals on 16 project technical committees, including the US Coast Guard, trade organisations and private companies. ABYC says 90 percent of boats on the water are built to its standards.

Its standards list names 84 standards and technical information reports, grouped by division: electrical, hull, fuel and ventilation, engine and powertrain, thermal appliances, fire fighting and detection, and more.

Voluntary, and still decisive

ABYC standards aren't law. They still carry weight in a survey. Most builders build to them, and a finding that cites one gives the owner, the yard and the insurer the same specific thing to fix. Where a US federal rule covers the same ground, such as gasoline fuel systems under 33 CFR 183 subpart J, the federal rule is mandatory for the builder.

Getting the text

ABYC says only members have 24/7 access to the complete standards, through its online Standards Library. Some standards are sold as single downloadable editions in ABYC's store. Pages on this site describe what each standard covers in our own words; check the current edition before relying on a figure.

Citing ABYC in a finding

Name the standard and its code in the recommendation, with the requirement in plain words: "fit a reverse polarity indicator at the AC panel, ABYC E-11". The owner and the yard know exactly what to do, and the insurer sees what the finding rests on.

The standards surveyors cite most

Findings judged against ABYC

Each page shows how the defect is found, what decides the grade and example findings written up at A, B and C.

ELECTRICAL

Missing overcurrent protection

Why an unfused battery cable is a fire risk, the ABYC E-11 rule surveyors check against, which fuse types suit which battery banks, what the fix costs and three example findings graded A, B and C.

How to find and write it up
ELECTRICAL

Lithium batteries without a BMS

What ABYC E-13 asks of lithium battery systems on boats, why a battery management system is required, what a surveyor checks on a lithium install and three example findings graded A, B and C.

How to find and write it up
ELECTRICAL

Unsecured batteries

What ABYC E-10 asks of battery installations, why a loose battery is a safety finding, boxes versus straps, insulated terminals and three example findings graded A, B and C.

How to find and write it up
GAS AND SAFETY

No CO alarm

Where a boat needs carbon monoxide detectors under the revised ABYC A-24, which detectors qualify, where not to fit them, what a surveyor checks and three example findings graded A, B and C.

How to find and write it up
GAS AND SAFETY

LPG locker drain

Why propane sinks and a gas locker has to drain overboard, what ABYC A-1 asks of LPG lockers, what a surveyor checks, the common faults and three example findings graded A, B and C.

How to find and write it up
ELECTRICAL

No galvanic isolator

How the shore power earth links your boat's underwater metals to every boat on the dock, what a galvanic isolator does, what ABYC A-28 asks for, what one costs and three example findings graded A, B and C.

How to find and write it up
UNDERWATER GEAR

Seized seacocks

Why a seacock that won't close is a safety finding, how surveyors check seacocks and through-hulls, the ABYC strength test a ball valve on a through-hull can fail, replacement costs and three example findings graded A, B and C.

How to find and write it up
ENGINE AND FUEL

Fuel hose type and age

What USCG Type A1, A2, B1 and B2 fuel hose means, which hose goes where under ABYC H-24 and H-33, what a surveyor looks for, what replacement costs and three example findings graded A, B and C.

How to find and write it up
ELECTRICAL

Shore power reverse polarity

What reverse polarity on a boat's shore power means, why breakers stop protecting you, the ABYC reverse polarity indicator, how a surveyor tests it and three example findings graded A, B and C.

How to find and write it up

Frequently asked

What is ABYC?

The American Boat and Yacht Council, a non-profit member organisation that develops voluntary safety standards for the design, construction, maintenance and repair of recreational boats, in ABYC's own description.

Are ABYC standards mandatory?

No. ABYC calls them voluntary. Surveyors still report against them, and insurers read those reports. Some US federal rules cover the same ground and are mandatory.

How many ABYC standards are there?

ABYC's standards list names 84 standards and technical information reports, organised by division, such as electrical, hull, fuel and ventilation, and thermal appliances.

How do I get ABYC standards?

ABYC says only members have round-the-clock access to the complete standards, through its online Standards Library. Some single editions are sold in its store.

How often are ABYC standards updated?

ABYC describes an annual review. Each standard belongs to a project technical committee that reviews and updates it, and committees meet at least once a year.

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Related standards

All standards
ABYC E-11

AC and DC Electrical Systems on Boats

What ABYC E-11 covers on a boat's AC and DC systems, the rules surveyors check most often, from the 7 inch battery fuse rule to the reverse polarity indicator, and how to cite E-11 in a finding.

What surveyors check
ABYC E-13

Lithium Ion Batteries

What ABYC E-13 asks of lithium battery systems on boats, the 600 Wh threshold, the BMS requirement, documentation and restraint, what a surveyor checks and how to cite E-13 in a finding.

What surveyors check
ABYC H-27

Seacocks, Thru-Hull Fittings, and Drain Plugs

What ABYC H-27 asks of seacocks, through-hull fittings and drain plugs, the 500 lb strength test, why a ball valve on a through-hull can fail it, what a surveyor checks and how to cite H-27 in a finding.

What surveyors check
ABYC E-10

Storage Batteries

What ABYC E-10 asks of battery installations on boats, the one inch movement test, terminal protection, containment and ventilation, what a surveyor checks and how to cite E-10 in a finding.

What surveyors check
ABYC A-28

Galvanic Isolators

What ABYC A-28 covers for galvanic isolators on boats with shore power, what fail-safe means, the ratings, what a surveyor checks and how to cite A-28 in a finding.

What surveyors check
ABYC A-1

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Systems

What ABYC A-1 asks of propane (LPG) systems on boats, the gas locker and drain rules, cylinders, solenoids and detectors, what a surveyor checks and how to cite A-1 in a finding.

What surveyors check

Report templates that cite it

FREE TEMPLATE · WORD

Survey findings report

A free Word template for a marine survey findings report: a short report of findings and recommendations by grade, the status of earlier recommendations, and example findings written out in full.

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FREE TEMPLATE · WORD

Pre-purchase survey

A free Word template for a yacht pre-purchase survey report: every section explained, example wording, the sea trial and valuation, and example findings graded A, B and C.

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FREE TEMPLATE · WORD

Insurance survey

A free Word template for a condition and valuation survey report for boat insurance: each section explained, the insurer's requirements, market and replacement value, and example findings graded A, B and C.

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