It's that damn PO again...

[shemandr]

I've just taken possession of a new to me Slickcraft (Shhhh - I know this is a sailing forum but I still do have a sailboat). Among other problems the battery charger isn't working. Through serial #'s etc. I've learned it was manufactured in 2011. It is a Pro Spot 12 whatever. I've spent a lot of time on MS's web site re battery chargers and decided for my use the new Promariner Pro whatever 20 would fit my use, which is charging during the week at my dock. Imagine my delight to find it or something close on sale at West for the 4th. They had 1 in stock and I bought it today. When I got it home I realized the 30' of AC supply I expected turned into about 6' of AC - with a plug. I didn't really want the plug because I assumed I would hard wire it into the dedicated circuit on my AC panel. In looking back at the websites for the chargers I noted that the 12 amp replacement has a plug too! Maybe they all do? I remembered that there is a blue plasitic box that I could barely see and could not ID the use for in a photo when I shoved the iPhone up there. Could this be a junction box and the charger is plugged into it on the invisible side? Or what the heck is that? Dam PO.

 

[Ken Cross]

I'm guessing it houses a relay.
Open it and look inside. You'll know then.

Ken

 

[agprice22]

That guy, PO, has owned most of our boats before us, and he does some funky stuff. If only we could find him. He must be pretty old by now!

 

[jssailem]

From your picture, it looks like it could be a plastic junction box. That PO guy sure does get around. Comes up with some really funky ideas. Few are proper Marine Electrical design, but many come from the nearest box store.
Bet he has stock in them box stores.
Let us know what you discover. Keep in mind it is a "POWER" boat. Powered by a power plug...

 

[jibes138]

Cut off the plug and add ring terminals and wire it directly to the charger breaker at the panel and the AC neutral and ground busses. I just did this project. My OEM installation was a household AC outlet in my engine compartment. I was putting in a new charger and read that ABYC or some other code prohibits AC plug in connections for battery chargers.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Hmmm - I wonder how many of us have a PO alias?? Probably the majority. How often are commercial products designed for maintainability - why do we expect previous owners to have expertise that even the major corporations (and the folks who build our boats) lack.

Les

 

[shemandr]

Well then the AB Yacht Club (ABYC) won't be invited on my boat! Seriously, I did put an outlet sorta in the engine compartment. It was that blue junction box shown in my picture. The charger wires wouldn't be long enough to get to the AC panel. The old charger was wired to that same box. I didn't want to cut the plug off since I think that would void my warrantee. So, Bless me ABYC for I have sinned ...." But it was the least sin I could come up with.

 

[jssailem]

Les, I suspect we are just hopeful positive thinking folk who want to believe that the boat builders (and by extension the PO's of the boat we bought) know more than we do and would do the right thing by their boat.

We are so naive.

 

[WayneH]

Hmmm - I wonder how many of us have a PO alias??

Les

I am and have been the DPO!!! I maintain my boat (the current one) so the other boats kinda sloughed. And I ended up being the DPO.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

I'm sure I have been also. I think 99% of the time the PO was dealing with budget, time, or knowledge constraints. I don't know any boater ( I'm sure the exist) that would do a half assed job just so the next owner would have to deal with it.

I find it's more enjoyable to dream up scenarios to explain why thing were done in a "strange" way than to get angry at some nameless person.

Les

 

[jssailem]

to dream up scenario

To repair or, “To die, to sleep – to sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there's the rub, for in this sleepof death what dreams may come…”
Yes what dreams.... Of moorings not untied. Of Docks not left... Of seas not sailed for want of a proper repair....

 

[jssailem]

I have been reading "Tranquility, A memoir of an American Sailor". The following passage resonates with this discussion about PO's and how we all may have a duty to the future owners of our boats.

" A boat has no sense of self preservation or guile, dispite the personality projected upon her by master and crew..... You may truly love her, you may lavish care on her, you may even imagine she can reciprocate it all, but remember this: she will fetch you onto a remorseless reef some dark and dreary night just as gaily as she will sail you through the pass of a tropical lagoon in the by and by. The responsibility for everything that happens, good, bad, or indifferent; in, on, or to a ship, must ultimately be laid at the feet of her captain -- let who will, say nay. If there's any immutable law of the sea, this is without a doubt its founding tenet."