Visitors’s shore power - adding complications

Lucky Duck

Lucky Duck

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From the Needles to the Nab, from Cowes to St Kats
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Pretty sure when we first had our first boat with shore power it was mostly a case of plugging in which was generally included in the overnight berthing cost.

There was the odd exception such needing credit uploading to the pedestal via a magnetic card. If one was lucky there could be some residual credit left on the relevant socket and as my normal overnight useage is rarely more than 10 pence then happy days.

Premier have a code activated system (although something like £5 included in the price)

MDL are Boatfolk are progressively installing online or app controlled systems where you need to create an account and upload credit.

Last weekend getting power required a £10 deposit for a RFID card to activate the socket and then a £5 flat fee. I decided this was getting too much and decided not to bother!
 
We have a paper card system at Titchmarsh, which works well enough up to a point. As a resident, it puts me at risk of having my electricity stolen when I am away. One of the joys of sailing in the Baltic is the multiplicity of systems, varying from fairly straightforward coin-in-the-slot systems to various tally ones. Tallies can vary from simple cards to odd plastic gadgets, and with varying deposits. Outstanding among them is that at Cuxhaven, where a machine is available 24hrs at the office. It can be accessed in several languages and issues a card on payment by card for electricity, showers and water. At the end of one's stay it is a simple matter to be reimbursed for any unused credit.

This was for visitors of course. I can see the benefit of an app-based system for residents. I could, for example, top-up my boat's meter from home and check how much credit remained, but unless all marinas in perhaps a wide area used the same system this would be a nightmare for visitors.
 
At the marina/harbour locations I visit the shore power cost has, to date, been factored in within the nightly rate.
An exception to that is a river location but the mooring is free so paying for electricity is via a pre paid card.

At one location we visit often the shore power is only available to full time bertholders , which is shame as there are always unused shore power bollards .

At my home mooring shore power is via an account controlled by phone app. A pre paid credit has to be applied. I guess if the account balance goes to zero the electricity would be cut. I get an email notice if the balance drops below £5. Top ups are easy online via the app.
If my shore power is unplugged no one can steal my electricity as the unplugging cuts off the electricity and also cuts off the connection to my account.

These days its not difficult to consume well over £1 in electricity per day and sometimes approaching £2. However if we stay on the boat in the marina we probably use less electrical energy compared what we might use at home. And the potable water at the marina including toilets and showers is no extra cost .
So we actually save money on utilities by being on the boat in the marina.:) :)
 
Some marinas are profiteering via shorepower charges. I visited a West Scotland marina last year for four days; upon departure I was told shorepower was £8/day. Ridiculous for battery charging and running the fridge We won't return there.
 
GEM43 said:
Some marinas are profiteering via shorepower charges. I visited a West Scotland marina last year for four days; upon departure I was told shorepower was £8/day. Ridiculous for battery charging and running the fridge We won't return there.
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I suspect that was Ardfern. A lovely marina but ridiculous electric charges. Fortunately I discovered the price the first day after arrival, so with batteries recharged disconnected for the rest of my stay.
 
We stopped at Poole this year. Easily the most insane pricing I’ve seen. £63 for a 36’ boat overnight PLUS £3.50 electric.

Obviously I just laughed and left in the morning rather than stay the three nights intended.

It’s getting ridiculous and I can see a lot of folk just running a generator on deck going forwards. That will at least solve the problem of demand for marinas.
 
Stemar said:
The profiteers would simply ban generators as being antisocial. I might just agree with them
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Then they’ll see their profits disappear along with their customers. They need to keep in mind the purpose of a marina is to provide services. If those services are unaffordable the marina will disappear. I don’t want to hear generators either, but if it teaches marina owners a lesson I’ll put up with it.

Similar to the whole 20mph debacle in Wales, certain people forgot the purpose of roads was transport. For a while, at least.
 
lustyd said:
Then they’ll see their profits disappear along with their customers. They need to keep in mind the purpose of a marina is to provide services. If those services are unaffordable the marina will disappear. I don’t want to hear generators either, but if it teaches marina owners a lesson I’ll put up with it.
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You may want to read the accounts of several marina companies, especially the consolidated group ones, and then ponder their profit centres.
 
I think there are enough boats that only go from marina to marina to keep all but the greediest in business - and even them in areas of high demand. If a marina can get away with charging the thick end of £60 a night, another few pounds for electricity to keep the beer cool won't drive the customers away. Those that balk at paying silly money, like me, aren't going to be going to those places anyway.
 
"the purpose of a marina is to provide services"

The primary purpose of any business is to deliver value to it's shareholders.
 
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Stemar said:
They aren't in business because they love us.
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True, but by progressing the enshitification of everything, they'll just make solar panels and lithium batteries even more attractive. Then the money they've put in to installing leccy points will no longer have any return on it. Keep pricing your punters out of an already expensive pastime, and you eventually run out of customers.
 
I don't mind paying a fair price for shore-power when visiting somewhere, either incorporated in the overnight charge or as an optional addition when settling up, but it'd piss me off if I had to install an app I'm only likely to ever use once or twice.

What's a fair price? My monthly domestic bill is about £40 for a small family house, equates to £1.33 a day, for fridge, freezer, clothes washing, ironing, cooker, hob, dishwasher, computers, TV, lights, pumps for underfloor heating, etc, etc.

Electricity use on the boat is confined to a couple of kettles of hot water, a small fan-heater in cold weather, and sometimes topping up the batteries.... hardly worth £3.50 or even £5.00 as some places charge.
 
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