It recently came to my attention that some, within an organization I support fully, namely the ABYC, have told people that this article is a direct marketing piece for Smart Plug and that I am a shill for Smart Plug?? This is flat out bovine dung and a 150% flat out lie.


Lets stop the BS here and now. I find this level of immaturity, by people who should know better, utterly disgusting and the lowest form of low.


Fact: I make no direct compensation from Smart Plug and I have specifically & purposely not become a direct dealer so as to not impede or negatively impact the greater importance of this article. I believe in the dire seriousness of these issues to the Nth degree.


Fact: This article was written by me and of my own volition. I did not need any prompting and I am only doing what 2000+ other good marine electricians should have done long ago. By that I mean calling out the sheer safety concerns of a left over, grandfathered & arguably dangerous standard from 1938 vs. today's technology, designed from the ground up to minimize the exact issues the twist lock standard is fraught with..


Smart Plug had absolutely nothing to do with this article other than to offer heat sensing images and answer about 1000 questions from me. I wrote this from my own physical experiences and from what I firmly is safer, as a practicing marine electrician.


Fact: I receive nothing from Smart Plug, zero, zilch, NADA. I buy my Smart Plug products through regular wholesale or retail organizations such as Hamilton Marine, Sailboatowners.com, Defender etc.. I don't even buy direct from Smart Plug. I do this purposely and by design to eliminate any potential for being called a shill.


Fact: The only compensation I've made from this article has been from the "DONATE" button in this article. This is 100% reader support, not industry support in any form shape or matter. To date I have made less than it cost me to write this article due to the cost of buying the supplies etc. then destroying them. (EDIT: 6/23/16 I have now made a $380 in net reader donations on this article after paying off all the parts and pieces used or destroyed in the making of it.


Fact: I personally believe in this product and twist-lock faailures and marina fires are what drive my motivation.


Fact: What have I received from Smart Plug? Exactly one warranty replacement of a 30A 50' shore cord for a customer who had one "fade" to a paler shade of orange. This was a very early cord and they subsequently added more UV inhibitors in later production runs. The customer benefited, not me.

Rant off. Be safe out there..