posted 07-03-2015 08:44 AM ET (US)        

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In addition to the proper concern about the type of cordage, the type of connectors, the presence of over-curent protection, and the presence of ground-fault current interruption in shore power wiring at a marine--all recent topics regarding shore power cords--there is one very simple aspect of making a connection to shore power that is often overlooked: the sequence of making the connections.

When connecting a boat to shore power, the shore power cord should always first be connected to the boat, then the male plug of the cord carried to the dock power outlet. Never plug the power cord into the dock outlet and carry an energized power cord to the boat.

When connecting the boat's shore power cord to the power outlet, do not connect the cord to the outlet when the outlet is powered-on. Switch off the circuit breaker at the power pedestal, and connect the power cord to an un-energized outlet. Then switch the power outlet circuit breaker back to ON.