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The shore power cord is sometimes the cause of fires aboard boats. The cause of a shore power cord fire is usually a corroded connection coupled with a high demand. Undersizing is not as big a problem as corrosion. This boat was a Lazzara and I would guess that the shore power cord was not undersized. Undersizing normally takes place when equipment is added after the boat is built and the conductor (wire) running from the shore power inlet to the panel is not increased to properly handle the additional load.
The cause of the fire was not officially determined due to the condition of the evidence after the boat sank. There is more than some speculation that a carelessly discarded cigarette was the cause of the fire.
Every industry in America provides (required by law and/or industry regulation) early warning detection for the people who sleep in the product they build and sell. ...but not the boating industry. (RVs since 1982.)
Nearly every boat over 40 feet in length has a stateroom or two with limited egress or escape - but we don't provide smoke alarms. Statistics show that 55% of all boat fires are electrical - a slow smoldering type of fire - the type of fire that makes smoke alarms good common sense.
Smoke alarms in a boat are a no brainer!
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