Don't swim in a marina

[higgs]

Since reading an article on this years ago, I have not gone into the water in a marina. This is an article from Boat Us's current issue of Seaworthy and is certainly something we all should all know about.

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/boatus/seaworthy_200910/#/2

 

[MoonSailer]

Friend's Husband drowned

My wife has a friend and she had just given birth to their first child when they went up to their parent's houseboat. The husband was swiming near the houseboat and then just stopped swimming and sank out of sight. By the time they realised that he was not just playing around it was too late. His body was recovered later that day. He was an excellent swimmer and in good health only about 35 years old. I know about currents in water as a biologist I have used an electric current to stun fish for capture and study. A small current as from a motorcycle battery is enough to stun fish . A short circuit on a dock is scarey. Several kids have been found drowned in pools.

 

[Johnb]

I agree 100 percent. The ignorance and stupidity of people when it comes to electricity is scary.

Unfortunatley that is also true of gasoline, propane, speed (of al kinds) and alchohol.

John Brecher

 

[Nereussailor]

So how does the Diver that cleans the bottom of my boat do it without getting Zapped?

Dave

 

[catsailor]

I have head divers refer to getting "tickled" once in a while.

So how does the Diver that cleans the bottom of my boat do it without getting Zapped?

Dave

One of my pet peeves is seeing shore power cords still plugged into the dock while the owners are day sailing. Even if no one is hurt, if the end falls into salt water it WILL ruin the plug, in the absence of GFI. And I know marinas with no GFI.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Un-Peeve

One of my pet peeves is seeing shore power cords still plugged into the dock while the owners are day sailing.

We have breakers on our shorepower connections at the dock boxes. I leave our cord on the dock all the time because the breaker is off. Not sure if your peeve applies to that. I agree that "live" cords unconnected to boats is a hazard.

I understand that the end can fall in, but I've got it reasonably secured on the dock. I just don't think coiling up my cord every time I go out is worth it, and I can plug in easily when I return, then turn on the breaker at the dock box.

Is this OK?

 

[tommays]

With all the GFI rules in your home bathroom and kitchen and work for that matter you would thing a marina would have to follow a few ?

 

[Ross]

With all the GFI rules in your home bathroom and kitchen and work for that matter you would thing a marina would have to follow a few ?

When someone dies then the inspecters will check all of the marina wiring and issuse citations and the lawyers will file suits. But someone has to died first before anything will get done.

 

[walt]

Good question on the GFI rules. GFCI or GFI would have prevented the accident. the first instant the 120VAC wire touched the 12 volt wire, the GFI fuse would have tripped removing AC from the boat DC and hence the water. I really didnt understand why GFI was needed in the past, I sure do now. Maybe the power receptical for each slip should have GFI. It would likely cause people problems (which in turn would cause the marina problems) but that would be because they had wiring issues. Might even reduce some of the galvanic corrosion issues some marinas have.

 

[catsailor]

Off is good.

We have breakers on our shorepower connections at the dock boxes. I leave our cord on the dock all the time because the breaker is off. Not sure if your peeve applies to that. I agree that "live" cords unconnected to boats is a hazard.

I understand that the end can fall in, but I've got it reasonably secured on the dock. I just don't think coiling up my cord every time I go out is worth it, and I can plug in easily when I return, then turn on the breaker at the dock box.

Is this OK?

Yes, what you do makes sense to me. I do the same when that facility is available.

 

[sailingdog]

It can still be an issue, since breakers don't always work, especially ones that are in power posts on a dock... and subject to less than ideal conditions. I've tested a few and found that the cords were still "live" with the breaker in the off position.

We have breakers on our shorepower connections at the dock boxes. I leave our cord on the dock all the time because the breaker is off. Not sure if your peeve applies to that. I agree that "live" cords unconnected to boats is a hazard.

I understand that the end can fall in, but I've got it reasonably secured on the dock. I just don't think coiling up my cord every time I go out is worth it, and I can plug in easily when I return, then turn on the breaker at the dock box.

Is this OK?

 

[yakman]

gfci protection

I believe article 555 in the NEC [national electric code] covers marinas, all gfci or gfi should be tested on a regular basis. Certainly by the liscensed contractor during install annually. That is if the docks are remved for the winter, here where I live we remove our docks and take the electric out back to the source.
Today GFI has a new aditional requirement to add to the safety of the device,when gfi protection is no longer operational the device shuts down. Some trademarks I believe are sureloc and safe lok. THese devices have been on the market for some time now and should be used to replace existing devices. Yes their is a cost but think of that as compared to the loss of life.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I've tested a few and found that the cords were still "live" with the breaker in the off position.

Thanks, dawg, I'll check mine next time I'm down.

 

[Stu Jackson]

ELCI

If you read the sidebar in the originally linked Seaworthy article on ELCI, one of the more startling items is that folks will try to bypass electrical safety devices because they have bad wiring on their boat!:naughty: Hope we don't have neighbors like that!