[D31] Is your marina electrically safe?

[D C *Mac* Macdonald]

The file at the following URL is informative about a hazard with which
most boat owners and probably many marina operators are not familiar.
This is the hazard that exists primarily at fresh-water marinas.  "It"
is the hazard of electric shock to people in the water near docks where
faults in the grounding/bonding occur, which can cause a person to
become unconscious and subsequently drown!

(http://www.mikeholt.com/download.php?file%3dPDF/IAEI-Shafer.PDF)

While the above article is somewhat technical, most folks can
understand the basic danger that is inherent in an electrical fault
around water.  The hair dryer dropped into the bathtub scenario is at
work here.

The article is from a bi-monthly publication of International
Association of Electrical Inspectors.

The article also refers to a device developed by Mike Holt
Enterprises, Inc. (http://www.MikeHolt.com) to enable marina operators
and/or electrical inspectors) to monitor for any hazardous conditions
and eliminate them.

Unlike the GFCIs (Ground Fault Current Interrupters) that we have in
our homes (and some of our boats), the amount of leakage that will set
off the alarm can be reduced as any bonding faults in the marina are
eliminated.  For additional information on this Ground Fault Protection
(GFP) device, see:

(http://www.marinaguard.net)

The above information was provided to me by a relative who is both a
boat owner and an electrical contractor.

Perhaps you should check to see if  YOUR  marina and boat are
protected, and if not, why not!


*  D C "Mac" Macdonald  *
* m/v Another Adventure *
*  '95 Carver 355 ACMY  *
* Grand Lake - Oklahoma *
*  USPS & AGLCA (#217)  *