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After reading a recent article in Boat US magazine about electrical corrosion and subsequent fires, I decided to check out my shore power cord and connectors. When I aquiried Serendipity (1972 Mk I), I removed the original household type 110V (romex) wiring, boxes, recepticals, etc., and rewired with proper marine grade parts. I did not, however, give a thought to the shore power cable - a popular recognized brand sold in marine outlets that appered to be in very good condition.
After removing the 30 Amp female connector (now in the trash), I was shocked to find that the wire was not tinned, and in fact had a beautiful green patina on the strands - significant corrosion. I began stripping back the exterior insulation and checking the individual wires for corrosion. After removing about 8 feet, I finally reached corrosion-free wire on all three strands. This cable looked good externally, and now I have serious concerns of replacing it with an off-the-shelf item (apparently none are constructed with marine grade wire). My thought now is to hack off another foot or two from each end for safety, tin the wire ends, and use heat shrink and liquid tape to seal it all up. New connectors of course.
At 50' it was too long anyway, and now I will feel safe with it, but it was a disturbing discovery. According to the article, most boat fires are caused by defective wiring.
Warren Smith
Serendipity
Galveston Bay, Texas
Last edited by (2005-02-13 12:38:12)
Morning---a couple of thoughts on shore power cords. There are two major suppliers of cords---H is quite pricey compared to M. In either case, you are better off buying new rather than fussing with replacing the "end". I use the term "end" in reference to the female plug----as I have yet to see a failed male plug---as compared to dozens of females. We all have a tendency to put 40 lbs of stuff into a 30 lb bag when it comes to shore power. 30 amps should run a small house---prior to adding all the microwaves---hair driers---heaters----blenders---toasters----etc.---that are absolute "musts". If the dockside breaker is sleeping--or nonexisting--as the case may be----the female end of the cord takes the "heat". Of course that is the end next to your bunk. After a couple of overheats---the plug cant even handle 20 amps due to the resistance raising crud . And so it goes. Why then is it that the fire starter is next to your sleeping bag? Simple---next time you are scouting around your discount, mega store, catalog, check out the price of replacing either end----nuff said!!!!
PS---I gotta go wire my airconditioner---heck just another 7.3 amps!!!!!
Best,
Ft Myers----77 F ESE 10-12Dave Tinder
DAWN BREAKER Mk3
Ft Myers
Dave,
Thanks for the observations. Yes, we have all the extra super watt-suckers, but I am careful to not turn on any of the "high load" simultaneously. Maybe over conservative, but just careful.
As for replacing the "end" - the bottom line is I just don't TRUST the weather capabilities of the pre-made cables. Amatures always overbuild - so shall I.
& . . . time for me to put in the AC, hit 84 F here yesterday. The coming weekend looks to be warm and muggy. BTW, I found a neat little dehumidifyer that draws 65 watts.
Warren Smith
Serendipity
Galveston Bay, Texas
When I purchased Pura Vida I found her residing in the portion of the marina with larger slips and 50 amp shore power. The previous owner had kept the same slip through several boats. When I moved her to another pier I learned that the 50 amp plug he had fitted to the end of the 20 amp cable would not fit the 30 amp outlet at my new slip. To compound the problem it looks like the original 110 wiring was still in the boat. At that point I removed the Carry On AC (which is a pain anyway), replaced the batteries with 2 group 27s and added a 50w solar panel and charge controller. The system works really well. The batteries are always charged even in the winter. The downside is sleeping on the boat at the dock can be a little warm so I sometimes hook up the shore power and put a box fan in the forward hatch (much easier to handle than the Carry On) for the evening. One of the two big bonuses is getting my slip bill and seeing the electricity at $.02 for the month. I should pay for the batteries and solar panel in about 15 years or so. <IMG src="http://www.cc27association.com/f3/toast/emoticons/icon_wink.gif"> More important is knowing that my zinks may last at least a little longer. From all I have been told we are in a 'hot' marina so not being hooked to the grid day in and day out at least slows the electrolysis down. When I had the PSS shaft seal installed the old prop was ruined by electrolysis.
Mike M
SV Pura Vida
#375
Galveston Bay
Mike M
SV Wind Horse
#375
Galveston, Tx
Offline
Dave, Warren and other Gulf denizens:
Will you guys pulllleeease quit with those constant references to high double-digit temperatures? For the rest of us who are still at or below zero and destined to remain that way for some time, it ranks as cruel and unusual punishment. Fair winds. . . .
Ken Pole
Santiva
Ottawa
Ken Pole, Ottawa
1975 Mark III Santiva
Offline
In Apology. In not too many days our friends on the Great Lakes will be enjoying beautiful sailing weather and those of us to the south will be hiding from a sun that will strip the hide off of one's back. What goes around, comes around. If it is any comfort, by mid-summer most of the boats on Galveston Bay will have a stronger tie to the dock with their shore power cable than with their docklines. What is the old song about mad dogs and the noon day sun? Some here may not admit it, and it may be poor consolation, but by July your weather will be looking pretty good to us.
All the best!
Mike M
SV Pura Vida
#375
Galveston Bay
Mike M
SV Wind Horse
#375
Galveston, Tx
Offline
When I was a Greatlakes guy I did just what you guys are doing: Down to the boatyard next Sat. am to see if you can get firm footing for your ladder----if so you'll probably be on your back in the snow wondering if that paint really needs 70 deg F to dry. Then there's all that neat stuff to install that came in the UPS boxes from Moyer, West Marine, Boats US, et al. Some of the 1--2 hour installs can be stretched to a weekend job with proper planning.
A Bic lighter WILL work on heat shrink tubing where you guys are---but you gotta take your gloves off.
There are many pluses to year 'round sailing-----but none of them give me the RUSH of Springtime launch and 40 F water. Best to everyone.Dave Tinder
DAWN BREAKER Mk3
Ft Myers
Ken,
My apologies likewise, I will try to remember - hold on, let me turn down the A/C a minute so I can think - to not mention temperatures again till we get to triple digits, and believe me, we will. I think Mike is stretching it, I remember one night sitting in front of the fan trying to figure out if you were better off blowing air at 98F and 98% humidity or just bathing in stillness while trying to get some sleep. At that point snow sounds pretty good.
Warren Smith
Serendipity
Galveston Bay, Texas
Mike,
Re the electrical cost, last summer my worst month was between $3 and $4. Not bad for 4 weekends of AC.
Warren Smith
Serendipity
Galveston Bay, Texas
Interesting to read all the messages back and forth, about the weather. Maybe we, out here in Lotus Land (Vancouver, B C) span the two extremes. No, we never store our boat on the hard 'cause we never have ice except in our marguritas. And yes, we race all year (our current series is called the Snowflake - for good reason since we do sometimes have some, but not often - and I'm 2nd for the series so far with 2 races to go). Salt water. It gets cold but not Ottawa or Toronto cold. We see -10C sometimes but we also see 11C (50F) in the winter. Summertime it will get up to 28 or 29C or 85F but is more consistently 75 to 80F (what's that in C? You figure it out, I'm too old). But it's a great sailing area in the Georgia Strait, with enough interesting places to go to please everybody.
Fred Butler Lark