Shorepower and running engine

kloudie1 · Apr 25, 2014

No Need to unplug unless you are going out :~) There will be no problems from running a battery charger and your alternator at the same time.

Steve Dion · Apr 25, 2014

Claude: If my cord is long enough can I leave it plugged in?:Liar::naughty:

Nom De Guerre · Apr 25, 2014

Although somewhat tongue in cheek, the previous posters make good points.

If you are going to be going out, make unplugging shore power a part of the routine (step one, do this, step two unplug, ...), and keep it the same every time.

Otherwise you will invariably forget sooner or later, and end up with one damaged cord end and fodder for your dockmates to razz you with.

Team118 · Apr 25, 2014

Been there done that..I always have the same routine. A quick precheck of the chainplates and pins, a gaze at the sheets and halyards and then to the back to start the engine.

Once done, I unhook shore power, get off the boat, release the dock lines, hop on board and away I go.

I got side tracked with a passenger that wanted to help. I let him get in the way of my routine and forgot to unplug the cord.

Needless to say, when we backed out, the cord ripped the socket out of the hull and twisted the stern to starboard...the passenger went to grab the power cord until I screamed NO!!!! I had visions of 30 amps coursing through his body...

I went into forward gear, redocked quickly, undid the cord from the dock.

Thankfully, the outlet on the deck wasn't too bad, some new butyl tape and all was well.

That was the last time...now I make my guests SIT!!!! They mean well, but it's best to follow the same routine every time!

Have fun!
Chris

Stu Jackson · Apr 25, 2014

Welcome and congratulations on your boat.

Many times when new skippers are still plugged and charging, they write in that their tachs don't work. That's because if the batteries are full, the alternator's regulator won't send a signal to charge.

Good luck with everything. Look forward to seeing you here.

Johnb · Apr 25, 2014

Not that this is relevant to your question, but please don't leave the dock end plugged in and unplug the boat end. We used to have a neighbor who left the hot cord lying along the dock, a totally unnecessary hazard.

Navicula · Apr 25, 2014

Yes I agree never leave a live cord handing around......my routine is to unplug from the tower first then I disconnect from the boat...

quadrille38 · Apr 25, 2014

Also not completely relevant to your question but you said you start the engine every few days. Unless you are running it long enough to get hot and under load you could be doing more harm than good.

Getting an engine warm but not hot produces condensation inside the engine which can become acidic and damage the components. Engines need to get hot.
And diesels do not do well just loafing along at idle. They need to be put under load so as to avoid carbon build up in the cylinders.

Mulf · Apr 26, 2014

Dreamboat's Checklist

When we bought Dreamboat I was a little overwhelmed by all the things I needed to remember to operate her. So I made up the checklist which is on the attached PDF. I have laminated it onto a double sided 8-1/2 by 11 sheet of paper and we go over it every time we use the boat. It's better than missing something as shown by the stories in this thread. I had to convert it to PDF to upload here. If you want the excel file email me at mulf(at)live.com

choover · Apr 26, 2014

I'd like to see your checklist and do not find it attached. Can you forward to choovern@bellsouth.net? Thanks in advance! Chuck!

Stu Jackson · Apr 26, 2014

choover said:
I'd like to see your checklist and do not find it attached. Can you forward to choovern@bellsouth.net? Thanks in advance! Chuck!

It shows up on my browser, you just have to click on the ....pdf link at the bottom of the message.

Hope it works for you.

Donnybrook · Apr 27, 2014

I usually turn my battery charger off before starting the engine. I have forgotten, with no problems. It puts a large load on the battery charger when the starter kicks in. Why risk an expensive charger?

Steve Walsh · Apr 28, 2014

As others have mentioned running your diesel for 5-10 minutes every few days is hard on it. If it is hard to start after sitting a week, you may have an air leak in the fuel system and in my experience, those get worse and will probably cause a no-start situation, usually when you need the engine the most.

Ken13559 · Apr 28, 2014

Wonder if there's anyone sail off with shorepower still attached more than twice?
Once bitten, twice shy

quadrille38 · Apr 28, 2014

kasishunter30 said:
Thanks everyone for you recommendations and comments. That helps a lot. I too have made a checklist but the one offered here is fantastic! I will definitely use it!! I have been starting the engine every two or three days (copying someone else) and let it run for 5-10minutes before shutting it down. So now begs the question...should I do this? It just seems to me that if I don't do this and wait a week without starting, it seems to be more difficult to get her going again. Maybe that is just the way diesels are? She runs like a champ so I definitely don't want to mess that up. On another note, I took her this weekend and she sailed beautifully. I took along a few people that had never been on a sailboat before and it looks like they are now "in love". And I even remembered to unplug before I launched!! YAY!! Thanks again for your help!

Definitely DO NOT start and run 5 to 10 minutes. You are not doing your engine any favors. In that time it does not get hot enough and unless you are putting it in gear and running it hard you are running risk of engine damage via soot build up.

Shorepower and running engine

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

.

.

.

.

.

.