Accidental damage to marina facilities - what's the score?

[Cardo]

As they say, it doesn't rain, it pours!

And it certainly is pouring out there, we just got back to the boat absolutely soaked!

So, we decided to stay an extra night at this marina and have paid to have water and electric. The electric is of the sort where the socket is a standard european jobby so we have to use an adapter from our 16A shore power cable. We have used this a few times now with similar loads and not had any issues.

However, today after around an hour and a half of being plugged in we noticed the electric flickered for a moment. This was weird so I went to check the plug. To my horror, I found the plug and socket had melted! I was able to remove the plug, which will need replacing. However, the socket is also badly damaged and will also need replacing.

Seeing as we've not had any issues previously, I can only think the plug wasn't pushed in fully and a small contact area on the pins has caused this to overheat and melt the plastic.

The marina office doesn't reopen for another hour or so.

What's the normal procedure for when things like this happens? The damage was obviously accidental, however I have little doubt it was our fault as I'd imagine the plug wasn't pushed in firmly enough.

So, what do I say to the marina office? And what is the marina likely to expect from us? A new socket I doubt will cost much, but when you start adding a callout charge for an electrician, labour, cheeky extra costs, etc., it could get quite expensive! So will they expect us to cough up for repairs or will they have insurance to cover these kinds of mishaps?

Thoughts, as always, gratefully appreciated!

 

[smiler]

I would be tempted to take your socket end to the office and say "look what your socket has done to my plug" I would not be offering to pay for any damage.

 

[John.edwards]

I would be tempted to take your socket end to the office and say "look what your socket has done to my plug" I would not be offering to pay for any damage.

+1

 

[FullCircle]

+1

+2 and ask them to replace your damaged parts. Rebate or a free night?

 

[PeteCooper]

I would take responsibility for my own actions and talk to the marina explaining what has happened. If they wanted to charge me and I considered the cost to be too much I would contact my insurance company.

 

[Hadenough]

I would take responsibility for my own actions and talk to the marina explaining what has happened. If they wanted to charge me and I considered the cost to be too much I would contact my insurance company.

Not at all. If the plug / socket overheated to the extent that it melted there must have been a short which should have triggered the trip. I'd be asking to see their last test certificate if the marina plays up!

 

[prv]

I'd also not be very impressed at ordinary domestic plugs and sockets being used outdoors. I know this used to be found in French marinas, but I thought they'd mostly converted to CeeForm (the round blue ones) by now. I wonder if the rain had anything to do with it?

Pete

 

[Hadenough]

Hey, just a thought, couldn't you tell them that their dodgy electrics have damaged your steering ram? Ok, I'll get me coat.

 

[fireball]

Rain probably was everything to do with it ...
The domestic sockets are not suitable for wet outdoor use ..

 

[Tony Cross]

Rain probably was everything to do with it ...
The domestic sockets are not suitable for wet outdoor use ..

+1

Tell the marina, blame the rain.

 

[MASH]

I doubt it would be possible to apportion "blame" so why not point out to them that my plug is wrecked, your socket is wrecked, we're quits but you might want to make your supply safe.

 

[jac]

I doubt it would be possible to apportion "blame" so why not point out to them that my plug is wrecked, your socket is wrecked, we're quits but you might want to make your supply safe.

+1

Don't let any misguided guilt on your part make you pay for a Marina rewire.

The facts are simply that you plugged into their power, the plastic has melted. Anything else is guesswork.

I would suspect that the marina should have had better protection against short circuit and you may not have inserted your plug fully (ooh err ) but you don't know that.

 

[Cardo]

So the marina lady was pretty shocked when she saw the state of their socket. She was also pretty shocked when she saw our hodgepodge adapter and chastised us for not having a proper earthed plug (oops!) and that our boat could've gone up in flames.
She then enabled another socket for us to use and lent us a more suitable adapter. We have since bought our own from the local B&Q equivalent.

As for the damage to the socket, it appears they are claiming on their own insurance.

 

[Twister_Ken]

So the marina lady was pretty shocked

Not surprised, with electrics like that!

 

[onesea]

+1

Don't let any misguided guilt on your part make you pay for a Marina rewire.

The facts are simply that you plugged into their power, the plastic has melted. Anything else is guesswork.

I would suspect that the marina should have had better protection against short circuit and you may not have inserted your plug fully (ooh err ) but you don't know that.

+1

So the marina lady was pretty shocked when she saw the state of their socket. She was also pretty shocked when she saw our hodgepodge adapter and chastised us for not having a proper earthed plug (oops!) and that our boat could've gone up in flames.
She then enabled another socket for us to use and lent us a more suitable adapter. We have since bought our own from the local B&Q equivalent.

As for the damage to the socket, it appears they are claiming on their own insurance.

Thats good if not I would of asked for a name and shame! Nice to here satisfactory conclusion.

I would imaging they will get there electrian on it and it will not be an insurance claim, most large marinas have a friendly electrician it seems...

 

[trapezeartist]

I can't see the marina making an insurance claim either. Every business has to live with a bit of collateral damage every now and then. The only way to avoid it is to ban customers. (Effective, but not profitable.)

A certain boat in our marina damaged 5 electric posts last winter due to habitually leaving the berth with the shore power still attached. The marina did threaten to charge him if he did it again, but I doubt they really did.

 

[Resolution]

It is quite appalling that so many of the replies to Cardo's question have advised such an irresponsible response. Don't you guys have any morals?

 

[prv]

It is quite appalling that so many of the replies to Cardo's question have advised such an irresponsible response. Don't you guys have any morals?

What's irresponsible? They've used an unsuitable socket, designed for French living rooms, and placed it outdoors in the rain. Further, they apparently do not have appropriate overcurrent protection to cut off the supply, allowing more power to be drawn than the socket can handle.

Pete

 

[jac]

It is quite appalling that so many of the replies to Cardo's question have advised such an irresponsible response. Don't you guys have any morals?

What's immoral. He spoke to them, told them what happened. Being moral doesn't been taking the blame for everything that goes wrong around you.

 

[onesea]

Being moral doesn't been taking the blame for everything that goes wrong around you.

I agree but does not mean that it is not normally the end result..