Overview
Features
Requirements
FAQ
How To
Feedback
Worried about your anchored boat?
Now you can keep track of it from anywhere.
BoatMonitor is a robust remote anchor alarm suite of applications that enables you to use your existing smartphone or computer to track your boat's position while it's anchored, on a mooring pin, or at the dock. Relax and enjoy your time ashore knowing your boat is secure!
- Take the stress out of anchoring
- View your boat's position on a satellite map of the moorage and boat's path
- Mobile app works on a wide variety of devices
- Receive alerts if your boat drifts outside the safe zone
|
What's Required?
On Boat
On Shore
|
Features
- Live satellite map view of your boat's position relative to anchor
- Receive email and/or SMS (North America only) alerts
- Configurable alarm settings to suit the accuracy of your GPS
- Set anchor on map by current position or heading and distance
- Works in the background or when your device is asleep
- Configurable 'exclusion zone' within the anchoring radius
- Advanced averaging to maximize accuracy and minimize data usage
- Clear, easy-to-use interface
- Vibrate and/or alarm sound when outside safe zone
- Voice Alert reads out your distance and bearing to anchor (iOS)
- Operates in sleep mode
- Stays logged in
- Supports the developer!
Coming soon:
- Dock/Mooring Monitor
- Nautical chart overlay
What's Required?
In order to use BoatTracker to track your boat remotely, you will need:- A smartphone / computer with internet for on your boat.
This device regularly sends your boat's position to our secure server so you can check it from on shore. It can be any of the following:- Windows computer (or Mac running Parellels or Boot Camp)
with USB/Bluetooth/NMEA GPS device + GPS Gate Express software (free install) - iPhone
- Android phone with GPS
- iPod touch with external GPS
- iPad 3G/4G models or wi-fi model with external GPS
- Windows computer (or Mac running Parellels or Boot Camp)
- A phone/smartphone to bring with you
- With a smartphone with internet you can receive email alerts and view your boat's position on a map
- With any phone you can receive SMS alerts
- From any computer you can log in to check on boat's position and movements
In order to use BoatTracker to track your boat while onboard, you need:
- A smartphone or computer running the Boat Monitor app or web application:
- Windows computer (or Mac running Parellels or Boot Camp)
with USB/Bluetooth/NMEA GPS device + GPS Gate Express software (free install) - iPhone
- Android phone with GPS
- iPod touch with external GPS
- iPad 3G/4G models or wi-fi model with external GPS
FAQ's
How accurate is BoatMonitor?
Short answer: as accurate as your GPS device. A dedicated GPS receiver with WAAS connected to a computer or smartphone/tablet is the most accurate setup for on your boat. However, even the built-in GPS in your smartphone will tend to be accurate to within 50 feet or so. You can connect a USB or bluetooth GPS to your computer using a free program called GPSgate (website). The most accurate setup we've tested is a Garmin GPS with WAAS connected to a computer via GPS Gate.
How can I evaluate whether BoatMonitor will work for me?
Try it out! The web application is completely free to use. Of course, you don't have to actually be on your boat to try it; you can test it anywhere. This will give you an idea of how well it will function on your devices(s) and the kind of accuracy you can expect when you are actually anchoring.
Is there an app I can install?
Yes! If you have an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, you can use the link on the right side of the screen to get the app.
Can I also monitor my bilge water level with Boat Monitor?
Not yet! The technology to make this happen is becoming better and more affordable, and we are actively seeking technology partners that will enable us to bring this capability to our software. Stay tuned...
I set the anchor and the blue dot moved outside the green circle (swing radius) yet it didn't alert me. How come?
To avoid false positives (alerting you when it hasn't really moved), the entire blue circle must be outside of the green circle for a number of readings before it will alert you. You can set this threshold number by going to Preferences from the main menu. In general the more accurate your GPS is, the lower this number can be.
How reliable is Boat Monitor?
Short answer: as reliable as your internet connection and power supply. In anchor monitor mode, Boat Monitor saves your position to the server every few minutes. By providing the time since last position fix, it lets you know if a network disconnection or other problem has prevented it from saving your position to the server. Boat Monitor will continue attempting to connect with ther server if your internet is temporarily disconnected.
How does Boat Monitor send SMS messages?
SMS alerts are sent from our server, not from your phone. This makes it possible for any device to send SMS messages, whether is has cell service or not. It also gets around Apple's policy of not allowing apps to autonomously (without a user click) send SMS messages. You get 15 free SMS messages when you sign up, then you can purchase more (50 for $1.49) by logging in and going to Preferences. To prevent credits from being used up too fast, only one message is sent per alarm.
How To
- Set up an anchor monitor session
- Log in to Boat Monitor using device on boat, then choose the mode you want and click Start Session
- Click the
button and choose set anchor - Set your anchor position to current location or by heading and distance
- Once the position is established, set your anchor swing radius (should be a bit higher than your rode length)
- Set the exclusion zone by dragging and dropping the 2 markers, or click full circle for none
- If the device is a smartphone, connect it to the boat's power. If you are using a web browser rather than an app, you will need to set your screen to remain on.
- Monitor boat's position remotely
- On the device you will take with you (or any computer with internet) log in to Boat Monitor and choose Monitor Current Session to view the boat's position
- To receive email alerts, go to preferences from the main menu and ensure that email alerts are on
- To receive SMS alerts, go to preferences from the main menu and check SMS alerts, then enter the full number (including country code, numerals only) of your mobile phone
- Monitor boat's position using FRS/GMRS radio (no internet, iOS app only)
- Start a new Offline session using the device on boat; set up your anchor position and radius
- Turn up the volume on your device
- Set your walkie-talkie to VOX mode
- Click the button and tap the VOX Radio Test button; position the radio near enough so the voice turns on the radio and is legible on another radio
- Take a radio with you
- Use a computer+GPS onboard instead of a phone/tablet
- Install GPSgate here
- Once installed, go to Settings
- Choose 'GPS in browser' from the 'add output' menu and click Add
- If you need help getting GPSgate to work with your GPS, see the GPSgate site
- When GPSgate says 'Running OK', do steps 1-3 in 'Set up a monitor session' above
Feedback
Boat Monitor is an evolving system, and we welcome you to participate in it's evolution by letting us know what we're getting right, where we're missing the boat, and what other features you would find useful. If you require a reply, we'll do our best to get back to you within a day or two.Send Feedback
Please log in to your account before submitting feedback.
Contact Us
Questions? Click here to email us.
Our Partners
---