Is Marina power metered?

[mastreb]

My Brother-in-law is considering buying a 33 foot Hunter that has electric drive. His intention is to keep it slipped, and just plug it into shore power to keep its 48v system charged.

Is there any convention about marina power being metered individually? He seems to believe it is, but in the three marinas I've been in it hasn't been, at least for my 32' and 26' boats.

Your experience?

Matt

[Tomfoolery]

My marina only has one dock out of six with meters. All the others have power, but no meters. Obviously, these are the largest slips, intended for cabin cruisers with A/C running all the time, and/or live-aboards.

The non-metered docks aren't small, by the way. My 34 footer was far from the largest on those docks.

[Crikey]

How much overall juice can he be capable of storing on this boat? It would have to be way less than the consumption of some folks running their air-conditioners overnight. Mostly, around here, they just charge you based on whether you're plugged in overnight (daily). Individual meters on each slip would be a costly upgrade for a marina.
This is probably a better deal than plugging your Prius in at your latest party visit.
R.

[hartflat]

Greeetings,

Here in Southern California it seems like metered power at permanent slips is the standard. I have my 26M slipped at Chanel Is. Harbor off the central coast. I have it plugged into shore power all the time in order to maintain the batteries topped off with a three stage Guest charger. They have a minimum $5.00 monthly charge, plus any additional usage. With the charger, plus occasional visits to the boat each month, I have never gone much over the minimum monthy surcharge.

One very important thing to have in mind though. When it comes to shore power, especially around live-aboard neighbors, GET A GALVANIC ISOLATOR! My zincs were being sacrificed & my outboard bracket was coroding very fast. Turns out, either someone on the dock has a ground fault, or the wiring at the marina is faulty. Since installing a Yandina isolator (least expensive, yet works well) the problems seems to have been solved. It will save you LOTS of money down the road.

[BOAT]

Do you go to the Channel Islands a lot?

[hartflat]

Mostly Anacapa & eastern Santa Cruz. Haven't ventured out to Santa Rosa yet. The Santa Barbara Chanel is unique when it comes to sailing. If you can sail the Potatoe Express, you can sail just about anywhere.

[robbarnes1965]

I've seen more marinas with metered water than electricity. Mostly, like others answered before me, it's a flat rate extra for power.

[Obelix]

Ballena Isle Marina in SFB where I had my was metered, we paid monthly base-charge and usage

Obelix

[taime1]

We don't have metered power nor metered water. All the docks have essentially unlimited access, but boats with AC units pay extra $100 flat charge per AC unit. All boats pay $37 per foot for the season, but it always struck me as odd that I pay for a 26 foot boat but only get a 20 foot dock. Our season is from May 15 to October15 and the marina charges 37$ per foot. That ends up being about $275 per month onces taxes are added. Because this allows me to get out there more often, it's worth every penny.

[yukonbob]

All slips here are metered. There is a flat transient rate of ten bucks a day, or you can contact the power company and have your power metered and pay them.

[seahouse]

None of the local marinas in my area that I’m familiar with are metered. Actually – I’ve never even seen a meter (and I am the inquisitive sort). They charge a flat rate per foot, and for water and shore power. Figuring a 5 month season, my cost here is pretty much the same as yours is taime1. For that, I can also conveniently park my car right at the boat, 15 feet from it.

Shore power keeps my batteries topped up, and keeps the fridge/freezer going, so my power use is small.

I regularly hose my boat down at the slip (once a week+), and the water pressure is so high it’s almost as good as a power washer. When I asked the manager if that might be considered an “excess use” of the water, the reply was that their annual municipal water bill was quite low- use all I needed. I think they figure the charge based on the average use of water and electricity. I guess they can always adjust the rate annually so the costs are covered.

- Brian.

[Catigale]

Ahhhhh....the joys of sailing the Great Lakes....

I've seen both flat rate and metered, Matt. I hated paying 25 bucks at the flat rte places when all I used was battery charger and 12 vdc lights.....

A couple of seasons ago I spent 250 on electricity charges at various marinas...so this year, I conned the Admiral out of a boat buck and coaxed a Honda EU 2000 generator for house, boat, cottage, Grandma house, and a cruising friend

Split three ways, ill be way ahead.