[C320-list] Shore Power Receptacle

[Sara Schroeder]

This post is ever-so-timely!  

I live in Seattle and bought Wandering Star in 2016.  I sailed with the PO for about five years prior to ownership and he had upgraded to a Smart Plug sometime before I bought her.  

Fast forwarding to this past weekend.  Friday evening, I took WS over to Bainbridge Island (large residential island off of Seattle to the West) for the US Sailing, Safety At Sea, course and a corresponding Life Sling training which I volunteered my boat for. When I left my slip, I took my power cord with me as there would be power. When I unplugged her from the stern receptacle, I was in a hurry to get across the water before dark (going solo) and remember noticing the end of the plug was "warm."  Note To Self:  Check that when you get there.  Lots going on when I arrive so I forget the Note To Self.  

Saturday was the Life Sling training and part of the training was on-the-water practice, deploying the Life Sling and getting it as close to a floating MOB buoy as possible.  Upon leaving the dock, I again, notice the plug is "warm."  Getting back to the dock I start looking around.  The plug looks fine. The receptacle attached to the boat looks fine.  But, instinct told me that I was away from my dock and something was amiss.  Instead of plugging in the closed cell oil space heater I brought I didn't.  Sunday morning arrived and I took the 42 degree chill off the boat with my Webasto heater. (If you're asking yourself why I didn't run the Webasto over night it's because I didn't want to burn through all the fuel as it draws from a small secondary tank.) 

Upon return to my marina, my ex offered to "take a look".  During the hour-plus crossing I determined that the power cord and SmartPlug must be about 13 years old.  This was not on my radar so I decided it was being replaced regardless.  

Another expensive trip to Fisheries (the local chandlery) resulted in a new plug and a new receptacle.   We pulled everything apart and when we pulled the receptacle out of the stern, I about had heart failure.  The entire inside (just like Renegade) was melted.  The wires were melted together and the SmartPlug receptacle was melting on the inside of the casing. 

We cut off the plug from the power cord and determined the cord was fine as there was no damage internally on the cord.  However, we replaced all of the wires associated with the receptacle and replaced the plug.  

I have to say the thought of the stern of my boat, and me, going up in flames is sobering. I'll never unplug/plugin again without testing the temp of the plug.  I'll also unscrew the meager four screws out of the receptacle every few years to make sure the wires are not doing something they shouldn't.  

Note To Self:  Don't ignore the Notes To Self!

Gratefully, 
Sara Schroeder
Wandering Star
Seattle
2000/#707

> On 02/27/2024 6:54 AM PST Guy Smith via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> 
>  
> Hey Bruce!
> 
> Sorry for the confusion... I used to have a '97 C320... That was the
> boat that had a cord problems, probably 10-12 years old at the
> time(I'm guessing)...
> We traded up to the C445 two years ago but I like staying on the C320
> list for the great info that is shared. :)
> The C445 has smart plugs (2) and haven't had any issues.
> 
> ~g
> Guy & Liz Smith
> sv Renegade
> 2017 Catalina 445 #26
> Worton Creek Marina, MD USA
> 
> 
> On Tue, Feb 27, 2024 at 2:07 AM Bruce Hunter <swampcreek42 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > A 2017 boat, I don't know, if it were older, like much older I'd say it's possible they slowly corroded away but on a 7 or 8 year old boat I'd have to say that was a loose connection from the factory.
> >
> > Bruce Hunter
> > Former owner 2000 320
> > New owner 2005 350 Miss Sea-ducer.
> >
> > Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
> >
> > On Mon, Feb 26, 2024 at 6:10 PM, Guy Smith via C320-list
> > <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> > Hey All!
> >
> > I had a problem where I was burning up the plug on the yellow plug cable
> > and thought it was a cable plug problem. It turns out that the wires
> > *inside* the locker on the back of the receptacle were corroded and, one by
> > one, the strands of the wires screwed down to the back of the
> > receptacle were burning through. Probably when we were running the AC or if
> > the Batteries were really low and the charger was drawing a lot of power.
> > This was creating a lotta heat on the inside that was being transferred via
> > the male pins to the cable plugin on the other side.
> > I cleaned up the wires inside the locker and the problem went away. (on the
> > new plug I replaced on the cable.)
> > So check the back of the receptacle in the aft port locker to see the state
> > of wiring.
> >
> > ~g
> >
> > Guy & Liz Smith
> > sv Renegade
> > 2017 Catalina 445 #26
> > Worton Creek Marina, MD USA
> >
> > On Mon, Feb 26, 2024 at 11:15 AM islgirl3--- via C320-list <
> > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I assume this is the correct receptacle?
> > >
> > > Marinco 305CRR Marine Electrical Receptacle (30-Amp, 125-Volt, Female,
> > > Yellow)
> > >
> > > Rich 897
> > > Sent from AOL on Android
> > >
> > >  On Sun, Feb 25, 2024 at 7:08 PM, Chris Burti via C320-list<
> > > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:  If anyone is converting to
> > > SmartPlug, I have a 50' 30 amp cord set that is almost unused as our spare
> > > and is available.
> > >
> > > Chris Burti
> > > Former C-320 #867
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of
> > > Josh Chisholm via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> > > Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2024 10:19 AM
> > > To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > > Cc: Josh Chisholm <josh.a.chisholm at gmail.com>; Brian McLamb via C320-list
> > > <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Shore Power Receptacle
> > >
> > > +1 on the SmartPlug…first upgrade I did after purchase. Original Marinco
> > > had evidence of arcing probably from pulling the shore power cable under
> > > load. No bueno.
> > >
> > > -Josh C.
> > > #1139 S/V Catherine
> > >
> > > On Sun, Feb 25, 2024 at 06:47 KEN GEIGER via C320-list <
> > > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > A few years ago I replaced my 20 year old  original failed Marinco with
> > > an
> > > > expensive Smart Plug.  A few years later it failed and am back to
> > > Marinco,
> > > > only problem was that the one available at my marina was to big so
> > > > adjustments were required. So I was happy to use the SmartPlug but not to
> > > > happy with early failure.
> > > > Ken Geiger#765 2000 Northern Dream
> > > >
> > > > Sent from AOL on Android
> > > >
> > > >  On Sun, Feb 25, 2024 at 8:28 a.m., Brian McLamb via C320-list<
> > > > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:  Consider replacing it with
> > > > SmartPlug receptacle. My 2006 model yr 320 was a
> > > > direct replacement with no need to modify the existing foot print. Bonus
> > > is
> > > > the ease of connecting and additional surge protection it provides.
> > > > S/V Serenity # 1075
> > > >
> > > > Brian McLamb
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Sun, Feb 25, 2024 at 8:21 AM islgirl3--- via C320-list <
> > > > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I need to replace my shore power receptacle, before I remove it I would
> > > > > like to have one on hand. Does anyone have a part # ?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > RichBarbara Rita 897
> > > > >
> > > > > Sent from the all new AOL app for Android
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >