Power cord in the water.

[Beerlust]

While connected to shore power, what are the risks of letting the cord dangle in the water while both ends are connected for extended amounts of time?

I have been told increase corrosion for outdrives as well as not the best dock manners to let chords hang in such a way.

 

[jthatcher]

As long as the jacket is not compromised there is no issue. This is not a good practice though. Unless you have tested and inspected the outer jacket you have no guarantee that it is safe. There are many things that can arise from this like a shock potential if touching cable and water or loosing the grounding between the shore power and boat.

 

[Z-Worthy]

I see a lot of boaters doing this, and it drives me insane every time. I vividly remember a local dockhand who was killed when he fell off of a boat in the marina and someone had a live shore power cord hanging in the water. In my opinion, people are far too casual and careless with their power cords around water. There's just no excuse.

 

[Boat Guy]

Yes, this is an issue for me too.

I cringe when I see a cord dangling in the water. It just seems sloppy and an unnecessary risk. I've never had a situation where my power cords needed to be in the water, so I can't envision a scenario where it was required.

I have seen situations, because of tides where the owners just left enough play in their cords that during a different tide the cord would be in the water. Typically those that I never saw on their boats and really weren't around much.

Far too much of a risk for me. I would never take the chance of injuring or killing someone over such a simple issue. I don't care if my outer jacket is perfect. A few rubs if it gets caught between the boat and the dock and who knows what it would look like,

 

[Do Over]

This should be a common sense decision...WHY would you think it's ok to hang a electrical cord in the water?

its just stupid.

 

[Beerlust]

Thanks for the feed back. To each there own but i keep the cord out of the water as well.

 

[Woody]

Well maybe there's a good reason for it sometimes like the guy in our marina just tryin' to feed the family. When he sees a fish swim by he flips the breaker on.:lol:

 

[JVM225]

Always best to try to avoid a power cord in the water. Sometimes with tide changes it just happens by accident. That's why you should inspect the jacket on the cord regularly to make sure that it hasn't been damaged or compromised.

 

[katricol]

The cord should NEVER be in the water no matter what, I agree with Z 100%. Woody... fresh water and electric kills and the marina should kick that guy out. Many many people (read kids) have "drowned" from stray current in the water and because people are STUPID, I guess we need our dumb-ass gov't to pass some laws about this which will end up costing us more money to boat! End of rant

 

[Woody]

The cord should NEVER be in the water no matter what, I agree with Z 100%. Woody... fresh water and electric kills and the marina should kick that guy out. Many many people (read kids) have "drowned" from stray current in the water and because people are STUPID, I guess we need our dumb-ass gov't to pass some laws about this which will end up costing us more money to boat! End of rant

I've talked to the owner about how he does things, made some suggestions, explained some dangers, but he just doesn't seem to get it. I got the harbormaster involved the last time(the pic), we'll see if things change this summer.

One time I saw his son around 10yo turn the pedestal breaker on, then grab the cord at the plug, hop over on the boat and plug it in. I talked to the kid and the father immediately about what could happen if he fell in the water holding onto that cord, Dad got a bit puffy in the chest over it, didn't seem to like my help. I informed the harbormaster, not sure how he handled it. Scary stuff.

 

[1990-270-da-lover]

I have actually pulled a power cord out of the water from a dock neighbor on a trip we were on a year or so ago. They came in the day after us and tied up real quick, hooked up their power and water and went straight to the bar. A breeze was up and they had not tied the boat well nor wrapped the power cord around anything to keep it out of the water. So not long and the cord was 70% in the water and the boat was banging the pilings and riding up under the bulkhead. I pulled the power cord up and wrapped it around the piling on the finger pier and went to the bar, located the captain and told him about the cord and the boat bouncing around in the slip. He didn't seem too worried about it, and I offered to go back and help him firm up the lines which he declined. Some folks just don't get it, the rub rail on his cruiser was visibly damaged when I got back to my boat.

 

[trit21]

I think you are wrong. Not about the power cord in the water you are all 100% correct about keeping it out of the water, but about they 'don't get it'. I think they get it, they just don't care about it.

 

[src]

It's the same old "Well, I've never been hurt by it so it must not be a problem" attitude that leads to a lot of stupid decisions made by people everywhere every day.

 

[Boat Guy]

....... about what could happen if he fell in the water holding onto that cord......

As I've stated, I'm 100% in agreement here with powercords and water.

Yet, shouldn't, and I stress shouldn't, the power trip the breaker in this instance? I know it might not happen, but if the breaker is working properly it should save his life, correct?

 

[Beerlust]

Aside from the obvious dangers that can be avoided by simply keeping the cord out of the water, the other part of my concern was can this increase outdrive corrosion?

 

[Woody]

As I've stated, I'm 100% in agreement here with powercords and water.

Yet, shouldn't, and I stress shouldn't, the power trip the breaker in this instance? I know it might not happen, but if the breaker is working properly it should save his life, correct?

I think it should and that's what the harbormaster said to me. But in this case a lot of the system is original stuff from the early 60's. I asked the harbormaster if he's ever had anything checked/tested in his years at the helm and he just looked at me. I didn't think the kid ought to be the test dummy.

 

[Westie]

As I've stated, I'm 100% in agreement here with powercords and water.

Yet, shouldn't, and I stress shouldn't, the power trip the breaker in this instance? I know it might not happen, but if the breaker is working properly it should save his life, correct?

A normal breaker probably wouldn't, especially a 50 amp breaker. A person cam be killed by less than an amp of current. That is why any breaker near the water should protected by a GFCI.

 

[IanBat]

I always secure mine so its not in the water. Saltwater, doesnt have the same issue as fresh and electricity..................but, I think its an unsafe practice, it also wears the insulation quicker.

But every time the Marina Manager/Operators put my boat away in the last marina, the cord would be submerged a couple of feet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FLSunfish]

We would have had a problem with our power cords occasionally dangling in the water during tidal changes, but we took care of the problem by putting a couple of heavy duty bungee cords together, wrapping the power cords around the bungee cords, and then securing one end of the bungee to the boat and the other to the dock. We were at the boat on a regular basis and never found the cords in the water. Was still very easy to unhook and take off. The dock breaker is always the first connection off and the last to turn on.

 

[The Bill Collector]

I am of the believe power cords should NEVER be in the water and I correct that situation on every boat that I walk by and see it.... I do not care if this upsets the owner..... I WILL NOT BACK DOWN.