Shore Power etiquete?

Zen Zero said:
I'm rather glad I've never met anyone who's asked me for £10 to use their supply though.
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If someone asked to borrow my metered supply, I would graciously provide them with the leccy. But if they took it, unplugging my boat in the process, without asking, then I feel they should pay for the privilege. If they're going to be rude, then they should pay for that pleasure. Is that so unreasonable?
 
I was nicely settled in on a dark cold wet night watching a DVD with the small fan heater running and one light. Suddenly all went dark - the shore power had died! I jumped up and went on deck to see a figure standing on the pontoon with my power socket in his hand - absolutely fizzing I launched a few choice words in his direction only to be greeted with fits of laughter, it was my pontoon neighbour taking the p***. He reckoned I was far to comfortable- that's one I owe him!
 
Cardo said:
If someone asked to borrow my metered supply, I would graciously provide them with the leccy. But if they took it, unplugging my boat in the process, without asking, then I feel they should pay for the privilege. If they're going to be rude, then they should pay for that pleasure. Is that so unreasonable?
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When filling with water, which takes a couple of hours, I used another boats shore power to charge my batteries. Probably only used a few pence worth in 2 hours but I left a few pounds in his cockpit. I expect he wondered how and why the pound coins got there!
 
The most depressing thing about this thread are the people who seem to think that retaliation in some gratuitous way is going to help their cause.

I am referring to the threats of dropping plugs into sea water or suggesting that they cut off the plugs of people who have offended them by not asking first to use the electricity. I don't condone the rudeness of people who 'just help themselves' but suggesting that criminal damage is going to help the matter is an utterly depressing reflection of the mind set of some people in this world and some people on this forum. Its crass. Take a deep breath and rise above it. Why don't you try explaining calmly that you consider their actions to be rude? People often don't realise the impact of the actions that they take and they don't realise how rude they are being. If you think they know exactly what they are doing just swap it back when you get a moment and walk on.

A few years ago I always thought you met some nice people when sailing. It was the same on this forum. With some of the comments you read on here I am beginning to wonder. Probably why I don't go near the lounge any more and come on here less and less.
 
But you do meet nice people sailing. Take Vics example above.

I recon if you met some of the gang of obnoxious prats from the lounge in real life they would turn out to be almost normal, decent folk. The forums ,as well as providing a massive library of freely given knowledge, also give plenty opportunity for both giving and perceiving insult when none was intended-as happenes often.

Just avoid the Lounge John.
 
john_morris_uk said:
The most depressing thing about this thread are the people who seem to think that retaliation in some gratuitous way is going to help their cause.

I am referring to the threats of dropping plugs into sea water or suggesting that they cut off the plugs of people who have offended them by not asking first to use the electricity. I don't condone the rudeness of people who 'just help themselves' but suggesting that criminal damage is going to help the matter is an utterly depressing reflection of the mind set of some people in this world and some people on this forum. Its crass. Take a deep breath and rise above it. Why don't you try explaining calmly that you consider their actions to be rude? People often don't realise the impact of the actions that they take and they don't realise how rude they are being. If you think they know exactly what they are doing just swap it back when you get a moment and walk on.

A few years ago I always thought you met some nice people when sailing. It was the same on this forum. With some of the comments you read on here I am beginning to wonder. Probably why I don't go near the lounge any more and come on here less and less.
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You are entirely right. If I find that the only socket available is in use, I ask the user if we can share and hold up my splitter by way of a visual clue. Never had any body decline. If I find I've been unplugged I put my splitter in and we both have our share. If my supply is metered I ask them what they are using and for how long. Usually little more than a power drill or some other tool for a short while, so no problems. If it was a 3KW fan heater for a couple of months then I'd open a discussion (but that has never happened). People should be less inclined to take offence at what others do lest they cause unnecessary offence. You never know, you might make a new friend or have ready help when trying to do that awkward job that needs 4 hand.
 
john_morris_uk said:
The most depressing thing about this thread are the people who seem to think that retaliation in some gratuitous way is going to help their cause.

I am referring to the threats of dropping plugs into sea water or suggesting that they cut off the plugs of people who have offended them by not asking first to use the electricity. I don't condone the rudeness of people who 'just help themselves' but suggesting that criminal damage is going to help the matter is an utterly depressing reflection of the mind set of some people in this world and some people on this forum. Its crass. Take a deep breath and rise above it. Why don't you try explaining calmly that you consider their actions to be rude? People often don't realise the impact of the actions that they take and they don't realise how rude they are being. If you think they know exactly what they are doing just swap it back when you get a moment and walk on.

A few years ago I always thought you met some nice people when sailing. It was the same on this forum. With some of the comments you read on here I am beginning to wonder. Probably why I don't go near the lounge any more and come on here less and less.
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To be honest, I don't believe the people saying they would cut another person's lead would actually do that. They're just flippant comments.
In reality, I would imagine most people would behave in a perfectly civil manner, with a small proportion using some choice language.
I don't think you should judge the reality of the sailing fraternity based on boisterous comments posted on here.
 
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longjohnsilver said:
When filling with water, which takes a couple of hours, I used another boats shore power to charge my batteries. Probably only used a few pence worth in 2 hours but I left a few pounds in his cockpit. I expect he wondered how and why the pound coins got there!
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Or cursed the person who had stained his deck with a couple of corroded coins! :) :) :)

Just tossing a couple of quid in the cockpit may be almost as offensive to some people as removing the power cord and leaving it out - I've paid so I'm entitled! Put the coins in a bank bag with a note as to why they are there.

Just playing devils advocate. :) :) :)
 
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When you re-connect the 'victims' shore power after your unauthorised use, can you be sure that whatever he has left running i.e. heaters etc. will reset and that you haven't inadvertently tripped the boats on-board circuit breaker/s - you may have left his boat unprotected against frost. I have heard of some boats not automatically resetting after a pontoon power shut down and restart.

My view: During the frost months, if there is no owner there to ask, then don't pinch his power. I would gladly share or allow another boat to connect to my supply, but only if I was there.
 
john_morris_uk said:
The most depressing thing about this thread are the people who seem to think that retaliation in some gratuitous way is going to help their cause. I am referring to the threats of dropping plugs into sea water ...
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As I posted the above, I should explain. I have a dehumidifier that doesn't come back on if power is interrupted, if someone unplugs my lead, the boat gets damp. Others may have a similar problem, time-switches, or chargers running in low power mode; all of these could get confused by a break in power.

I'm quite happy for someone to borrow my socket if not in use, but don't ever unplug someone's power.
 
So buying kit that doesn't reset itself is an excuse for some of the suggestions? I can imagine its frustrating, and its no help to point out that there are plenty of dehumidifiers that will start themselves after they've been disconnected. Perhaps it's time to change?

For years peolle didn't use a dehumidifiers at all but boats survived ok.

We live in the country and power cuts are a regular fact if life.
 
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Someone plugged into my metered supply for a couple of weeks without me noticing and stole about a tenner.
If I see their boat again they will be getting a couple of bent split pins dropped near their mast.
 
john_morris_uk said:
So buying kit that doesn't reset itself is an excuse for some of the suggestions? I can imagine its frustrating, and its no help to point out that there are plenty of dehumidifiers that will start themselves after they've been disconnected. Perhaps it's time to change?

For years peolle didn't use a dehumidifiers at all but boats survived ok.

We live in the country and power cuts are a regular fact if life.
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We are drifting away from the point. No one can escape emergency shutdowns and failure of the mains supply and that is something my insurers would take into account should damage result. However, having taken the trouble to connect up and pay for a dedicated power supply for my boat I don't expect anyone to help themselves without asking.

Anyway, no amount of 'hair splitting' on this forum will stop the inconsiderate few from helping themselves.
 
Wight Dawn said:
I have a pair of cutters to aid in the removal of the plugs of selfish people who seem to think that they can go away and leave their lead plugged in permanently. In many yards and marinas, there are not enough outlets for all the boats, so anyone requiring to use power has to remove a plug to get thier own one in. If a lot of people are working then we have to use adaptors or negotiate time-sharing. But walking away and leaving your lead in is antisocial.
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Quite agree, but as each outlet has a prepayment meter below it, any credit left on my outlet is not there for all and sundry to use. However I would disconnect the plug if leaving my (reserved) berth for more than a couple of days and hope that anyone using it would buy a token (£2 for 10KW) if they wanted to use more than a kw or 2.

At Ardfern, the outlets are labelled with the boat's name and "do not unplug" sign since the operator makes an annual service charge to berth holders for the provision of power, so its not on for a berth holder's plug to be removed by a visitor without asking first.
 
EdBeynon said:
Someone plugged into my metered supply for a couple of weeks without me noticing and stole about a tenner.
If I see their boat again they will be getting a couple of bent split pins dropped near their mast.
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And what will that achieve? How much satisfaction are you going to actually get from playing such childish games with someone?

No wonder children grow up with the attitudes that people despair of. They have adults who set examples of how not to behave in a civilised society.

I am not condoning someones actions in 'stealing' your power, but doing silly things like leaving bent split pins around as a sort of retaliation is just childish. Is there something about the anonymity of the www that persuades people to claim they will do such things?

Or you see them again, why not politely explain that you have to pay for the power and ask them for a contribution as they effectively stole from you and inconvenienced you in this way?
 
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john_morris_uk said:
And what will that achieve? How much satisfaction are you going to actually get from playing such childish games with someone?

No wonder children grow up with the attitudes that people despair of. They have adults who set examples of how not to behave in a civilised society.

I am not condoning someones actions in 'stealing' your power, but doing silly things like leaving bent split pins around as a sort of retaliation is just childish. Is there something about the anonymity of the www that persuades people to claim they will do such things?

Or you see them again, why not politely explain that you have to pay for the power and ask them for a contribution as they effectively stole from you and inconvenienced you in this way?
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I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one with the same view. You are completely right. There is no point in unattributable and spiteful revenge carried out some time after the transgression. If somebody does something wrong then they need to be told in such a way that they accept that they are at fault and so do not do the same again. I transgressed once in the past when sharing a pile mooring, not just ignorant of what I should have done but ignorant of the fact that what I did do was a transgression in the first place. The person I took advantage of left a polite note explaining what I should have done and asking me to sort it out. I did and thanked him with a bottle of duty free left on his boat (clue as to how long ago). The next time we met we had a jolly good chat and drunk the bottle
 
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