If you’re a Northwest boater or live near Seattle and have ever strolled along the water’s edge downtown at sunset, chances are you’ve probably seen Sailing Seattle’s world-class racing sailboats “Obsession” or “Neptune’s Car” sailing around the Puget Sound. If you are looking to take a sunset sail in one of the most beautiful cities in the US, chances are you’ll end up on one of these sailboats and it won’t be disappointing! Due to their size and incredible stability, they offer one of the most enjoyable sails you can take in Seattle without purchasing your own sailboat. Recently, both sailboats have been upgraded with the SmartPlug shore power system, and Obsession has even added a new “Powered by SmartPlug” logo to their boom. Look for it next time you see it sail by!
Our very own Mike Miller will be featured in a 1 ½-2 minute segment airing on February 1st @ 4pm on the FOX Sports Network which was filmed last July at the annual MAATS show. Be sure to tune in, this is the first episode of the “Pleasure Boater” series. Additionally, this segment will also run 3 times on the Sun Sports Network, making its way into 11 million Gulf Coast households in April! We will keep everyone posted with those dates.
Due to market demand, SmartPlug Systems will be selling individually packaged Inlets and Plugs in approximately 6 weeks. In order to accommodate the boater who may have two boatside inlets in different locations, are moored in multiple marinas or have multiple boats, SmartPlug Systems will release individually packaged Plugs and Inlets. Recognizing that every boat is different, in the future SmartPlug plans to offer a variety of combinations of products to meet the varying shorepower needs for boats.
There are some days when you come in to work and the energy is just high…and today is one of those days. A couple of weeks ago, Tim from Navagear stopped by SmartPlug HQ to meet us and learn more about the SmartPlug. After holding one of the demo units in his hand and having that famous “Aha!” moment, he ended up taking a SmartPlug Inlet and Connector home to install on his own boat. Well last night he posted a fantastic article on Mad Mariner about his installation experience. What a great review…thanks again to both Mad Mariner and Navagear!
In addition, I opened my mailbox this morning to find notification of a new Twitter friend: “FirstMateYC is now following you.” As always, I checked out our new follower’s Twitter page and then looked to see if they have a website. To my surprise, First Mate Yacht Care posted an article about the SmartPlug as well! What a great way to start the day!
Thanks to all of them for their support!
If there is any time to talk about shore power safety it is now! Tuesday morning (12/8/09) three powerboats at Sundance Yacht sales in Seattle burned beyond repair, causing $2 million in damages. Read the article at Three Sheets Northwest. Thankfully no one was hurt, but this could have been prevented! In the article, Dana Vander Houwen said that it “appears to have been caused by faulty wiring on the 110-volt power supply to the boat.” Later we found out it was absolutely due to shore power failure. In my earlier blog we talked about how 55% of all marine fires are caused by electrical issues, many of which are shore power related. So when we heard about this fire we knew the chances would be good that shore power was the culprit. I had also mentioned in the blog that in the past 7 years, damages from boat electrical fires in the US are estimated at 1 billion dollars. Well now we have 2 million more to add to that.
Let’s talk about preventing this from happening to you. Of course, we recommend switching over to the SmartPlug due to its number of fire prevention features but we also understand that many of you are waiting for the 50 Amp versions to hit the market. So until then there are several actions you can take to help prevent this from happening to you. ALWAYS check your shore power on a daily basis, this is so important. The marine environment is harsh and the current twist lock standard has proven themselves not to hold up in these conditions. If you see any corrosion, loose wiring, or any signs of overheating please contact your local marine electrician to have it inspected. If there is any doubt about your shore power contact them anyway, our Mom always said it but it’s true. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Western Marine Company of Vancouver B.C. Canada has just picked up SmartPlug for distribution in Canada! Additionally Transat Marine (a division of Western Marine Company) in Barrie, Ontario, Canada has also signed on to distribute SmartPlug products! See the SmartPlug Distributors page for location and contact information.
Ken Smith will be giving an in-person demo of the SmartPlug at the West Marine Superstore in Fort Lauderdale on October 30th. If you’re in the area, stop by and take a look!
Address:
2300 S Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Tel: 954-527-5540
SmartPlug’s showing at the IBEX, US Distributing, Western Marine Distributors (CA), and Annapolis shows of late have met with great success. The show of support and level of interest from our new friends and partners has been amazing to say the least. Thanks for your support!
SmartPlug Systems’ Grand Opening party on 8/28 was a huge success. Over 200 people in attendance got to see our new offices, watch a prototype being printed out, eat great food and enjoy a beautiful evening at the Salmon Bay Marine Center. If you weren’t able to make it by for the party, we’d still love for you to stop by and say hi. Feel free to give us a call via any of the means on the contact us page.
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