A new saltwater fishing boat represents not just a major financial investment, but a deep emotional investment, as well. It becomes your pride and joy, your ticket to adventure and creating treasured memories with family and friends.
With more than 45 years of fishing boat ownership under my belt, I know the feeling. And that’s why I would sometimes wake up with a start, anxious about my boat, worrying about my ticket to adventure as it bobbed in the slip unattended, miles from my house. Was it taking on water? Was the bilge pump working? Were my batteries charged? Were thieves removing my electronics or, worse, stealing my boat?
Today, advanced app-based boat monitoring and security systems eliminate sleepless nights and provide comfort that things are OK, no matter how many miles separate you from your boat. All it takes is a few simple clicks on your mobile phone to get an update on your boat’s vital signs and rest assured.
Most of these systems immediately alert you through the app on your mobile phone should a sensor—such as a high-bilge-water sensor—be triggered, giving you time to get to your boat or call someone close by to check it out and resolve the issue.
Some systems can also send you a reminder about scheduled engine maintenance to help keep your fishing machine ready to go. The costs of new security and monitoring systems and their related subscriptions are decreasing, as are the size and complexity, making it easier than ever to avail yourself to high-tech peace of mind. Here are just a few examples of the newest and most affordable systems.
Siren 3 Connected Boat System
The Connected Boat systems from Siren Marine, a Yamaha company, allow anglers to keep tabs on their boats from anywhere. The compact and affordable new Siren 3 security, monitoring and maintenance system is designed for small to midsize outboard-powered boats, such as bay boats and flats skiffs.
Boaters use the free Siren Connected Boat app to confirm and track the boat’s location and monitor systems such as battery status, bilge-water level, bilge-pump activity and more. Siren 3 supports up to six wireless sensors through SirenWave, a proprietary communication protocol that provides a fast and secure connection. It also features a new internal-antenna design that reduces the amount of space needed.
Siren 3 features built-in NMEA 2000 connectivity and also networks with the Yamaha CommandLink system on mechanical engines from the F300 and down, and can provide maintenance reminders to Yamaha outboard owners. Systems start at $299 for hardware with an annual cellular service subscription starting at $225. Visit sirenmarine.com.
Skyhawk Oversea
Practical aboard just about any fishing boat, the Skyhawk Oversea system is highly affordable and simple to install. At the heart of Skyhawk Oversea is a compact wireless hub that provides the location of the boat on demand, detects movement, and communicates using the Oversea app on a mobile device. Oversea offers a network of wireless sensors to monitor bilge water, bilge-pump activity, battery voltage, shore power, temperature, water, motion, door entry and sound.
What is different about these sensors, as well as the hub, is that all are self-powered by standard replaceable batteries for continuous year-round monitoring with no drain on the boat’s batteries or any special onboard wiring. All alerts and data come to the free Oversea app remotely via cellular network. Skyhawk Oversea starts at $299.99 for the hub only; monthly cellular service subscription starts at $14.99. Visit oversea.boats.
GOST Security and Monitoring
GOST (Global Ocean Security Technologies) offers a wide range of monitoring systems and components to enable satellite tracking, video surveillance, and more. Systems can be assembled in custom installations to suit the needs of practically any size boat—from center-consoles to mega -yachts—for remote monitoring via computers or mobile devices.
GOST’s Smart Boat Technology utilizes an easy-to-use dashboard with real-time messaging and alerts to keep boat owners informed of systems status with devices such as GPS tracking, motion sensors, infrared beam sensors, high-water sensors, door/hatch sensors, heat sensors, canvas snap sensors, deck sensors, voltage monitoring, mini-siren alarms, strobe-light alarms, video cameras, and more.
Specter Ai is a recent addition to GOST systems that uses artificial intelligence to provide advanced facial recognition, object identification through machine learning, GPS location tracking, data monitoring, and remote viewing of both system data and live video feeds.
These capabilities allow vessel owners to proactively detect threats, monitor critical onboard systems, and access real-time situational intelligence from anywhere in the world. Specter Ai seamlessly integrates with existing hardware. In addition, boat owners who bundle GOST Specter Ai security systems with select satellite data services will benefit from discounted service plans, and the system may help reduce insurance premiums. Visit gost.com.
Roam Marine Monitor
The Roam Marine Monitor system keeps boat owners informed with a cellular device that updates every five minutes with the status of onboard systems such as battery voltage, humidity, temperature and bilge-pump acitivty. It also has an accelerometer to determine if the boat has moved suddenly. It all comes to your phone via the free Roam Marine Monitor app. It also lets you track your boat’s GPS location and set anchor alarms.
Components include the Roam Marine Monitor hub, an LTE-M cellular antenna, and wired sensors for the main battery, a secondary battery or pump, and high bilge water, as well as a GPS antenna and mounting brackets. Additional available wireless sensors include a door/hatch sensor, wireless motion/temperature sensors, and a wired Victron Smart Battery sensor. The system starts at $349, with an annual cellular service subscription starting at $60. Visit roamdevices.com.
Garmin OnDeck
Garmin’s OnDeck fully integrated connectivity system lets boat owners remotely track and monitor their boats while also controlling any number of onboard switches. OnDeck alerts you if your boat moves, thanks to an internal GPS sensor that updates position data every 15 or 30 minutes, depending on power status. The system will also send text alerts if your boat leaves a preset geofenced area.
Using Garmin’s ActiveCaptain app and NMEA 2000 network sensors, boat owners can access updates on parameters like battery status, bilge-pump activity, shore power, temperature changes and more from any remote location within cellular service. In addition, you can set up alarm notifications through the ActiveCaptain app.
The OnDeck hub allows for remote control via the app of up to five onboard relay switches for critical onboard systems, including battery chargers, ice makers and more. You can also control as many switches as you need with NMEA 2000 momentary or latching switch support via EmpirBus digital switching or other third-party control interfaces.
An internal backup battery allows access to the OnDeck hub for up to 48 hours after the boat battery is depleted or the power is somehow disconnected. Plus, you can securely collect vessel data with the OnDeck hub and store it in the cloud for up to 30 days. The OnDeck system integrates seamlessly with current compatible Garmin multifunction displays and the Garmin Marine Network. The OnDeck hub retails for $849.99, with monthly cellular service plans starting at $12.99, based on an annual contract. Visit garmin.com.
Boat Fix
Boat Fix combines a security and monitoring system with a concierge service of tech-savvy and skilled personnel, guaranteed by the company to be standing by 24/7 on phone lines to help troubleshoot issues you might encounter with your boat, motor or onboard systems.
Boat Fix is normally offered on new boats, and it is free for up to three years after the new-boat purchase, but requires a $179 annual subscription fee to continue the service after that period. Boat Fix requires no hardware for the concierge service. However, it offers accessory devices to remotely monitor, track and report vessel vital signs such as location, onboard voltage and bilge-pump cycles.
The Boat Fix Pro 2.0 app for mobile devices provides a view of your vessel’s location and geofenced region, records trips, and helps set routes via web-based mapping. It also offers fast access to towing services and assists in communicating with the Boat Fix concierge services for on-location repairs of your boat or motor. To learn more, visit boatfix.com.
