Deals

Walmart offers the Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater for $95 with free shipping. (Amazon charges the same.) That's the lowest total price we could find by $2. This 37,500-BTU water heater runs on liquid propane and features a shower head, garden hose adapter, and 1.5 gallons per minute flow capacity. It uses three D cell batteries (not included).

I have not used one, just a fyi

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Eccotemp-L5- ... 10&veh=aff
 
This week's Defender 1st specials are SmartPlug 30 Amp and 50 Amp Inlet
Retrofit Kits and a 30 Amp Cord Set with Inlet. The SmartPlug is a
revolutionary shore power system designed to replace the outdated and
problematic twist-type design in use today. It's intuitive to use and
provides greater protection against loose connections and corrosion -
the leading causes of shore power failure and fires.

Contrary to popular belief, the #1 cause of shore power failure is not
electrical shorting, but overheating due to poor electrical
conductivity. Older plug designs are notorious for burning out as a
result of loose connections and corrosion.

This week you can pick up the 30 Amp and 50 Amp Conversion Kits that
include the SmartPlug Boat Side Power Inlet along with the matching
Retrofit Power Cord Connector .

If you don't already have a shore power cord or you are ready to replace
an old one, check out the 50 foot 30 Amp Cord with factory installed
SmartPlug and matching 30 Amp SmartPlug Boat Side Inlet.

Check out all the specifications and get the special ActiveCaptain code
at the link below.

SmartPlug 30 Amp Shore Power Inlet & Retrofit Connector: $148.74
(Regularly: $174.99)

SmartPlug 50 Amp Shore Power Inlet & Retrofit Connector: $212.49
(Regularly: $249.99)

SmartPlug 30 Amp Shore Power Cordset with Inlet: $280.49
(Regularly: $329.99)

Special ends: October 18, 2016 at 11:59 PM ET

Get the special price and learn more at:
http://www.defender.com/activecaptain.jsp

With a price this good, now is the time to protect your crew and your
boat by upgrading your outdated power connectors.
 
If anyone buys the smartplug system and wants an extra 20' cord, I no longer need mine. Haven't decided on a price yet, but make an offer. Colby
 
Converting the boat side to a Smartplug input may be one of the smartest safety upgrades you can do (call us converts, after returning to our boat on a weekend to find signs of fire/smoke around the inside inlet which obviously stopped only after a loose Marinco leg burned itself in half). Pics in the album.
Cynics say this only removes the risk/problem from your boat, which you own, to the power pedestal, which your marina owns. Yeah, OK.
Smartplug orange cords are the only ones available where each wire is fully tinned marine grade end to end, that's why they are pricey. They might be overkill, perhaps that is why I like 'em. Try to get a 7 year warranty from Marinco. Mine and Rogerbum's experience is that the plug-only fitting to your existing Marinco wire tends to torque off after a year, but their orange cords including plug are solid and feel like you'll pass them on to the grandkids.
FisheriesSupply tends to have an annual 15% off sale on these and shipping over $100 is free unlike Defender.
You couldn't get yourself and your crew a better safety birthday gift, and you have one every year, so get the Smartplug now or next time it's on sale. Fantastic US based support.
Happy Boating!
John
 
Colby,
Smartplug cords are orange and 25' or 50'.
Might be interested if genuine Smartplug 25'
John

PS
BOEMARINE.COM is advertising boat show prices too low to show on net til Oct 20 on most nav gear. I got an email quote for a Garmin HDX24 radar for $1960, which really is a great deal with free shipping.
Happy shopping!
John
 
Got your PM Bud, and replied. John, it is the real deal. It's the 25' and I think has the power LED at the boat end. I purchased it, along with some extra Smartplug Female ends to rig up some other cords. I initially switched over as I thought it was a smaller diameter cord from pictures I saw. WRONG!. IT's the same size as the Marinco. In fact the boat end recepticle and plug may actually be just a bit larger. Anyway, I was looking for less size/mess, and since I don't use electrical power on my boat for anything more than the battery charger, and occasionally firing up a small electric skillet, I ended up putting together a nice 50' shore cord using bright yellow heavy duty 12 guage outdoor extension cord, with the Smart Plug and Marine 30 amp plugs. Plenty current transfer for what I use. And easier to store and use. Also, being honest here, I've found very few places where 25' is enough reach even with my 22' boat, so it's kind of useless taking up valuable storage space! Looking online, looks like prices are anywhere from $128 and up. Guess I'd sale mine for $100 to anyone that wants it. Bud has first dibs. John second. :-) Colby
 
Back home now, and here is a photo of my smartplug cord. As stated, I no longer need it. It's the original smartplug and has an indicator LED in the boat end. I'm asking $100, but I'll pay the shipping as long as it's not out of CONUS. (Or bring it with me to St. John's gathering in March, or California Delta in April.) I'm too lazy to get the tape measure out, but this is the shorter cord, so I believe that makes it 20 or 25'. It's probably only been used once or twice, however it does have some marks on it from storage in the compartment under the table. All cosmetic, nothing breaking the skin. Colby

14796210_10154710341944884_672746525_o.jpg
 
Sorry I missed your post of pic and price.

After reading that you decided you needed the 50' cord, I'm going to pass.

Thanks

Hope to see you on the water. :lol:
 
To the issue of retrofitting the existing yellow Marinco cord to a smart plug male end, several comments from users on Amazon say the company is/was coming out with new strain relief design inside the plug so it doesn't torque off.
Anyone know of the said update?
 
When we updated to the Smart Plug setup on our our previous boat we broke something on the plug end. They replaced it quickly without question. I have used the cord year round for about three years since then with no issues. The boat is in our driveway plugged in to shore power with a small electric heater when we are not using it. The old version seems to do fine if you follow the instructions. I broke something when I left the reservation.
D.D.
 
Maybe should be a different thread:
Here is information on the Marinco EEL system This system was in the 2014 West Marine Catalogue--not sure exactly when it came out, but is Marinco's response to the Smart plug. I do believe that the Smart plug is better, but I have a much lighter duty 15 amp system in my boats.

The issue is not only tightness of the strain relief, but also area surface contact. The Marinco connectors would work fine, if you had the rings, and tightened them well. There were other issues, such as vibration on the lugs of the input, as well as surface area of the input, and carbon deposition from arcing.

PDF of the new system: here
 
I just recently received a new smart plug from the manufacturer as a warranty replacement for one that broke. And yes, the new one had a better internal connection system. Also restraint system. However, I also bought another new one off of Amazon to convert another cord, and it was still the old system. I guess I would suggest buying directly from SmartPlug to get the newer plug. (The newer plug uses allen hex screws for the wire connections and has a better cord restraint system inside the plug.) Colby
 
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