T&T: ABYC Standards

[Jim Healy]

James Clausen Wrote:

<SNIP>

But I feel the pain of spending $245. I have brought up and will continue to
bring up that the boater needs limited access to these standards to follow
the practices the ABYC dictates to manufactures and surveyors at a nominal
cost. And that $245 is unreasonable for that access.

To Dave Legrow again, Dave when a circuit breaker manufacturer sits down as
a member of the ABYC electrical committee, they do so disregarding personal
interest. I guarantee you that this is the case. They supply extremely
valuable information in regard to what is available, and what is practical
in regard to specifications and manufacturing. They are not self serving.
Truly this group would never allow it. I have never seen a hint of it, ever.


<END SNIP>

James, in a prior life, I worked on development of ISO 900x International
quality standards.  How well I remember the discussions of choosing a comma
or semicolon, or placement of a comma, or of not using the comma at all.  I
don't miss it much.  Cruising is much more fun!

In this thread, there have been some valid points made.  I wonder if you
would comment on one, in particular.  Many marine appliances - bilge pumps,
water pumps, NMEA certified electronics packages from multiple manufacturers
- do not use tinned BC5W2 wire.  Why?  Are they non-compliant devices?  Will
some surveyor come along and force a boat owner to upgrade those devices?

On the ABYC cost point, what do "the powers that be" at the ABYC say to
technical committee members that lobby for less expensive access to the
standards.  In my view, the single greatest hole in the entire system is the
ever present DIYer.  It seems to me that any organization with a mission of
public safety should be highly motivated to get their information into the
hands of DIYers, who are motivated to get it done at the least possible cost
often with little or no skill in getting it done *right.*  I have a lot of
priorities for $245, but I might be willing to come up with $50.  What in
the world is the resistance to a $50 membership as a "Pleasure Craft Owner
Operator?"  The license agreement could prohibit the use of the standards in
commercial enterprise, etc. etc, lots of legal blah, blah, blah....
 
Finally, to your point on self interest, I recently had an "opportunity" to
exchange email with a man <named> of a company called <company name>.  (I
will share the name and company name off list.)  He indicated he was a
member of the AC Electrics technical committee of the ABYC.  Same team
you're on?  This single anectedotal exchange clearly suggests he was
actively lobbying for standards that would generate a windfall for his
company.  His response to my concerns was, well let's just say, both
inaccurate and terse.  Not very professional, *if* he is what he purports to
be..
 
Thanks, James
 
Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary,
currently at Punta Gorda, FL