Mac X shore power cost to install

[enufsed]

The boat I'm buying does not have shore power. Is this expensive to add? I did a quick search at this site but didn't see a message thread on this (could be missing it, however). Can someone point me to one? And/or give me a quick opinion on what's involved and likely costs. I have no idea if this is a big ticket item or something I can install myself in a couple of hours, with $100 of parts from Home Depot.

Boat is a Mac X.

[Ivan Awfulitch]

Cost will depend how you install things. When I did our X last year, I had a little under $200 in materials which included a hole saw to cut the hull for the shore power connector as I didn't have the correct size. I did install a Blueseas 30 amp panel with meters, main breaker, and 3 branch breakers. I used marine outlet boxes as they were extremely easy to install compared to household boxes, but bought the GFI outlets from Home Depot (they're the same model number they sell as marine, but 1/3 the price). The rest of the cost was for wire, and the watertite flex conduit that I used to route the wire around the the salon. I got the shore power connector from the Port Clinton Walmart, as they were $5 below mail order.

[Québec 1]

I got shore power installed by Russells Marine in Maine for 499$. As soon as I connect to shore power my batteries start charging , automatically stop charging when full and I have two regular house hold outlets and a 12 volt cigaret outlet to plug my fridge, computor and heater. I also bought a 50foot marine grade extension and made an adapter to plug the boat into the house when parked at home. I will buy a 1000w generator when they go on sale for around 250$ at Canadian tire and that will give me all the options...whenever I want them
Q1

[tangentair]

I got shore power installed by Russells Marine in Maine for 499$. ... I will buy a 1000w generator when they go on sale for around 250$ at Canadian tire and that will give me all the options...whenever I want them
Q1

Must be nice to have that great trade advantage, why not buy the generator in the US also? We need all the help we can get.

Seriously, the most expensive part of the initial install is the hull mounted power inlet. They run 30 to 50 or more. After that if you do it yourself then be sure not to make the grounds common between the 12v and 120 volt circuits. That puts your electronics etc on the same circuit as everyone else's in the harbor and there is no telling how good the ground is back to the shore. Tinned stranded wire costs a lot more than 7 or 9 strand copper house wiring, your call, but do not use single conductor it can break under vibration and cause all sorts of unpleasent things to happen when you plug into shore power. Quite a few of us have been know to cut the ends off quality extension cords - not approved but it is your boat. Some people use them for both 120 and 12v circuits in which case you might want to lable them somehow. For outlets, use GFI with the plastic junction boxes although I have seen many boats with power strips mounted on the bulkhead. One boat I know just installed 3 power strips with 15 amp breakers in the strips and wired them all together to a common plug, plugged the coffemaker, fans, lights, tv, radio, dvd, and battery charger into the strips and ran a long yellow extension cord into the boat through a small knotch in the cabin hatch cover. You can make it as expensive as you want.

[Kelly Hanson East]

About 500 USD installed by a pro is correct.

If I see a used boat with the 'power strip' approach I delete my labour costs to strip it out as well as diminish other 'mods' value.

You are free to do what you want on your own boat, but it can add negative value to your resale value.

[Moe]

This is what I'd use:

Locking, 30 Amp Power Cord, 25' minimum, white or yellow

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?&id=140292


Covered 30 Amp Marine Power Inlet

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?&id=139844


10 AWG Marine Grade Wiring from power inlet to main panel (10 foot max)

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... ex%20Wire/


Galvanic Isolator (30A) in ground line between power inlet and main panel

http://www.jackrabbitmarine.com/Detail.bok?no=2634


Blue Sea Systems #1114 120VAC Main plus 2 branch circuits

http://www.jackrabbitmarine.com/Detail.bok?no=4111


14 AWG Marine Grade Wiring from main panel to outlets

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... ex%20Wire/


Outlet boxes and outlets from home store.

--
Moe

[Beam's Reach]

Be sure of the distance from the inlet on your boat to the power source on the dock before you buy the cord. Mine was always just fine, but this year I moved to another dock and it's about 8 feet further away....had to buy another 50 foot cord and join them as that was cheaper than a shorter extension.

Blake Beam
Beam's Reach