Sure Power
Shore power cords are workhorses that can withstand years of abuse, but they don’t last forever. Know when it’s time to put yours out to pasture.
You probably treat your shore power cords well. You carefully coil them and wipe off the dirt, grease, and grime from time to time. But your cords still get abused. Whether they’re yanked on by your boat, pinched between the boat and dock, dropped into salt water, or cut and allowed to corrode, they eventually deteriorate. Which is why you should regularly inspect your shore power cords and replace them as necessary.
And when replacement time comes, we like using Marinco’s EEL (Easily Engaged Lock) Shore Power Cord ($100 for 25 feet of 30-amp cord, $600 for 25 feet of 50-amp cord. www.marinco.com). These cords boast a plethora of useful features such as proprietary lights on each end that let you know you’re still plugged in. A second, smaller LED indicator shows you if you are transferring power or not, (so no more yelling to someone aboard to check the breaker.) And simple push-button locking replaces the need for threads and twist-on sealing rings.
This article originally appeared in the April 2016 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
