[Cruisingdad]

Ok, I would like to clarify a few points:

First, this is in fresh water. Obviously it is happening in salt water too - but the examples I am using are all fresh.

Second, there was NO corrosion on the terminals of the receptacle. I do not know about inside the cords as that is not visible on a sealed cord. Of even more interest, on Dad's cord that burnt up, it was where a female and male Marinco cord hooked together - and not the boat terminal.

Third, I have been boating a long time. I have never seen this happening until recently.

Fourth, the point has been made about improper locking/unlocking. It has also been suggested that the rings were not fully screwed in. In ALL cases, I have personally screwed in the rings. Not an issue for me. On dad's boat, I guarantee you that it was screwed in as it was male-female cord connections. I do not know on the other 400 - but as he is a long term cruiser, I would have to assume he also screwed his in... but again, I am not sure about that. Also, since I always plug in the cords, I can guarantee you that they were always completely locked.

Fifth, I won't say that I have never forgotten to flip off our power... I am sure it has happened. However, it would be by far the exception than the rule. That being the case, it seems unlikely to me that flipping on/off the power is the culprit.

Let us not forget that these cords are made to be removed and replugged in. That is their design. They are also designed, supposedly, for the marine environment. If it says 30A cord on it, I expect that to mean that I can pull a SOLID 30a without overheating. In theory, they should not ever be subject to more than 30a for very long. In order for them to exceed 30a, you would need a failure of: 1) the Main breaker at the dock (30a), 2) the main breaker a the boat (30a), the main breaker at the panel (30a). It seems HIGLY unlikely that we would have that many failures on that many different boats with that many circuits. It should also be noted that my second cord that failed was plugged into a completely different receptacle with different breakers at the dock and boat.

At this point, I am beginning to feel the cord is suspect. I am concerned they have changed something in their manufacturing in the last few years. That is why I am probing many of you on this. Also, I want to eliminate the likelihood that it is dock, marina, or boat specific.

- CD