2 30s vs 1 50 shore power

[Gimme Time]

I know this has been discussed before but I couldn't find the threads doing a search. A lot of marina's I pull into only offer a 50 vs 2 30s which I carry and connect with a y cable.

I've never had a problem being on the 50 vs 2 30s so I wondering what I might loose if I change my 2 30 amp cables to 1 50 amp shore power cable to. Yes it looks like I might have 10 less amps to the boat that the max my boat could use but our stove, W/D don't seemed to ever be used. 3 ACs, Hot water heater, general lighting, TVs & battery charge/converter are on most of the time. Hell, even the microwave hasn't been use twice. When my wifes on the boat her vacation/relation time does not include cooking & laundry work which is OK by me.

Anyone see a real concern or problem in switching over to a single 50 amy shore power cable and use the y converter when needed to hook to 2 30's when that's what they offer?

I understand that I could potential over load the 50 amp shore cable in the unusual event we had everything on which has the maximum capacity or 2 30s or 60 amps but I don't see this happening with how we use the boat.

Do we have any insurance problems changing from the supplied twin 30s vs the single 50 that we should be concerned with? Anybody really know what their insurance policy says when modifications to their boat is made anyway?

I'd certainly keep the 30 amp cables to put back on the boat when we sell her but thats a latter issue.

 

[fwebster]

Do you know how much a 50 ft. 50A shore power cable weighs....and costs? There is no way I'm gonna lug a 50A cable around and I'd a lot rather replace 2 $65 30A cables than one $475 50A cable.

 

[RollerCoastr]

you should also price the reverse-Y. ouch.

 

[mikey18605]

For starters, a 50amp cable is equal to 11KW, and two 30 amp cables are equal to
7.2KW. If your typical loads are small, either will work OK. On a larger boat, the extra 3.8KW might be needed more often than you think.

Second, the appliances will work as in your home on 220V/50amp, espically the stove/oven, washer/dryer and the waterheater. No more waiting forever to boil water etc.
120v/30amp type appliances are not the same, and take forever to heat up.

Last, I have replaced many 30amp connectors due to burnout/overload. I have never done
a single 50amp in 45 years.

As an additional comment, reverse Y connectors to take two 120v/30amp services to a
220v/50amp service only work if the 120v/30amp source plugs are out of phase, and have 220v between them.

Mikey in Florida - 1998 450 Dancer - 3216 Cats.

 

[Four Suns]

I like my 50A cable... I don't care what Frank says. It's not a real cable unless it can break your foot when you drop it.