www.iFourWinns.com

I have my Vista 268 plugged into shore power and I am using a "pig tail adapter" to complete the connection. The shore power receptacle is a standard 3 prong outlet so I need the pig tail to step down the shore power cable. I am being told that this does not meet National Code and I was wondering if anyone had any input on this?

Ask them to reference the code section that references this. I would be curious to know how the NEC even has any jurisdiction on watercraft anyway. If you ask me, almost none of the wiring on my boat is per NEC. Does the local electrical inspector have to sign off on boats? I have never heard of that. Im sure this is all QC, and not inspected by local government.

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2006 Vista 278
First Boat:
2005 Sundowner 205
Columbus, OH

[PDF]
Article 555 Marinas and Boatyards - Mike Holt Enterprises
www.mikeholt.com/download.php?file=PDF/ ... 55_web.pdf

Understanding the National Electrical Code ... Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc. • www.MikeHolt.com • 888.NEC.CODE (632 ... If shore power provides two …

Just offhand and by a quick look, does the pigtail hang down too low? That could be what they are referencing.

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2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI

I would think they were relating to his connection and not his boat wiring.

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2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI

Don't know if it's what they're referring to or not, but I certainly wouldn't want it as a permanent connection, since your boat is a 30 amp connection, and a standard outlet would be 20 amp, also, is it GFCI?

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2004 Four Winns 328 Vista
1997 Larson Cabrio 290 - sold
1988 Rinker Fiesta Vee 248 - sold

Correct, NEC does have jurisdiction over marinas and boatyards, but I do not believe they have any say on what is inside the boat or attached to it. Meaning, his shore power cord would not be governed by local code authorities.

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2006 Vista 278
First Boat:
2005 Sundowner 205
Columbus, OH

Now lets see, you have a 30 amp standard shore power cord. Your using a pig tail to plug into a 20 amp circuit. Or you can look at it this way, you have the ability to pull at least 30 amps and your using a adapter to plug into a 20 amp line. You don't see a problem with that?

Those pigtails are good for those rare cases when needed. You are looking at the possibility for a fire. What happens if the 20amp breaker is rusted closed due to all the moisture in the air and it never opens and your pulling over 20 amps?

I don't need a code book to say that this wrong or right and not to be used as a permanent way to power my boat.

His connection to shore power is covered by NEC. When he extends the outlet by means of a pigtail or extension cord, he is creating a new connection. His connection needs to be directly plugged into the outlet at the height specified in code.

As far as the boat goes, it can be wired with twist ties and bailing wire, and use pennies to bridge the fuses - NEC does not pertain to that. Only the dockside electrical connection. HOWEVER it does sound like the dockside connection, being a standard 3 prong plug may be a code violation in itself.

My thought would be - what are others doing here? Are they running an extension cord directly from the dockside connection into their boat and then plugging their boat into the extension? Do they just have 3 prong plugs coming out of their boats? And who is doing the inspecting?

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2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI

Both your 20amp cords and 30amp cords use a different plug type because of the amperage as it should. But both are "3 prong plugs" Not trying to give you a hard time, I just think there to much confusion in this post.

Lets clear it up then.

If your marinas outlets are like this: (What I consider as a "standard three prong outlet")

They are the problem.

However - they are probably like this:

Or similar.

IF you are using a pigtail like such:

(It may not have the same prong style/layout - used for reference)

And your connection from the boat to the pigtail is below the "electrical datum plane" - Then it is a code issue. They probably want you to use an adapter as such:

(Not the same plug layout again - used for reference)

Because your connection between boat and pigtail hangs down too low. I hope this explains it better - sorry for being so vague.

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2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI

The pigtail adapter he shows in the previous post - Shouldn't be used full time at a marina. That is typically used when on land or a trailer to get shore power to the boat temporarily. Both fittings should be the round three prong type that can be secured on both ends.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Thanks for all the replies, they have been helpful. Just to clarify, I am using my shore power cable to (connected as I mentioned in my original post) maintain my battery chargers (which I believe pull very little amperage). My A/C, refrigerator, and all other functions are turned off. If I understand the Code (now), my problem is that my cable is running along the dock (about five feet) then up the pole where it plugs into a "pigtail" and then into a typical 3 prong outlet.

To satisfy Code, I need to keep my shore power cord and pigtail on the boat, connect to an approved extension cord, and then run that cord directly from the boat to the outlet. This is doable.

Thoughts?

Why not just use a normal 30 amp shore power cable?

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

It sounds like they do not have 30amp outlets at that marina based on what he is saying.

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2006 Vista 278
First Boat:
2005 Sundowner 205
Columbus, OH