Safety Practices For Your Vessels Shore Power Cord

September 13, 2023

Dock and finger pier etiquette
1. Always keep the head pier and finger pier clear at all times.
2. Steps are allowed (keep at a reasonable size; remember you are sharing the finger pier)
3. The shore power cord should be wrapped with your dock line. DO NOT run it along your finger
pier, this is a tripping hazard, it could roll under your feet.
4. Water hoses should be stored in the dock box or on a usable hose hanger.
5. NO FUEL CANS ON THE DOCKS OR BOATS

Here are some safety practices for your vessels shore power cord:

Purchase a shore power cord that is UL-Marine listed
Avoid using household or outdoor electrical extension cords to provide power to your boat
Shore power plugs and receptacles have L-shaped or locking terminals. Be sure to twist the plug into
the receptacle until it is fully locked into place.
The male end plug of a shore power cord should be molded on or have a weatherproof seal in place to
keep water out of the internal electrical connections
Avoid the use of adapters. If an adapter is warranted, place it on the shoreside of the cord connection.
Turn off the main circuit breakers on the dockside and vessel electrical distribution systems before
plugging the shore power cord in between them
Plug the female end of the shore power cord into the boat first and then the dockside pedestal.
Reverse the sequence to disconnect them.
Avoid leaving a shore power cord plugged into the dockside power pedestal with the boat end
disconnected. The free end can be accidentally kicked into the water, creating a hazardous situation.
Check your shore power cord for cuts, exposed conductors, breaks, nicks, burnt plug or receptacle
terminals, bent or broken plug blades, corrosion, and stiffness.
Avoid coiling a shore power tightly on the dock; hang it up on the boat with large coils
Keep electrical shore power cord connections clean. Use a corrosion inhibitor and cleaning product like
a greaseless lubricant monthly. Avoid products like WD-40 that leave a current-resistant film on the cord
contacts.
Shore power cords should not be spliced or modified in any way
Replace stiff or corroded cords

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Safety Practices For Your Vessels Shore Power Cord

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