Taking a momentary break from our usual SmartPlug marine news we are excited to let you know that we have recently entered into the Emergency Vehicle market. In the past few weeks we shipped out several units to an ambulance company in Virginia who have converted their entire emergency vehicle fleet with 30 Amp SmartPlug inlet and connectors. We also have units on ambulances in Antioch, IL, on fire boats in Anderson Island, WA and in the Miami-Dade department as well as requests for our 50 Amp SmartPlug from the Seattle Harbor Patrol.
Emergency Vehicles are subjected to harsh environments similar to boats. They are exposed to all different types of weather, vibration, contamination by various chemicals such as oil and fuel as a boat would be while plugged in. Since they are currently using the same twist lock plug to supply electricity as the marine industry uses they are susceptible to the same dangers such as burning and melting. Those who have contacted us from Virginia, Illinois, Seattle and Miami have expressed their frustrations and concerns of finding their plugs in this condition and were looking for an alternative with a similar cost.
Once the ambulance company in Virginia received a SmartPlug to test on one of their emergency vehicles they realized there was no better choice. Not only has the SmartPlug offered them a much more dependable and safer option but it has also saved them a large amount of money too!
Deborah Bach from Three Sheets Northwest stopped by SmartPlug headquarters Friday to meet us all and to learn about the SmartPlug. Three Sheets NW is a local boating and marine-related news source bringing you all the latest information and opinions from the industry. If you haven’t had a chance check them out at www.threesheetsnw.com You won’t be disappointed.
A great article posted today about her visit to Smartplug: Burned boats spark company’s quest for safer plug
Thanks for coming by!
Come April our product will have been on the market for one year. There have been three specific misconceptions about the SmartPlug throughout the past year and we want to clear those up today! First, the SmartPlug shore power system is available for immediate use and you can upgrade and Protect Your Boat Today! There have been several questions about having to wait because the marina hasn’t yet upgraded. We want to be very clear about this, the marina DOES NOT need to be converted to the SmartPlug for you to be able to get the benefits of the new system. The SmartPlug Inlet and Connector (B30ASSY) kit gives you everything you need. Just replace the boatside end of your existing shore power cord, install the new inlet on your boat and your end of the shore power problem is taken care of.
This brings us to our second misconception, adapters. There are no adapters needed to be able to use the SmartPlug system. As we said above, you just need to replace the boatside end of your existing cord and your old inlet and you’re all set! Once all of our boatside products are available we will be begin releasing dockside products so the marina can also benefit from the protection provided by the SmartPlug System. When the dockside products are available we will be offering adapters that the marina can use for those who have not yet converted to the SmartPlug system.
Finally, because the dockside end of your cord will remain the old-style, you will be able to visit any marina or dock equipped with the old standard while still protecting your boat. Simply bring your converted cord (or one of the upcoming SmartPlug Dual Configuration Cordsets!) with you wherever you cruise.
Happy safe boating!
With the Seattle Boat Show and Miami International Boat Show being back to back you can say we stayed very busy this past month and came home with a lot to report! To begin with, we’ve added 6 new dealers; Port Townsend Rigging, Par Yacht Charters, High Seas Electric, Seabrook Yacht Services, Lapwing Marine and AYS. Com-Cor Technical Services joined us as a distributor and has converted 4 ambulances to the 30 Amp SmartPlug. Furthermore, two Fire departments one in Washington and the other in Miami, Florida agreed to test out the SmartPlug on their fire boats and if it performs as they expect, they will be converting all their boats to the SmartPlug system. One of those departments is Anderson Island who is moored at Bremerton Yacht Club in the state of Washington. Just a couple days ago we received a phone call from them telling us how impressed and enthusiastic they are with the SmartPlug and that it has gained a lot of interest from other members. We’re glad to hear it’s living up to its expectations (but not surprised)!
Coming home from the boat shows we are happy to report that we are continually gaining support in the marine industry and now also with first response vehicles. We also had a lot of opportunity to talk in depth with people in the industry about the continued problems caused by the current standard and the need for a change. In addition we had a visit from Bob Bitchin at Lats & Atts that you can check out here! Thanks to all that came by to speak with us. We look forward to keeping in touch!
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!
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