Help!! Seaward 25 shore power

[Noodat Lady]

My 2000 model Seaward 25 has shore power, but I have never had the occasion to use it until now. With the season nigh upon us, I wanted to plug in to recharge the batteries (she is sitting at home on her trailer), but I don't seem to be getting power into the AC system. The interior outlet is not live and the batteries are apparently not receiving any juice (yes, my extension cord is plugged in and live). The 30A inlet is located on the port transom, but I have not been able to find any breaker(s) or other elements of the AC wiring. I hope I don't have to wriggle my way into either of the lazarettes to trace the wiring (I will need to strip off and grease myself to fit) but that will have to be my next step unless some kind soul can give me any tips/pointers in the right direction!

Thanks in advance

 

[kappykaplan]

Normally, there should be an AC breaker panel next to the DC breaker panel.

 

[Davidasailor26]

There is supposed to be an AC breaker within 10 feet of wire from the shore power inlet. Seaward may or may not have put one somewhere along the line there.

 

[Noodat Lady]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Unfortunately to my shame and chagrin I don't know where the 12v breakers are either. Nothing has ever malfunctioned in the electrical system, and I haven't added any new device. Shocking that I didn't have the initiative to look for the breaker panels, but I thought (ass-u-me-d) they'd be easy to find and near the switches, underneath the cooktop.

That would still have them within 10' of the supply. The large void that I have not explored is near the transom on the port side, right by the AC inlet, and at the foot of the lazarette berth. I have a horror of wriggling down there that only another claustrophobic person of a certain rotundity would appreciate.

I believe a Seaward owner, with more initiative than I have, could answer this easily.

(Apologies for multiple images if they appear. I cannot seem to delete them)

 

[jssailem]

Bob
The images shown all appear to be DC related. The large battery rotary switch would provide power to the 12V DC Breakers. None of the breakers imply anything about AC (shore power as you identify it).

Please show a picture of where you plugged in the shower power cord.
You would need to follow the wires from that connection to a switch/breaker. What on your boat allows you to connect (plug in) a power tool or the charger for your batteries.

Perhaps you can trace back the wire (usually red) that goes from the battery to a battery charger.
Save you from having to grease up. If you have to resort to that be sure some is near by to haul you back out and take pictures. Might be a good video for "Americas Funniest Home Videos". There is a $10,000 prize.

 

[Noodat Lady]

John, yes I know that's all 12v, but kappykaplan suggested that AC and DC panels might be adjacent, and the picture shows the only DC panel I have seen, albeit just a switch panel.

I have 2 batteries, one very large under the v berth, and a small battery adjacent and starboard to the Yanmar diesel. The latter should be closer to the charging system, to follow your advice on back-tracing to the charger, which is apparently a permanently wired smart-charger. Unfortunately getting into the starboard lazarette compartment will also require some greasing of my more circumferentially notable portions. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, but I don't want to entomb myself unnecessarily if there is some easier way. Finding someone who has been there before remains my hope.

 

[jssailem]

I comprehend. Boat yoga is not for everyone. They say if you need help with a computer ask a kid. Maybe that’s a solution in this case. Arm the kid with a camera. Or maybe one of those cameras that you can poke into places too small. I found one at Harbor Freight. Ideas that may save you from having to look like one of those UK swimmers who try to swim across the North Sea or the English Channel.

 

[Noodat Lady]

Still hoping for a Seaward owner to reply. I am sure that my wiring is OEM.

I'd like to think that a well designed boat like a Seaward would have easily accessible breaker panels, but on my previous boat, an O'Day 20, the wiring was indeed hidden at the stern end of the port lazarette. It was such a pain to access that I installed a hatch in the cockpit, which made a world of difference. I hope I won't have to do the same in this boat.

Simple question: where's the shore power panel in a Seaward? If you don't know, then your guess is as good as mine.

 

[jssailem]

I do not know. I would start trying to track it. Follow the wires. The ones from the plug or the ones from the battery. The charger and the AC breaker need to be between the two points.

 

[kappykaplan]

Bob, does your boat have any AC plugs in the cabin? You might be able to trace your AC circuits that way.

 

[Noodat Lady]

Bob, does your bout have any AC plugs in the cabin? You might be able to trace your AC circuits that way.

Yes, one outlet, but it is in the v berth and the wiring heads sternwards through the bilge.

Last attempt before I lazarette dive: anyone actually know the answer to this? There must be a Seaward owner here. The 24 and 26RK seem to be almost identical to the 25, so if you've delved into electrics of those models please speak up.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I'd unscrew the AC inlet connector from the outside of the boat to test for power using a multimeter. While you have it out, you can also check to see which direction the wiring goes. This will aid you in figuring out it's path throughout the boat. Do you have any outlets or other 120v devices that are presumed to be hard wired?

Not all boats are wired properly, especially if wired by a PO. On my boat they used some nice Hubble connectors but wired two in parallel (port/starboard sides), used standard copper wiring and did not install a breaker of any type. On the surface, it looks like it could've been an OEM install

 

[Noodat Lady]

I'd unscrew the AC inlet connector from the outside of the boat to test for power using a multimeter. While you have it out, you can also check to see which direction the wiring goes. This will aid you in figuring out it's path throughout the boat. Do you have any outlets or other 120v devices that are presumed to be hard wired?

Not all boats are wired properly, especially if wired by a PO. On my boat they used some nice Hubble connectors but wired two in parallel (port/starboard sides), used standard copper wiring and did not install a breaker of any type. On the surface, it looks like it could've been an OEM install

Good suggestion, I'll try that.

Only one AC outlet, in the v berth, and also an AC water heater and dual voltage refrigerator. All a long way from the AC inlet.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Noodat Lady]

To update: Got a reply from a kind Seaward 26RK owner on another forum.
Yes, anyone with the least initiative should have found this, but I didn't. The AC breaker is on the galley cabinet, facing the lazarette. Threw the breaker and now I have power. Hopefully this might help someone in future with one of the larger Seawards.

I bought a wet suit and a quart of KY Jelly for my expedition into the bowels of the boat, but guess I won't need it now and am willing to sell cheaply to someone with quirky sex habits.

 

[jssailem]

Maybe this is a good post to support the idea, used in the US Navy by all skippers getting a new ship/boat - BEFORE THEY SIGN THE ACCEPTANCE PAPERS, spend some time looking in all the nooks and crannies of your boat. Get a good flashlight and camera. Open up every void. Look in and record what you see. You never know when you may need to find something.

 

[Noodat Lady]

I always know exactly where I went wrong. All I need is a working time machine.