I want my boat to send me text messages

[Zen Zero]

Just been down at the boat, mopping up between thunderstorms, and pleased to find a relatively dry bilge after our 14 month layup for topside waterproofing and other repairs.

It occurred to me that it would be handy if my boat could send me text messages when, for example, the bilge pump comes on automatically or the battery goes flat.

Those are actually the only two examples I can think of. If she broke all 8 of her mooring lines and floated off down the Tiber on her own (this actually happened once, but in the company of 3 other boats and a piece of pontoon) I'm not sure if I'd be able to do anything about it; but if the bilge was filling up and the battery going flat, it would be handy if she could shout "help!" to her loved ones; and this *is* the 21st century after all!

Before I set about inventing something, do the forumites know of an existing commercial offering?

It would be very simple, a kind of logic controller that sends a memorised text message to a stored set of phone numbers triggered by the float switch, in the case of the bilge pump, or a battery condition monitor (I haven't got one of these, but I'm sure I could find one).

 

[sarabande]

Lenseman of this parish makes gadgets like that.

http://www.dswmarineengineering.com/

 

[pvb]

Lenseman of this parish makes gadgets like that.

http://www.dswmarineengineering.com/

Let's hope the products work more effectively than his website!

 

[sarabande]

that link works perfectly well for me......

 

[SAWDOC]

Yep,
you are stuck in the office and you get a text message

"going for a sail - want to join me?......."

 

[pvb]

that link works perfectly well for me......

Obviously too subtle for you. Yes, the link works, but the website has no product information so is effectively useless.

 

[FishyInverness]

As I recall, Vetus do a system, Anti-Theft GPS/Text messaging system that can also link to Gas alarms, Bilge Alarms, Battery Supply, etc...not cheap though!

 

[Zen Zero]

Sarabande - I'm not sure about the DSW offering, certainly the website doesn't really say clearly what it's about, and it seems more of a theft alarm and more sophisticated than what I'm after.

I wonder if a smart phone is able to take input from a float switch and if an app can be made to do what I want ... ?

 

[pvb]

Before I set about inventing something, do the forumites know of an existing commercial offering?

Take a look at the GSM-Secure website, the Yacht Sentinel website and the C-Pod system.

 

[SAWDOC]

Obviously too subtle for you. Yes, the link works, but the website has no product information so is effectively useless.

That is harsh - there are full contacts details supplied if anyone is interested in this type of product. What about a little support for a fellow forumite?

 

[Zen Zero]

Hi Fishy! I canny find anything on the Vetus website, I'll keep searching.

 

[pvb]

That is harsh - there are full contacts details supplied if anyone is interested in this type of product. What about a little support for a fellow forumite?

Not harsh at all. Why have a website, with buy online facilities, without actually telling people something about the product??

 

[Zen Zero]

PVB thanks for those links - very interesting indeed! Do you have any personal experience of these products?

 

[Elessar]

Not harsh at all. Why have a website, with buy online facilities, without actually telling people something about the product??

Suggest you pm him. You will get a personal service and a product tailored to your needs.

 

[Zen Zero]

I hope he's not too upset by our critical appraisal of his website to speak up here if and when he notices this thread.

BTW - did you know seagull-**** contains fish scales that will block your cockpit drains in a thunderstorm? I'm thinking I need a seagull scarer too!

 

[daveyw]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leda-Comp...ics_GPSSystems_GPSSystems&hash=item4159c89c73

 

[pvb]

PVB thanks for those links - very interesting indeed! Do you have any personal experience of these products?

No, but they've all been recommended before on these forums.

 

[nigelmercier]

It would be very simple, a kind of logic controller that sends a memorised text message to a stored set of phone numbers triggered by the float switch, in the case of the bilge pump, or a battery condition monitor (I haven't got one of these, but I'm sure I could find one).

I'm pretty sure that one of the electronics magazines did a project on the recently, I'll take a look tomorrow. The only problem is if the phone has to be on, taking power. If the circuit is designed right it should allow it to go off.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Have a look at Empirbus. I have this installed on my boat. The GSM module provides exactly what you want. You can also text your boat and tell it to do things!

Will take a bit of wiring though.

 

[FishyInverness]

Hi Fishy! I canny find anything on the Vetus website, I'll keep searching.

Hi Zen,

It does seem to have disappeared from this year's catalogue as well - I know it's around because I priced one, oddly for a mate's Paintball site (no electricity or phonelines and about £20k worth of gear stored on site!)

Found it here:

http://www.vetussecurity.com/main.php?page=werking_en