Remote Boat Security and Temp Control

[jfm]

Sounds like a great idea! How difficult is it to have fitted?

The trouble with the yacht sentinel seems to me that, to get the best from it, you need to wire it throughout the boat. Then it would be great.

The advantage of the Envirotxt is that you can just plug it in and its "job done".

It depends. To install the sentinel to a basic level you just need a place with a power supply and a view of the satellites and GSM phone network. GRP is transparent, so you can for example mount it under the dash or somewhere - it is dead easy. At this level it will text you (1) if the boat moves/is stolen (2) if it slips on anchor while you are in the restaurant (3) if shorepower fails (4) if temperature falls/rises vs user preset levels - the temp sensor is on a lead about 2m long so you have some choice where to locate it relative to the actual sentinel device. And (5) you can text it and ask it to send you a full status update. all very good and easy

If you want it to tell you the bilge water is high or the door is open then you need to install a bilge water sensor and door opening magnet, and THEN you have the difficulty of running wires from the device to the sensors. That is specific to each boat of course so Sammy I cant answer that part of your question

If you want it to turn lights/kettle on then you need to wire it to relays that control those circuits, and again the difficulty/ease is specific to each boat and how easy the wiring runs are. I wouldn't bother with the kettle - that was said TiC I think!

It doesn't tell you humidity (this doesn't worry me; I have no concern about humidity)

BTW it will send its messages to one, two or three mobile numbers, and FWIW mine has a UK PAYG sim card in it even though the boat is in france, and I just top it up with £40 at beginning of year using a UK ATM, and its good for the whole season

The antitheft GPS feature is a big deal in my book. If you're gonna fit a black box to tell you how warm the boat is, then the thing might as well earn its keep by alerting you if your boat has been stolen!

 

[Trundlebug]

Equivalent gsm alarms available on eBay for under £50 if you look carefully.

Will do most of the above that the Yacht Sentinel does but unless you're imaginative with other accessories no GPS feature or humidity or temp alarm.

I fitted one about 12 months ago and have been very pleased with it.
Will alert me to power failure, bilge pump, door open (wireless, several if required) movement sensor (wireless, several if required) and can be used to turn an appliance on or off remotely by phone.

Example here, but search "gsm alarm" on eBay for more choice than you can shake a stick at:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SECURITY-...0799?pt=UK_Burglar_Alarms&hash=item19efb9e8df

 

[POD II]

Bought 2x Thermotxt units over the phone mid afternoon yesterday from TekView and they arrived today at about 10am.

TekView have been very helpful, they discount their products as standard for direct orders but did an even better price when i asked about the Chinese copies being sold on eBay.

All i need now is to sort out the PAYG SIM cards, obviously need to chose a network that has good coverage at Swanwick (Hamble) and credit that doesn't expire.........oh and some heaters with reliable thermostats and a de-humidifier to put onboard.

 

[Hurricane]

All i need now is to sort out the PAYG SIM cards, obviously need to chose a network that has good coverage at Swanwick (Hamble) and credit that doesn't expire.........oh and some heaters with reliable thermostats and a de-humidifier to put onboard.

I did this a few years ago
Just popped into my local Vodafone shop and paid them £5 at the time for a PAYG SIM only deal.
Not worried about the rates - it is only using SMS texts anyway.

I bought the Vodafone PAYG about 4 years ago and in that time, I've only topped it up with about £25/£35
And the boat is in Spain

So, you won't need anything special
As you say, you need the network coverage - but my main mobile is on Vodafone and that works in Swanwick and I'm sure most other providers would work there as well.

 

[Trundlebug]

Go into your local Tesco superstore (don't buy online) and buy one of their Tesco Mobile PAYG SIMS for a quid.

I think the network is Vodafone, and the credit doesn't expire.

Caveat: Make sure things haven't changed, check for yourself. These things are constantly changing!

 

[Scubadoo]

Go into your local Tesco superstore (don't buy online) and buy one of their Tesco Mobile PAYG SIMS for a quid.

I think the network is Vodafone, and the credit doesn't expire.

Caveat: Make sure things haven't changed, check for yourself. These things are constantly changing!

Not all SMS/Text type systems accept Tesco etc PAYG SIMS even though they use the same network including GiffGaff. So you may need to stick with the original Vodafone, Orange etc PAYG sims, so check or consider this if you have connection problems with your device.

 

[SammyB]

It depends. To install the sentinel to a basic level you just need a place with a power supply and a view of the satellites and GSM phone network. GRP is transparent, so you can for example mount it under the dash or somewhere - it is dead easy. At this level it will text you (1) if the boat moves/is stolen (2) if it slips on anchor while you are in the restaurant (3) if shorepower fails (4) if temperature falls/rises vs user preset levels - the temp sensor is on a lead about 2m long so you have some choice where to locate it relative to the actual sentinel device. And (5) you can text it and ask it to send you a full status update. all very good and easy

If you want it to tell you the bilge water is high or the door is open then you need to install a bilge water sensor and door opening magnet, and THEN you have the difficulty of running wires from the device to the sensors. That is specific to each boat of course so Sammy I cant answer that part of your question

If you want it to turn lights/kettle on then you need to wire it to relays that control those circuits, and again the difficulty/ease is specific to each boat and how easy the wiring runs are. I wouldn't bother with the kettle - that was said TiC I think!

It doesn't tell you humidity (this doesn't worry me; I have no concern about humidity)

BTW it will send its messages to one, two or three mobile numbers, and FWIW mine has a UK PAYG sim card in it even though the boat is in france, and I just top it up with £40 at beginning of year using a UK ATM, and its good for the whole season

The antitheft GPS feature is a big deal in my book. If you're gonna fit a black box to tell you how warm the boat is, then the thing might as well earn its keep by alerting you if your boat has been stolen!

Thank you I like the sound of it, we will certainly order one for our new boat!

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

our new boat!

Ooh hang on a minute, is there something you haven't told us?

 

[jfm]

Ooh hang on a minute, is there something you haven't told us?

Yes yes yes, tell all Sammy! Have you traded the ST in? Magellano? Gone halves with Mark on a 90 foot princess?

 

[SammyB]

You guys don't miss a trick!!
Sorry to divert the thread but....
We just finalised a great deal to trade in our lovely Swift Trawler 44 for an MC5 which will offer us more room for kids/guests and also more stability, not forgetting the speed(for Guy)

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

You guys don't miss a trick!!
Sorry to divert the thread but....
We just finalised a great deal to trade in our lovely Swift Trawler 44 for an MC5 which will offer us more room for kids/guests and also more stability, not forgetting the speed(for Guy)

Wow! Huge congratulations. Try and keep this one longer than a year...

When does it all happen?

 

[SammyB]

Thanks Jimmy we are really excited all over again!!! This was not part of the original plan, I need to keep Guy away from boat shows!!
Delivery is in April and we plan to leave Port Leucate late May and spend the summer between Cote D'Azur, Italy and Corsica. Hopefully we will be able to meet up with you guys?

 

[jfm]

Thanks Jimmy we are really excited all over again!!! This was not part of the original plan, I need to keep Guy away from boat shows!!
Delivery is in April and we plan to leave Port Leucate late May and spend the summer between Cote D'Azur, Italy and Corsica. Hopefully we will be able to meet up with you guys?

Fantastic - congratulations to you guys. Guy is grinning from ear to ear I bet. You've got the boat buying/changing addiction badly! Hope to see you and it/her next summer

Big question: what hull colour ?

 

[SammyB]

Fantastic - congratulations to you guys. Guy is grinning from ear to ear I bet. You've got the boat buying/changing addiction badly! Hope to see you and it/her next summer

Big question: what hull colour ?

Thanks John, he couldn't play it cool after our sea trial he was grinning then not good for our bargaining position!
The big question is the colour he didn't like the blue and I thought the cream was a bit boring so guess which colour we ordered?

 

[jfm]

Thanks John, he couldn't play it cool after our sea trial he was grinning then not good for our bargaining position!
The big question is the colour he didn't like the blue and I thought the cream was a bit boring so guess which colour we ordered?

I thought it came in 3 colours - light and dark blue, plus cream. So you ordered the dark blue? Or your Q was TiC and you were kind and let him order cream

 

[SammyB]

Sorry forgot about the blue! You are right it does come in 3 colours but as we have already had a dark blue boat in the Med, we decided to go with the light blue/turquoise! A bit extreme but we feel it is the MC statement colour.

 

[jfm]

Sorry forgot about the blue! You are right it does come in 3 colours but as we have already had a dark blue boat in the Med, we decided to go with the light blue/turquoise! A bit extreme but we feel it is the MC statement colour.

Great choice!. Time for some bright flame orange scatter cushions!

 

[SammyB]

Great choice!. Time for some bright flame orange scatter cushions!

Funny that you say that our Beneteau Dealer wanted us to have red leather interior seating!

 

[Teddy]

Go into your local Tesco superstore (don't buy online) and buy one of their Tesco Mobile PAYG SIMS for a quid.

I think the network is Vodafone, and the credit doesn't expire.

Caveat: Make sure things haven't changed, check for yourself. These things are constantly changing!

Tesco Mobile is O2, not Vodafone, if it makes any difference. Mine works in an old O2 phone as well as a Tesco enabled one.

 

[POD II]

My next question - Having bought Thermotxt units, tubular heaters and dehumidifier i'm about to put them onboard, but what temperature and RH settings do people generally go for?

My intention was to set heaters to come on at 5 deg C and off at 10 deg C and RH at 60%............is this sensible?

NB. The dehumidifier has a rotary control from 80% RH all the way down to 35% RH. The instructions say 'Economy' setting is 80%-60% RH, 'Medium' is 60%-45% RH and 'Hi' is 45%-35% RH. I therefore figure that 60% should be a reasonable balance between RH and running costs.