Water and electricity can be a lethal combination if certain precautions are not taken to protect you, your boat and your passengers. Below are some safety measures you can take to ensure protection from dangerous currents:
All shore power cords should have a weatherproof locking ring that interconnects with both the male and female connection ends. Be sure you use them when you have live current flowing.
Before connecting shore power, make sure your boat's main circuit breaker and the dock's shore power switch is turned off.
After connecting to shore power, turn the main circuit breakers on (both shore and boat). Check your polarity lights on the panel before switching on any accessories.
Always connect the boat end of the shore power cord to the boat (female end) before you connect to the shore power source (male end).
When disconnecting, turn off your boat's main circuit breaker and shore power switch first, then disconnect the shore power side before the boat's end female connector. If you fall in the water with the power cord, this procedure may keep you from being electrocuted.
If your power cord gets wet, make sure all power sources are turned off, then dry the ends off immediately and spray the connectors with a moisture repellent and corrosion inhibitor before using the cord again.
Check for cuts in the cord periodically. If you find any, replace the cord.
Never leave a live shore power cord at the dock when you are cruising.
Keep small children away from any power sources on the boat or dock.
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