Cautionary tale for on-board electrical safety

[gsc3]

I just saw this article about an on-board electrocution that illustrates the hazard of DYI electrical work with boat connected to shore power:
https://www.ecmweb.com/maintenance-repa ... 5593189H3H

 

[chicagosam]

Tragic.
Although, I don't like the undertones of liability on the Marina owner that this article pushes.
Using a METAL fish tape on a live 120v conduit carrying power lines to the main bus is outright DUMB!

I will refrain from the typical ambulance chaser/ lawyer cliches here.

Lesson: If you think you know what you are doing - Pause, and re-evaluate if your instincts are correct.

 

[iggy]

The Marina was partly at fault. That part you gotta love! But the boater was to too smart as they mentioned, not killing the power, using a metal fish tape and knowing that he has snaking into a live electrical box.

 

[bob daily]

Grandma always said that the stupid shall be punished!

 

[Matty]

Any argument to blame someone other than the victim ended at power on and metal fish tape.

 

[jagizzi]

Some interesting stuff in here beyond the initial problems with the fish tape etc. It is pointed out that marinas have a fine line to walk. If they make shorepower so responsive to minor faults then do they become liable for a sunken boat that has a tripped breaker as the bilge pumps weren't on? I would guess that this has already been litigated at some point but it does beg the question.

 

[BradOwens]

There isn't a GFCI on the power pole in front of your house. Any person with common sense would disconnect the power before messing with the breaker box. I don't see how any reasonable person would think the marina was liable.

 

[TexasEye]

cause-in-fact, and proximate cause...

"But for" the action, the result would not have happened...

Of all the dangers on my boat I fear AC Current the most...Hitting my head is a close second...

 

[vertigo]

There isn't a GFCI on the power pole in front of your house. Any person with common sense would disconnect the power before messing with the breaker box. I don't see how any reasonable person would think the marina was liable.

Juries are rarely comprised of "reasonable persons."

 

[iggy]

There isn't a GFCI on the power pole in front of your house. Any person with common sense would disconnect the power before messing with the breaker box. I don't see how any reasonable person would think the marina was liable.

Juries are rarely comprised of "reasonable persons."

In my last post, I did not think of this. Sometime the Ins. Co. will settle rather than spend the money to go to court. Sounds stupid but true.

 

[bill46]

I see many problems in order of severity.
1. Working with circuit hot.
2. Using metal fish tape on boat.
3. No ELCI on boat.
4 no ELCI on dock.

Believe all Rangers have ELCI, most marinas in north Florida added ELCI after hurricane rebuilds in last few years.

Bill

 

[Matty]

On the list of 4 if you do number 1, as I always do, the rest do not matter. On the boat or in your house.