Breaker switches and innards are generally ûmade from the same standard components ûand according to UL requirements and ABYC ûspecs. The differences are found in the finish, ûfit and ergonomics.

Making the purchase decision for marine electrical distribution panels —AC or DC—can be tough, not because you're in danger of selecting a bad product (the ones we looked at for this article were all quite good) but because it's hard to know how to assess or plan a panel according to what your future needs might be. Off-the-shelf modularity and tech support are keys to a successful purchase.

Each panel maker brings its own philosophy to the market and has managed to carve out a niche. Blue Sea, for example, sells through the discounters and catalog houses and provides good quality, standardized panels in limited configurations at relatively low cost. At…