Advice on adding a boat monitoring/alarm system

[jff]

I installed The Boat Nanny on my 48 and it worked well (in particular I liked having a bilge temp with alarm for high/low temp, a bilge float switch as part of the system and notifications when the boat lost power at the dock). Looks like it hasn't changed in a number of years though, it's all still SMS based. I'd love to find a solution for my new boat that used SMS for alarms but also had some type of iPad interface/app. Anyone have experience with different products in this space and have suggestions/recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[firecadet613]

A friend has Siren Marine and likes it. www.sirenmarine.com

 

[Peter Schlossberg]

I put the Siren system in last year and it works well. It has many capabilities in addition to security.

 

[Camron]

Most of the security devices that are available in the market have the sms based system that alert you with the text when the alarm is triggered.And i think you must search on the Ebay or Amazon because you can easily get all these alarm and security devices there.

Brisbane Security Services

 

[Alex F]

Jason,

I've looked in to Siren Marine system and here are the things I didn't like:

1. It's not wireless based system, so you'll need to wire everything. It's no big deal for door sensors, but when you want to wire things like MSTR Stateroom hatch I didn't see how will you do it without much trouble. So, basically all sensors, including sirens must be hard wired.

2. Arm/disarm remotely - It doesn't offer this feature. So, if you have mechanic going to the boat you can't disarm it remotely from your phone. If alarm goes off and you want to turn it off, you have to be on the spot.

3. It's limited to only 5 zones. As soon as you start adding temp and other sensors you run out of zones real fast.

4. It doesn't make a phone call, texting and emails only. I personally prefer to get a call when there's something going on with my boat. It's easy to miss a text or an email.

However, overall it seamed like a good system.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[jff]

Thanks Alex. That's one advantage The Boat Nanny has - simplicity. Motion and temp built into base unit which you just plug in the wall in the salon, then no wires but a remote unit that runs off battery power in the bilge. No app though and not as expandable as Siren (which as you pointed out is expandable/flexible but 100% hardwired). Regards, Jason.