Hi,
In my planning to cross the Atlantic to Europe, I was thinking how to deal with plugging my cable to shore. I use a 50A 230V cable and, I have not been able to find an adapter for European docks. Do you know if the marinas have adapters to lend? or, do you know if there is a place to purchase them?
Your help is appreciated,

Gianluca,
I assume you 've already left the US for Europe, as your question was posted 3 months ago, but just in case you haven 't departed or even more likely that others facing your dilemma will find this helpful, please read over this brief posting....
Do NOT try to plug in a boat with a US (North American) "220" (or 230, etc.) system, cord, plug, etc, into a UK/EU 230 volt shore power!!!
It will NOT work!! [quote="Gianluca" post=870] In my planning to cross the Atlantic to Europe, I was thinking how to deal with plugging my cable to shore. I use a 50A 230V cable and, I have not been able to find an adapter for European docks. Do you know if the marinas have adapters to lend? or, do you know if there is a place to purchase them?[/quote]

1) First off, you can buy the 16-amp and 32-amp UK/EU marina plugs in almost every chandlery, marine store, and marina office....(as well as in hardware, electrical, and RV / Caravan stores.)
And, you 'll fall in love with the smaller, lighter, and easier-to-handle UK/EU 230vac shore power cord...(I made mine while still in Florida, and just added the appropriate plugs when arriving in Horta, and then again in Gibraltar....)
BUT...
But, this does NOT solve your problem...


2) US, Canada, Mexico, etc. and most of the Caribbean, use the US standard "110 volt" / "220 volt" system....
(the actual voltages have been almost universally 120-125 and 240-250 volts for the past 40-50 years, but the old "110" and "220" nomenclature is still used....although in various countries in Europe, there ARE various voltages from 220vac to 240vac, but you can just use 230 volts as the norm)

This US / North American[b] standard, is a single-phase 110/120/125 system...and a dual-phase 220/240/250 system...
The US "220" (or 230, or 240, or 250, whatever you wish to call it) is a DUAL-PHASE system, with two "hot" wires, with each "hot" wire carrying about 115-125 volts AC (referenced to the neutral/ground) in opposite phase to each other....and giving you 230-250 volts AC across the two "hot" wires...

This VERY different than the UK/EU standard, which is a 230 volt AC single-phase system, with ONE "hot" wire, carrying 230 volts AC (referenced to neutral/ground)

You CANNOT plug he UK/EU 230 volt system into a US standard "220" boat, it does NOT work, and will trip breakers, burn out equipment, and cause many to become instantly angry with you!!
Do NOT even attempt this!!!

You MUST use a transformer to convert the UK/EU 230vac single-phase down to approx. 115-120vac single-phase, and feed your boat with this power...
You can use the transformer output (115-120vac) to feed both sides of your boats AC electrical system (assuming that you do NOT have any actual "220 volt" appliances on-board (such as a big SCUBA compressor or LARGE Air Conditioning Units), as most "220" boats have basic "110" appliances, including Air Cond, etc....


3) You can do little about the AC frequency difference, 50hz in UK/EU and 60hz in US/N. America....but luckily most appliances work on both...
Although some motors will run slower and a bit hotter on 50hz, they usually work fine....

Ironically some (very few these days) small electronic devices will not like the 50hz frequency...


4) There are various way to use UK/EU power on board....
a) I chose a 5000 watt (4000 watt continuous duty) transformer for my boat...and it worked perfectly...(even ran my Air Cond units at the dock in August in Gibraltar!)
See photos here...
http://www.c470.jerodisys.com/470pix/4707806.htm
http://www.c470.jerodisys.com/470pix/4707803.htm


b) Fellow OCC member Jack Tyler wrote a great synopsis of what US/N. American boats need to do in order to be prepared for UK/EU live-aboard life....
Have a look here at his site...

http://www.svsarah.com/Whoosh/WhooshPrepPower.htm
http://www.svsarah.com/Whoosh/WhooshEuropeMain.html


c) The smaller, lighter UK/EU 230vac shore power cords are a dream to use....
I made mine in Florida, before I sailed for Europe, and simply bought the appropriate plugs when I arrived in Horta (16-amp)and then later in Gibraltar (32-amp)....



I do hope someone finds this information useful...

Fair winds.

John
s/v Annie Laurie