Boat security seems to be a hot topic today... Further to my earlier post on this new boat security system, the Yachtwatcher, Motor Boat & Yachting has a special feature on this topic to be published in their June 2004 issue.
"A boat is an expensive bit of kit to leave in the open air unattended for long periods. But is boat theft as rife as is supposed? We talk to some of those involved in chasing lost boats and discover what type of security products are just the job to give you peace of mind."
Not a first of its kind, but German firm NAVCOS has launched Yachtwatcher YW 5000, which sends a text message to a yacht owner's mobile phone in the vent that it is broken into or it should leave its moorings. Besides that, you can even send individual control commands via your mobile phone and turn on or off the refrigerator or the bilge pump for example.
"After activating the Yachtwatcher YW 5000, on board sensors are used to monitor the status a yacht, and GPS measurements are taken at regular intervals. The same system can also be used to activate equipment on board the yacht, such as a bilge pump, or a refrigerator. The YW 5000 features a 12 channel GPS receiver, integrated dual band GSM modem, power management system for lower power consumption, and can store 32,000 positions, which can be accessed and analysed to determine the route taken by a boat should it be stolen."
Stentec Software has launched their new GPS-Navigation program WinGPS 4. One of the nicer features is that it, supposedly, helps you get the most out of the Bluetooth enabled NMEA multiplexer from ShipModul I wrote about before.
"The Miniplex-42BT comes with an extra utility which allows the multiplexer to be fully configured. Full configuration will also be possible from the GPS-navigation program WinGPS 4 Pro, which is currently being developed by Stentec Software."
More and more private yachts are using real time tracking systems to locate their vessels via a web based interface, anywhere and anytime. PurpleFinder seems to be one of the most popular. It has two basic features, PurpleFinder Reporter and PurpleFinder Guard.
"PurpleFinder Reporter - enabling two-way location, monitoring and communication with your remote people and assets worldwide."
"PurpleFinder Guard - providing two-way data communication to enable you to locate, monitor and protect your vulnerable people and assets around the world. Providing the DSAS Ship Alert System for discreet ship to shore emergency notifications."
Looking at what you need in terms of technology, hardware and software, it can be deployed relatively easy. You can even embed your location on your boat's website in real-time... One other nice feature is called 'geofencing':
"Geofencing - send us your latitude-longitude boundary coordinates and we will preprogramme your D+ unit to automatically broadcast the yacht's position if this boundary is crossed. Perfect for bareboat charter! If the coordinates are set to the harbour or marina entrance then you will be notified as soon as the yacht is moved."
Engadget discusses Garmin's new plug-and-play systems (GPSMAP 3010C & 3006C) that put GPS, weather, sonar, radar, and other important data at boaters� fingertips. It also highlights Garmin's proprietary Marine Network, yet another alternative to NMEA 2000, the standard that somehow takes a long time to mature. One of the advantages of the Garmin approach is that it uses ethernet as a backbone. Since ethernet cables can be used for powering devices as well, this will make a supposedly plug and play boat network a lot less complicated in terms of wiring...
"From Garmin, a couple of new waterproof GPS handhelds designed specifically for seafarers. The GPSMAP 3010C (pictured above) has a 10.4-inch color LCD screen, while the GPSMAP 3006C has a smaller 6.4-inch screen. Both of them work with the Garmin Marine Network, Garmin's new line of peripherals that you can attach to the handhelds. The first two to be available will be the GDL 30, which connects to XM's satellite weather service and can download real-time graphical weather data (there's another version, the GDL 30A, if you want to tune into satellite radio, too), and the the GSD 20, for adding sonar. A marine radar attachment should be ready sometime next year."
As long as standards like NMEA 2000 take to lang to penetrate the market, more proprietary initiatives will have a chance. Brunswick's SmartCraft is definitely one of them. Onan, the marine generator set manufacturer, signed a license agreement that will allow users to read data from Onan product through the SmartCraft Networked databus system.
"The user can view genset status, including AC voltage, AC frequency, coolant temperature, oil pressure, battery voltage, and genset hours; be alerted to a pre-alarm condition; and, if the genset shuts down, view the notification and diagnostic message in text. For the boatbuilder, the common display frees up valuable space previously taken by multiple monitoring devices."
Gizmodo points at Raymarine's new C Series Multifunction Navigation Display, a product also highlighted by Ben Ellison in SAIL Magazine.
"Raymarine's C-Series Multifunction Navigation Display is, at heart, a simple LCD monitor. What makes it powerful is its ability to serve as the interface to a wide array of Raymarine-brand equipment, including radar units, fish-finders, GPS charting units and more. Three models are available, in 7-inch, 8-inch, and 12-inch sizes, and prices vary depending on your custom configuration."
Yachting World's May issue reviews an electronic chart system, LookSea, that uses a 360-degree "pan-and-tilt" video camera and 3D interface to make navigating more easy and safe. Through the advanced technology of augmented reality, LookSea enhances your electronic navigational picture with continuous, real-time views of the surrounding ocean. LookSea happens to be a sort of spin-off from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), where the owners of the company behind LookSea used to do research into augmented reality. And funny enough, the system was even tested on the predecessor of the U.S. Navy's High Speed Vessel (HSV) SWIFT which I wrote about yesterday.
For more reviews of this interesting system you can visit Klein Associates. At the bottom of the page you will find some relevant links.
"LookSea Pro is the most advanced electronic chart system available and can also provide a focal point for your integrated bridge system. The LookSea system takes video data from an exterior camera, converts electronic chart data into computer generated, 3D graphics and synchronizes those images with GPS and heading data to create an augmented view of your situation on a video monitor."
In an article discussing assistive technologies in sailing I came across YachtAware, a company which creates integrative technology that connects navigational instruments to a main computer. In this case it helped disabled people compete in the Transpac, but it could be a good solution for many.
"YachtAware installed one of its systems on the B'Quest. It placed sensors all over the 40-foot yacht: including the sails, the hull, water tanks, and the engines. The sensors are hooked up to the main computer that provides instant information and makes recommendations on a course of action. The sensors also sound an alarm when someone goes beyond the railing, possibly falling overboard. "It even translates Morse code, which I don't know," Miyares said. "It's important to communicate to other ships during emergencies." Also, if the boat breaks away from its anchor the YachtAware system calls the skipper's cell phone to relay what happened."
If your communications, networking and securtity needs are extensive you'd might consider Virtek's CommBox. It combines a router, email server, least cost route switch, and lot's of other features in one box. Altough developed with large vessel requirements in mind, increasingly private yachts will be equiped with these types of solutions as well.
"CommBox is designed not only for today's data communication requirements, but also with the future in mind. Anything that can communicate through the Internet can communicate through CommBox. CommBox supports all standard mail clients. It can run as a stand-alone e-mail server or as a mail relay server to enhance the performance of existing mail systems. CommBox utilizes dedicated black box technology for superior stability compared to software solutions. Configuration is easy as any user with privileges can control CommBox from any computer in the network with a web browser. CommBox supports all dial-up connections, MPDS and leased line."
Boat security seems to be a hot topic today... Further to my earlier post on this new boat security system, the Yachtwatcher, Motor Boat & Yachting has a special feature on this topic to be published in their June 2004 issue.
Not a first of its kind, but German firm NAVCOS has 
Stentec Software has launched their 
More and more private yachts are using real time tracking systems to locate their vessels via a web based interface, anywhere and anytime. 
Looking at what you 
As long as standards like NMEA 2000 take to lang to penetrate the market, more proprietary initiatives will have a chance. Brunswick's 
Gizmodo 
Yachting World's May 
For more reviews of this interesting system you can visit 
In an 
"CommBox is designed not only for today's data communication requirements, but also with the future in mind. Anything that can communicate through the Internet can communicate through CommBox. CommBox supports all standard mail clients. It can run as a stand-alone e-mail server or as a mail relay server to enhance the performance of existing mail systems. CommBox utilizes dedicated black box technology for superior stability compared to software solutions. Configuration is easy as any user with privileges can control CommBox from any computer in the network with a web browser. CommBox supports all dial-up connections, MPDS and leased line."