I'm presently moored at a new dock with new modern electrical system. My
panel indicators and a handheld GFI tester tells me my hook up is ok.

However another old boat arrived recently and has had a lot of shore power
problems that caused me to suspect that he may not be wired correctly. I
have tested his cable with my handheld GFI gadget when he complained of
problems and it test ok (even though the shore side plug looks line it has
had some past problems).

Yesterday a local diver approached me about diving and inspecting my zincs
the next time he replace the prop zinc on this old boat. He told me that he
had just replaced his zinc 2 weeks ago and it is already being eaten away
and would be gone in a couple months.

I don't have a prop zinc and rely on a Professional Mariner Corrosion
Control System that has all underwater metals fitting connected through the
controller to a single zinc. This has work normally for 26 months when last
checked 4 months ago my original zinc is still ok. With this other boats
problem I'm wondering if I should be worried enough to pay this diver to
check my zinc again??

I suspect that this other boat has a cheap A$$ battery charger going all
the time, since he is living aboard (when no one is watching). I have known
of cheap battery chargers that are "Hot" and shouldn't be use on a boat.
This fellow is rather secretive about his boat system and from what I have
seen of his shore power hook up, he may be a cause of serious stray current
to other boats.

Is there anyway, with simple equipment that I can determine if his boat is
causing any problems? Should I test between the neutral lead of shore power
and the water for stray current with a volt meter??

It should be easy to isolate any problems since there are only 3 boats
hooked up to shore power right now.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Steve wrote:

Is there anyway, with simple equipment that I can determine if his boat is
causing any problems? Should I test between the neutral lead of shore power
and the water for stray current with a volt meter??

Steve,
what I would do is simply measure with an AC voltmeter (possibly digital
and with high internal resistance) if there is voltage between the
ground wire of the shore power and the water around your boat when you
are NOT connected to shore power itself while the possible suspect IS
connected. Useless to say to be very careful. Try different scales
starting from the highest down. Eventually, if the voltage is low, try
also the DC scales. You should not be able to read any voltage but if
there is a stray current problem you might. If you read anything let me
know and I may help to work things out.

Daniele