[Silmaril]

Hmmmmm Black as GROUND???? Maybe NEUTRAL but NEVER ground!!!! Ground has always been green in AC systems.

And it also sounds like you do not have a main AC breaker, which is not a good idea. While you are at it, you should install a galvanic isolator, it will go a long way towards protecting your boat from stray currents. If you don''t have one, you will go through zinks at an alarming rate, like one a month, if you leave yourself "plugged-in". Not to mention the ghastly things that will happen to your underwater metals once the zincs have parted company.

It''s also a good idea to carry a small, plug-in AC circuit tester. That way you can check to make sure that wherever you plug in, some well meaning dock hand has not made the same "Black is ground" mistake that your friend did. They are cheap, like $15 and will give you peace of mind when you travel to other marinas.