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Nominal Voltage

Power Play: Part I

Part I: Factors to Consider When Connecting To International Power In Part I of this two-part series, we’ll discuss four key factors to take into account when preparing your boat to connect to international shorepower. Shorepower is an increasingly vital service for the modern cruising boat. Many boats have most, if not all, the comforts of home-and those comforts come with a nearly insatiable appetite for electrical power. Most larger cruising boats have generators aboard, but running them constantly can be expensive and won’t help you make friends at the dock. Fortunately, many modern (and even not-so-modern) marinas offer shorepower for visiting yachts. But before you arrive at that dream cruising port and plug in your TV, microwave, air conditioner, and laptop, it pays to make some careful preparations for the variety of shorepower standards you’ll encounter.

A scenic overhead view looking down a long, wooden floating dock at Princess Louisa Marine Provincial Park in British Columbia, with several powerboats and sailboats moored along it, surrounded by calm, dark fjord waters and towering, forested granite mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

A Thin Space

Cruisers face challenges getting to Princess Louisa Inlet, but it’s worth it to experience this cruising ground’s natural beauty.

A man and woman standing together aboard a boat on a cold, overcast day, wearing matching blue weather coats, beanies, and red-and-black Mustang Survival inflatable PFDs.

Wear Your PFD

This one decision can matter more than any other you make on the water.

A white motorboat suspended in lifting straps on a large yellow gantry travel lift at a boatyard or marina on a clear day.

Bad Vibrations

Eliminating a boat’s quakes and shakes often requires a thorough inspection of the drivetrain.

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