Best Shore Power Inlet Location

[hoaglandr]

Worked on the boat this afternoon.... spent 30 minutes rounding up all my tools, installed the doors on the BWY Dodger, added a handle to the hatch, removed the bent spreader (and the straight one), lashed all the shrouds neatly to the mast, spent 15 minutes shooting the breeze with the neighbor when he came over to check out the (I may have recruited a new member of the crew!) and then contemplated my next project....

Decided I really ought to build one of those mast crutch things so many of you have posted about...I jury rigged an extension on the mast carrier on the stern so that I could work in the cockpit and install the dodger without the mast being in the way. But now I'm not sure it has enough support in the middle and I want to address that before I cover it. Contemplated what a mess that 5200 stuff can be in (on) the hands of an amateur.....

But the real point of this post is that I am now wavering on my decision about where to locate the shore power inlet. I plan to place the new AC distribution panel on the starboard cabin bulkhead next to the hatch. (The new DC is going on the port side where the original one is). I had originally intended to run my shore power through the well on the transom but now I am thinking that I could just drill that big hole in the starboard cabin wall (sorry, do we call that a bulkhead too?) and have direct access to the back of that AC panel.

So...I thought I would ask your opinions. (Which is one thing there is no shortage of here!) As a newbie I have never hooked up to shore power at a Marina! Is the location of the inlet much of an issue? If I place it on the transom will it get in the way if I enter through the stern (not that I would likely do that when I'm sitting at a dock). Am I missing anything here? Is there another location I haven't considered that might work better? I imagine that most of the time I'm plugged in I will be in my driveway but I hope to eventually venture out into deeper waters!

Thanks,
Russell

[pokerrick1]

The factory puts it amidship starboard. One of the considerations when at a dock is will you be docked stern first or bow first - - - probably bow first -- - if that's the case, you probably don't want the connection at the stern.

In any event, Mike Inmon at the factory has done hundreds of these in many locations; and I'm sure a call to him would give you tons of good info.

Rick

[Berber Boy]

I put mine at the rear entry to the cockpit on the Starboard side above the inspection plate cover. It is covered by the FG Seat back when in the down position which provides protection for UV and Rain. It works well and easily accessible to plug in without getting into the boat when parked in my yard. I have moored at jetties with power but it is easy to run the lead over the safety wire and across the deck / cockpit to connect and disconnect. It is pouring with rain other I would put a picture up too. It is easy to run the cable down into cabin and then anywhere you need it to go. I take mine through an earthed safety switch high in the S2 compartment under the table seat and then have my outlets on the front wall of the battery compartment between the ladder.

Cheers

David

[Catigale]

One consideration should be safety. As close to the shore power plug as practical, you should have a double pole disconnect switch that allows you to quickly shut off shore power to your boat. Tis disconnect needs to be accessible of course. The run of wire on mine is about 2 inches ....my shore power plug is port side above the gunwale, just forward of the cockpit.

[Highlander]

here's my shore power and 12v. outlets at the V-Berth click on the pic then you can zoom them in !


My slip hydro hook-up at the port aft side under the helsman seat


here's my main hydro 110v box with a outlet in the aft port side birth I usualy have a 6ft power bar attached to this outlet that is then hung on the side of the sliding galley


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010078.jpg

this outlet will be moved to the S/B side directly oppisit from where it is presently mounted aft port seat to the aft dinnette seat being moved for two reasons one it will give me outlets on both sides of the boat
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010080.jpg

Two , to make room for these new storage hatches
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010016.jpg

Hope this gives you some idea's this set up gives me access to 110V & 12v outlets on both sides of the boat and up front without having to run extension cords all over the cabin sole

J

[Divecoz]

I Have two. #1. twist-lock on Port side of forward hatch . #2. Standard 3 prong ,Port side bulkhead, next to companionway ,factory fuse panel is directly behind it.
The Twist-lock for when she is in Marinas and the 3 prong for when she's home next to the garage.

[Boblee]

Put ours where highlander and Berber Boy put theirs and put the swithboard at the back of the starboard bulkhead opposite the DC one.

[Currie]

Mine is inside the anchor locker. I always pull into my slip bow first, so it's a good spot for the receptacle. I also store the shorepower cable in there. It's fairly simple running the electrical wiring inside the boat. The receptacle is mounted on the sidewall of the anchor locker and the electrical wiring runs behind the liner to the very front of the bow (behind that little triangular bow panel in the v-berth), then down under the seats and back to my battery charger, etc. Works very nicely. I need to post it in the mods.

Cheers,
~Bob

[Russ]

I Have two.

That's brilliant. Why not?
A person could have one up on the bow and one aft so no matter where your shore power comes from it's close.
So many sailboats seem to have shore power fittings aft requiring long power cords on deck. Mine was and I hated it.



--Russ

[Catigale]

..best part of having two is you can plug one into the other and you get free power....even off shore...

[Russ]

..best part of having two is you can plug one into the other and you get free power....even off shore...

That won't work because they are the same gender. Unless you make a custom power cord.

But if you have a 12v-AC inverter plus an AC powered 12v battery charger, you can plug your shore power into the inverter and have infinite power.

[Currie]

..best part of having two is you can plug one into the other and you get free power....even off shore...

That won't work because they are the same gender. Unless you make a custom power cord.

But if you have a 12v-AC inverter plus an AC powered 12v battery charger, you can plug your shore power into the inverter and have infinite power.

Now, install a wind-generator on the bow, hook it up to the electrical system, and let the whole thing drive electric trolling motors. The faster you go, the faster the generator will turn and the faster you'll go.

[Catigale]

hat won't work because they are the same gender.

..thats allowed in Montana, but not in NJ.....hmmmmmm.....

[Divecoz]

..best part of having two is you can plug one into the other and you get free power....even off shore...

How did EVER miss that? Duhhh
As far as being Brilliant? Thank You Russ, but it was , more of a necessity for me so as to provide multiple plug in options.
We had thought in the begining, that we would trailer this boat a lot. To a lot of different sites. so having the two most common plug in's, seemed for me to be a good move.
We now have 2 inputs outside and 4 outputs inside the boat. With our , Finally...... Imminent move to S.W. Florida on the horizon. I will be changing a lot of things that worked for us before , but could be done different or better, for our new planned home port location and sailing style.
I see most of our future sailing , being Day Sails in the Bay ... Then loading her back up, for the occasional, a few times a year...multi-day "trips"...

[DaveB]

I don't have a AC Panel. I installed a Marine male AC plug under the kitchen sink and direct wired to the built-in 10 amp auto battery charger. Any AC appliance on board I use a inverter that plugs into a Cigarette lighter. I installed several of these cigarette plugs in the boat for easy access. I have a 12 gauge extension cord and a 3 prong twist type use at most Marinas. I also have my water fill at the counter top. Inside nothing gets wet and corrodes and AC plug costs $20 with rubber cover at Bass Pro Shops.
I run Air Condition 5000 BTU to dry out boat while on trailer in High humidity FL. and doubt it cost me $5 a mo. to run it.
I use to use damp rid but that will cost much more than AC and much more maintenance dumping the water container.
My 66quart Edgestar refig. DC went out and I now run it on AC that is pluged into a 75 watt inverter (I should have a 100) until parts come in.
I very rearly go to a Marina for the night, Tween Waters Marina is $72 a night not includeing Holidays or prime boating season. Most others $2 a ft. or more. (I don't want to Buy the place,just want a nights stay)
Dave

Worked on the boat this afternoon.... spent 30 minutes rounding up all my tools, installed the doors on the BWY Dodger, added a handle to the hatch, removed the bent spreader (and the straight one), lashed all the shrouds neatly to the mast, spent 15 minutes shooting the breeze with the neighbor when he came over to check out the (I may have recruited a new member of the crew!) and then contemplated my next project....

Decided I really ought to build one of those mast crutch things so many of you have posted about...I jury rigged an extension on the mast carrier on the stern so that I could work in the cockpit and install the dodger without the mast being in the way. But now I'm not sure it has enough support in the middle and I want to address that before I cover it. Contemplated what a mess that 5200 stuff can be in (on) the hands of an amateur.....

But the real point of this post is that I am now wavering on my decision about where to locate the shore power inlet. I plan to place the new AC distribution panel on the starboard cabin bulkhead next to the hatch. (The new DC is going on the port side where the original one is). I had originally intended to run my shore power through the well on the transom but now I am thinking that I could just drill that big hole in the starboard cabin wall (sorry, do we call that a bulkhead too?) and have direct access to the back of that AC panel.

So...I thought I would ask your opinions. (Which is one thing there is no shortage of here!) As a newbie I have never hooked up to shore power at a Marina! Is the location of the inlet much of an issue? If I place it on the transom will it get in the way if I enter through the stern (not that I would likely do that when I'm sitting at a dock). Am I missing anything here? Is there another location I haven't considered that might work better? I imagine that most of the time I'm plugged in I will be in my driveway but I hope to eventually venture out into deeper waters!

Thanks,
Russell