Sad times in North Carolina

[Warren S]

McCotter's Marina Fire: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/8897004/

This is Morveren's home base. There were quite a few live-aboards here that narrowly escaped with their lives. I am fortunate to have a slip on an adjacent dock. This has no doubt ruined many folks' new year

[Zeida]

Morveren... I'm thrilled you came out ok. Same thing happened at my marina in Key Biscayne. One boat on my dock caught fire due to an electrical spark -at 1:30 am- luckily the boat owner next to him was sleeping on board that night, smelled the fire and alerted everyone staying on board + called the fire dept. They managed to control the fire on that boat before it exploded -almost reached the fuel tank- i am only 3 slips away on the other side of the same dock... Fire was put out but the boat was a total loss inside.

A wire from the newly installed A/C unit overheated, melted and caught fire. Then just a month later, the same thing happened to another boat, this one almost directly across from me. I am terrified of something like this happening again. There has been an issue with the marina's electrical ground and we often experience huge power surges. They have been working to fix this, but we are all very worried. For months, I now disconnect from the dock power outlet when I'm not there, but this is not good because I normally leave my A/C on at all times -except when sailing- and my Sentry battery charger and Frigoboat (frig) On at all times also. You read something like this and I get goose pumps all over again.

[Warren S]

Sheesh, this happened with you too? Before last haul-out, we were on that dock 2 slips away from the covered section that likely provided the fuel to engulf the dock from that point out (as seen in the arial shots). This is the oldest marina in the east coast, and while I adore its charm (and lower slip fees) you would get even more of those goosebumps if you saw the dilapidated wiring boxes and conduits...

This year I moved to the adjacent dock because it was in better shape.

[Russell]

This is why I never leave AC power connected while not aboard and I wish marinas had rules that required everyone to do the same.

[Jim Walsh]

I agree with Russell. When not aboard, remove the cord.

[Jeff and Sarah]

I know it's ideal to remove the cord when not aboard, but that's a bit more practical in the north. In the south most of us stay plugged in at all times because A/C is the only way to control humidity inside the boat. I haven't taken a scientific survey of my marina, but I'd say 95% of the boats here are plugged always stay plugged in with A/C running (I don't know of any boats here without A/C but there must be at least one or two). It's a calculated risk- A potential fire or guaranteed moisture damage. Before I had A/C the bulkheads were covered in dew every morning and joinery was swelling among other things. Not to mention the boat smelled pretty bad. With A/C (and shore power), those issues are gone. I guess it's a matter of picking your poison.

[bill2]

Warren

Thanks for the heads up . I hear from down south that 200' +- of the dock opposite the restroom/bathhouse went up. Several of the live aboards have been put up at nearby motels by the Red Cross while Coast Guard ( and EPA ? ) do a big time clean up - hint owners even have to be escorted to their boat and back to retrieve belongings while wearing life jackets. Fortunately no loss of life but some nice boats are now gone .

Fair Winds

[Warren S]

Over half of that dock (all that was covered) is reduced to the waterline. I'm 2 hours away so havent actually gone down there yet. The arial news shot showed Morveren to be safe. Plus i figured the pace will be stacked up with EPA and salvage crews for weeks to come. You mentioned the bathhouse - in the summer that whole stretch of frontage is very peaceful - just seems surreal.