Will this year ever end? In the future if they ever perfect “time travel,” there will be a stop sign that says “Avoid 2020”!
Hopefully, you are all ready for the upcoming holiday season. I, for one, am not. Unfortunately, I did learn that the Port has had to cancel the annual Parade of Lights this year . The parade, which was looking forward to its 49th year, routinely brings crowds of more than 100,000 San Diegans to the bay over two weekends to watch as nearly 100 boats sail through the bay, decked out in colorful lights and decorations. It looks like we’ll have to wait until next year to see all those boats lit up on the bay.
I know many of you will be getting out the Christmas lights for your vessel regardless of the boat parade being cancelled; but before you do, I suggest taking some time to check the shore-to-ship power supply. Recently, we saw an issue where non-marine grade items were used, and it caused the boat’s cord to burn at the connection. Very scary stuff! Some things to do to make sure this does not happen to your vessel are to use only marine shore power cords capable of handling your boat’s power load, and ones that are labeled “UL-Marine .” Sets for boats under 40 feet include: 30 amps, 125 volts / and 50 amps, 125 volts. Utilize the set appropriate for your boat. If you use a 30-amp set for a 50-amp system, that less powerful set will fail over time from overheating. Please use marine service plugs and connectors , and don’t make the mistake of using regular outdoor extension cords. Marine shore power cords are designed to take the abuse offered in water-based environments. Still, you should check your cord regularly to make sure it is free of knots and frayed areas. Don’t tape the areas — replace damaged or deteriorated extension cords immediately. Keep all cords out of the water . If you suspect an electrical problem on your boat and you don’t feel comfortable with correcting the issues, hire a professional.
I look forward to seeing your boats lit up for the Holiday Season over the next couple of weeks. I will make sure to add some pictures of t he best ones in the January edition of our newsletter.
See you on the Docks!
Robert Zimmerman
619-862-2835
