"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I just returned in shock (as usual) from the marine store. I need to
install some fenders on our marina dock before the boat arrives. The
little dongle to let me plug a regular extension cord into the 30 amp
socket so I can use my electric drill is SIXTY BUCKS! How come a 50 foot
cord with an even larger 30 amp female on the end is only fifty?

Anyway, I just need to use this thing once since the boat will become the
dongle when it gets here.

Is the 30 amp, three prong plug, a marine only item or can I get a plug of
the same kind at Home Depot and just wire it on to an old extension cord?

--

Roger Long

You didn't specify so I would guess that it wasn't a large chain like WM or
Boat/US? I like to support the local store, but I don't like to spend $10-20
extra in the process.

http://tinylink.com/?EmBgx6YIGU

I bought two adapters a couple of years ago, one a straight adapter to go
from dockside to 3 prong domestic, the other a pigtail to do the same on the
boat. Didn't spend $60 for either. Someone else suggested a cordless,
preferably 18v, if you have a hard time swallowing the cost think about the
hassle of shlepping extension cords around the boat, or your house, for that
matter. BTW, I bought my adapters to use shore power at the yard where I
store my boat (don't tell) and to hook my portable generator up to my boat
shore power inlet. A cordless drill-even a 14v-is real handy to have on the
boat.

John Cairns

I've been soured on cordless tools by my experience with screw
drivers. They always seem to feep out about 3/4 of the way through
the job. Whenever I go to buy new batteries, they tell me that those
batteries have now been discontinued and I'll have to buy a whole new
screwdriver, charger, and battery set. Now, you can't even get a
convenient size with separate batteries.

Sounds like the larger cordless tools may be better. Maybe it 's time
to cut the cord.

--

Roger Long

I've had great luck with Makita.
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I've been soured on cordless tools by my experience with screw drivers.
They always seem to feep out about 3/4 of the way through the job.
Whenever I go to buy new batteries, they tell me that those batteries have
now been discontinued and I'll have to buy a whole new screwdriver,
charger, and battery set. Now, you can't even get a convenient size with
separate batteries.

Sounds like the larger cordless tools may be better. Maybe it 's time to
cut the cord.

--

Roger Long

I'll second the Makita recommendation. I've a Makita 9.6 volt drill I've
been using at home and at work for 15 years. I've had to buy new batteries
several times and replace the switch once. While the design voltage and
type (NiCad vs. Nickel Metal Hydride? etc.) of batteries have changed over
the years, Makita has continued to make batteries for my drill and has
allowed for backwards compatibility on their chargers. In other words I can
walk up to any Makita charger that is the same vintage as mine or any newer
model charger and put my old battery in it and it will fit, set to the
correct voltage and type and charge it. Very handy.
--
Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
Cape Breton Island, Canada
kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message
...
I've had great luck with Makita.
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I've been soured on cordless tools by my experience with screw drivers.
They always seem to feep out about 3/4 of the way through the job.
Whenever I go to buy new batteries, they tell me that those batteries
have
now been discontinued and I'll have to buy a whole new screwdriver,
charger, and battery set. Now, you can't even get a convenient size
with
separate batteries.

Sounds like the larger cordless tools may be better. Maybe it 's time
to
cut the cord.

--

Roger Long