Defender Marine Annual Warehouse Sale

B

Brian B

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 19, 2012
Messages
1,117
Fluid Motion Model
C-26
Hull Identification Number
FMLR2512L910
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Sold in 2021
Vessel Name
GANSETT RANGER (2010) Yanmar 4BY2-150
Thanks for that info... and I just read the 2pm start time on the Active Captain newsletter. I was already set to go online tomorrow Thursday and didn't realize it actually started today. I had called Defender last week and they told me to purchase online Thursday... can't always believe what you're told.... 😉

Yep -- That's 11am today on West coast and I'm ready to dig deep to purchase the SmartPlug product with the 10% discount via their website. I hope by ordering as early as possible it will put me in a good position to secure the purchase as I understand it's first come, first served for the in-stock items.

I already have my SmartPlug order in my Defender's online Cart. I wonder if the 10% discount will automagically be applied or will I have to empty the Cart and reselect my SmartPlug items on/after 11am today ? I guess we'll see what happens.
 
Trying to login to the Defender site.... it appears that Defenders web servers are in distress and have crashed/stalled or are refusing requests.... 😉 😱 :roll:
 
I made it onto Defender's web sight and although we can not buy anything today they do have the sale prices posted.

Jim F
 
I was able to get right on, looking to do the Rocna 22# anchor upgrade, sale price is $234
 
It took me an hour to place my SmartPlug 10% off sale order. They even reduced the S&H charge. 🙂
 
I was able to log on and purchase the smartplug boatside inlet and connector. With shipping it came out to $169.39. That's a nice savings compared to W/M's $194.99 (before taxes). 😱
 
John: We can compare notes on installing & using the SmartPlug product. Even if Defender exhausts its SmartPlug stock over the 4-day Sale period they guarantee the Sale pricing if you're affected by the stock depletion. 🙂
 
Looks like a run on SmartPlugs overloaded the server!

Brian,

I will also be at the sale on Friday. I will be wearing my Ranger Tugs hat.

Howard
 
HRowland":3ency31y said:
Looks like a run on SmartPlugs overloaded the server!

Brian,

I will also be at the sale on Friday. I will be wearing my Ranger Tugs hat.

Howard
Click to expand...

I'll wear my hat also, good idea. I'll be there about 11:00 or so. Wife is going also, she's more interested in going after she saw the clothing and shoes on sale :roll:
For some reason she doesn't want a Smart Plug.
 
John: We can compare notes on installing & using the SmartPlug product.
Click to expand...

No problem. I'm sure there's a video out there that shows how to install...reading is ok, pictures are great, but video really helps! :lol:
 
In placing an order with Defender I thought I'd buy some more Kanberra Gel (discussed on this forum last year) but Defender offers a new product that appears essentially the same...made with tea tree oil, an all natural air purifier made to eliminate mold, bacteria, odors, etc. The new product (or new to them) is made by Forespar and on sale for a 4 oz. container at $18.99. I'm going to give it a try and thought other Tugnuts, for those that don't already know, would like to know what I found.

Jim
 
Thanks Howard for posting the SmartPlug videos. I had not come across them earlier.

One video indicates the pins are self cleaning (presumably meaning any corrosion debris is removed) each time they're pushed into the boat side connector... cool feature.

I've now watch several advertising videos and noted that some indicate the surface area of the connection pin prongs for the SmartPlug provide either 20x or 20% greater than the pins on the traditional Marinco twist lock product. An easy mistake I guess (slip of the tongue) but that's a huge difference. 😉

One video alerted me to the fact that the SmartPlug boat side connector's swivel lid/cap has a built-in cam at the hinge end that also provides additional clamping force as the lid/cap is closed down. Thus the SmartPlug has two side mounted click clamps and the swivel lid/cap has two, for a total of 4 points for stabilizing the union of the plug and connector. Pretty snazzy if you ask me.

Because of the nature of these 4 clamping points there will obviously be wear and tear with constant use over time. I wonder just how long this wear & tear aspect creates a situation where the clamping action loses its effectiveness. There's a 7 year warranty and hopefully that's not an indication of this wear & tear getting to a point of being ineffective.

On my R25 it's not going to be safe leaving the SmartPlug engaged to the boat side connector when leaving the dock/slip. This is because it would stick out on the starboard side and present a tripping hazard to anyone scrambling alongside the boat to get to the bow. However, maybe the solution to this is to negotiate the port side instead. 🙂 Having said that, I must now consider how to stow the 50' cord set on the outside of the boat while underway. Maybe I'll look at the CordPro XL product for this purpose.
 
For anyone who does not get in on the great Defender Sale that ends this Sunday, West Marine is having a "Member Sale" next Wednesday, March 27. Although not as inclusive as Defender's sale they are offering $20 off of purchases of $100 or more and up to 50% off some of their proprietary products, as well as a small discount on new BoatUS towing policies.

Jim
 
I stopped by WM today, they said their new policy is no price matching unless it is a brick and mortor store that is close to that particular store. Well there are not other stores around it, so I said see ya and ordered a bunch of stuff on line at Defender. Might have to start my own new policy about WM.
 
Don and Brenda":hoqth0ld said:
I stopped by WM today, they said their new policy is no price matching unless it is a brick and mortor store that is close to that particular store. Well there are not other stores around it, so I said see ya and ordered a bunch of stuff on line at Defender. Might have to start my own new policy about WM.
Click to expand...

It's the same result in the Seattle area... for WM price matching it has to be Brick&Mortar and within 50 miles. So I did same thing and gave my business to Defender. I think it's a silly policy IMO. I want to favor local business if I can, but...
 
We went to the Defender Marine store today in CT. It was my first time there, it's a 45 minute drive from my home in RI.
The store is more like a warehouse, no fancy frills like an WM store we are all used to. They were very busy due to the sale going on, tough to navigate a shopping cart up and down the aisles.
The customer service today was outstanding. Plenty of knowledgable staff on hand to answer questions. Staff actually asked us many times if we needed help with anything. They also had quite a few of the factory reps set up in their own room with their own displays.
Everything in the store was on sale, if it wasn't discounted for the special sale it was discounted 10%.
We left with quite a few items for our tug and lots of ideas for the future.
I'll definitely be going back to Defender Marine.
 
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