This is an ordinary day for me and it brings to mind that saying, a picture tells a thousand words...





OK more ranting from me, that you've come to expect..Here it goes.


AS A MARINE ELECTRICIAN I TRULY DESPISE THIS ANTIQUATED & ARGUABLY UNSAFE STANDARD FOR SHORE POWER PLUGS/SOCKETS ON BOATS!!!!!!


The regulatory boards that over see this such as the NEC, NFPA & ABYC should all be ashamed that they continue to allow this standard to continue in the marine environment.


There I said it.. Whew..... Why do I dislike it so much? Lets examine this further.


-When this plug standard began life it was back in 1938! I can't imagine that Harvey Hubbell III ever intended this to be used on boats near the ocean back when it was conceived..


-In 1938 houses had cloth covered wire and no safety ground for 120V outlets


-In 1938 we did not even have seat belts


-In 1938 GFCI outlets were not even a thought in an inventors mind


-In 1938 lead paint was the rage and asbestos was in everyday use.


-In 1938 there were no STANDARDS for electrical safety on docks or boats.


-In 1938 safety testing for marine use never even existed.


-How many other electrical items do you use in your house or boat that have remained virtually unchanged since 1938..????


Suffice it to say we have been GRANDFATHERED into a substandard and marginally adequate plug & socket combination for marine shore power cord/plug/receptacle use. This twist-lock standard would likely never gain approvals under today's electrical safety standards.