Defender provides quality marine supplies, inflatable boats and outboard motors. We offer competitive prices on the brands you trust, we have them in stock and we are an authorized dealer for everything we carry. Defender is a marine outfitter staffed by passionate boaters who understand your language and your projects. We have a knowledgeable, in-house sales staff ready to answer your questions and to help you make the right purchase. That’s how we continue to earn the trust of mariners worldwide — as we have since 1938. Based in Waterford, Conn., Defender is a family-owned company, started by Sheldon Lance. Mr. Lance wanted to make boating accessible to more people and “disrupted” the marine supply industry, which at the time catered to “yachtsmen.” Mr. Lance started buying surplus products from the government and manufacturers so he could sell boating supplies at affordable prices, and he ended up earning the respect of quality marine manufacturers worldwide. Today, Defender is an authorized dealer for 85,000 products from every major marine manufacturer. Now under the leadership of Mr. Lance’s son, Stephan, Defender has grown to become the largest independent marine supply firm in the U.S.