Power Cord Length

G

GeoBoat

New Member
Feb 27, 2021
10
Boat Info
2006 Sundeck 270
Engines
6.2 L Mercruiser wBravo III drive
Howdy,

Bought a 2006 SDX 270 at the end of the season.
The boat did not come with a (30A 120V) power cord.
Power inlet is on the port side of the transom.
I expect to acquire the skills to berth stern in.

What is the proper length cord to buy - 25, 50 foot ?
My hesitation with the 50 foot length is that it will be unnecessary extra clutter on the dock.

Thanks,
Geo
 
50 is best. Eventually you’ll also want to go to other marinas and it helps
 
I have both in my travel bag. Many marinas we stay at as transients have poor power systems and have more slips than power pedestals. This approach gives you 80' if you needed it.

I have a second set of 50' cables permanently attached to my slip so I never have to remove them.
 
I have a 50 footers too. I coil the excess around the base of the power pedestal at my slip. They also get locked to dock as as not to grow legs (again). I have twin 30 amp power so 2 cables on the dock seen below. A little messier than usual in this pic.

upload_2021-2-27_22-50-16.jpeg
 
Or get two 25’.... easier to deal with if you mostly use 25’
 
With all extension cords the underlying rule is to use the shortest one possible, so a modular approach may be a best of all worlds solution. Yes, power cords are made with gauges of wire meant to reduce line losses, but it still happens and increases loads on the electrical equipment like AC pumps and compressor motors.

Like Brad, we have two power plugs, so we carry two 25’ and four 50’, plus a 50 amp to 30 amp splitter. In the two years we’ve owned this boat, all of these have been out of the storage locker at the same time on more than one occasion.
 
Where are you traveling?

Are you returning to the same "home" slip all the time? Or are you taking trips, staying at transient slips?
 
If the only place you ever anticipate using the shore power is at your dock, will 25' work based on the placement of the shorepower post compared to your boat inlet? Otherwise, get a 50' and as noted, just coil the remaining.

Can you clarify what model you have? Sea Ray wasn't even using the "SDX" moniker in 2006. Do you have a 2006? Is it a Select, a Sundeck or a Sundancer? Reason I ask is that if you have a bowrider, the shore power is likely only used for a battery charger and an outlet or two and it may be unlikely that you are ever going to be in another slip (possible, though).
 
FootballFan said:
Where are you traveling?

Are you returning to the same "home" slip all the time? Or are you taking trips, staying at transient slips?
Click to expand...

Mass, NH and Maine. A lot of the places we go to in Maine do not have dedicated transient slips, so a lot of times I end up having to use two different pedestals. Although the worst case we ran into was in Provincetown last summer. There they use big multi boat pedestals (8-10 outlets). The pedestal on our section was completely dead and the place was packed, so there were four - five boats (including us) with cables going everywhere.
 
Power cords are bulky, take up a lot of room.

If you are traveling... get the 50.
 
Lazy Daze said:
If the only place you ever anticipate using the shore power is at your dock, will 25' work based on the placement of the shorepower post compared to your boat inlet? Otherwise, get a 50' and as noted, just coil the remaining.

Can you clarify what model you have? Sea Ray wasn't even using the "SDX" moniker in 2006. Do you have a 2006? Is it a Select, a Sundeck or a Sundancer? Reason I ask is that if you have a bowrider, the shore power is likely only used for a battery charger and an outlet or two and it may be unlikely that you are ever going to be in another slip (possible, though).
Click to expand...
Thank you for the input, it is a Sundeck. I've corrected my profile. The power connection is solely for the battery charger.
 
270 Sundeck - ah, that makes more sense.

OK, so along the lines of what I mentioned above, if you don't anticipate ever using another slip, don't buy more than you need. It only takes a day or two to get a cord - if you can't get down to the docks now to measure, just wait till you can. It's not like you need it right away, anyways, since it's just for a battery charger.
 
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