Extension Cables at the dock / slip

[KnotConnected]

Hey crew!

So after 4 years of buff, polish, wax (only the this year, the 4th, have I done so with an actual automatic buffer / polisher, and MAN what a difference, but that conversation is a horse for a different race) I FINALLY have the hull looking good. All the oxidation is gone, and the thing has a mirror finish! I've been concentrating on all the area that I can't get at while it's in the water during the summer, so now I have half of a boat (plus the radar arch) that still needs tons of work.

Questions are:

a) Is it safe to plug an extension cable into the shorepower light-post on the dock and use the automatic buffer and a step stool to do the radar arch? Something about an extension cable plugged into a big electric motor around water seems like a bad idea.

b) Can I get a good finish if I buff, polish & wax outside during the summer, so long as I do it on a cloudy day when the sun isn't going to bake the compound on before I can finish?

c) anything else I'm forgetting about?

 

[H20Rat]

a) yes, as long as it is just one extension cord that is in good condition. If the outlet isn't GFI protected, you can get portable GFI strips/taps for $20 at any big box store/amazon.

b) yes, cloudy works, as well as early morning/evening when the sun is low.

 

[shrew]

Why do you need to plug the buffer into the light post on the dock? Is this your Larson 280? Do you have shorepower? Why not just plug the buffer into an outlet on the boat? Why does the extension cord need to run to the dock?

Does the boat ever get pulled to clean and paint the hull? That would be an easy time to wax the boat. Even boat that live in the water year round typically get hauled seasonally for maintenance.

 

[KnotConnected]

Shrew,

The Cab280 has outlets on the boat, but they're all inside the cabin. None in the cockpit. Either way, i'd have an extension cable around water which seemed like something you'd read about in the Darwin awards.

Also, I live in WI, so the boat spends more time out of the water than I'd like. Unfortunately the marina I store at packs the boats in literally 2" away from one another, making it rather challenging to access certain parts. Their hours also suck, so the only time I can access the boat is between 8:00am and noon on Saturdays (when I'm in town-- I live 2 hours away). I've been trying to restore the parts of the hull I can't access when its in the water when I do have access to it, so now that those areas are done, I was hoping to keep working on the upper deck when she's in the water.

 

[JoLin]

Shrew,

The Cab280 has outlets on the boat, but they're all inside the cabin. None in the cockpit. Either way, i'd have an extension cable around water which seemed like something you'd read about in the Darwin awards.

Difference is that the extension cord won't be hanging over the water between the dock and the boat. You'll keep it all within the confines of the boat. I run all kinds of stuff on my boat from the cabin outlets. Bottom line- as long as your extension cord is in good condition it really doesn't matter whether you plug into the shore receptacle or use one on the boat. Use whichever method you feel most comfortable with and don't worry about it.

My .02