PREVENT Deadly
S
afe Electricity, a program of the Energy Education
becomes energized because of electrical malfunction will
Council, advises boat and dock owners to prevent
trip the GFCI or the circuit breaker.
deadly shocks from occurring by checking their
boats and docks.
• Even if a dock’s electrical system has been safely installed and inspected, neighboring docks can still present a
July 2012 was a particularly bad month for such fatal
shock hazard. Ensure that neighboring dockside electrical
accidents. A 26-year-old woman was swimming in the Lake
systems comply with the National Electrical Code and have
of the Ozarks and was electrocuted when she touched an
been inspected.
energized dock ladder. Also at Lake of the Ozarks, a 13-yearold girl and her 8-year-old brother received fatal electrical shocks while swimming near a private dock; officials cited an improperly grounded circuit as the cause. In Tennessee, two boys, ages 10 and 11, lost their lives while swimming between houseboats on Cherokee Lake, the result of on-board generator current apparently entering the water through frayed wires beneath the boat.
• A professional electrical contractor should perform all electrical installations. • Because docks are exposed to the elements, their electrical systems should be inspected at least once a year. Safe Electricity reminds all swimmers that if they feel a tingle, they should avoid metal ladders and objects and get out of the water the best and quickest way possible. Boaters
An important step in preventing such tragedies is to ensure
and anglers should be aware of their surroundings and
proper installation and maintenance of boat and dock
potential overhead electrical hazards and keep at least 10 feet
electrical equipment. Molly Hall, executive director of Safe
between their boats and nearby power lines.
Electricity, advises, “Take the time to inspect all of the electrical systems on or near the water. You wouldn’t put your boat in the lake with a leak in it, so make sure all other aspects of the boat and its operations are safe.” Safe Electricity, in conjunction with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers/National Electrical Contractors Association, recommends that: • At a minimum, all electrical installations should comply with articles 553 (residential docks) and 555 (commercial docks) of the 2011 National Electrical Code, which mandates a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on all
When it comes to a boat’s electrical system, particularly those with alternating current (AC) systems, follow these tips: • Instead of calling a neighbor/electrician friend for advice on how to install something, call an ABYC Electrical Certified Tech. There are some big differences between a house and a boat. • Household wire is not suitable for use on boats as houses are motionless and generally dry. Even marine-rated wire that is not supported along its length will break with constant motion stress. • Do NOT use wire nuts or splice connectors! Wire nuts are
dock receptacles. A GFCI measures the current in a circuit.
for solid conductor wire, which should never be on a boat,
An imbalance of that current, such as a discharge into the
and splice connectors cut wire strands.
water, will trip the GFCI and cut off power. • The GFCI should be tested at least once a month or per the
• Fuses are rated to protect the wire, not the stereo. If a fuse blows continuously, it should NOT be replaced with a larger
manufacturer’s specifications. The GFCI should be located
one just to keep it from blowing again—something else
somewhere along the ramp to the dock so it can be easily
is wrong.
found and tested by local fire departments as needed. • The metal frame of docks should have “bonding jumpers” on them to connect all metal parts to a ground rod on the shore. This will ensure that any part of the metal dock that
A boat’s electrical system should be checked at least once a year. Boats should also be checked when something is added to or removed from their systems. SafeElectricit y.org // abycinc.org
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