SIMPLISAFE ON A BOAT ?

[Maybe A Dancer]

Technology marches on.

450 Sundancer here, typically at the home dock on a canal where we do have internet access

going to be doing some traveling next month and have concerns about being at a marina and having electronics stolen, dash hacked up and or the entry door broken/forced open.

under consideration is a SIMPLISAFE system

a motion detector would set off a loud alarm

a camera would simultaneously record and set off a light

one keypad would be placed inside the cockpit, to disarm the system upon entry BEFORE SETTING OFF THE MOTION SENSOR

I just want the noise and camera/light to scare them the hell off my boat before any damage is done

there's an added bonus here: I can add a smoke detector, water detector and another outside camera in the engine room.

regardless of internet service or lack thereof, I see no reason this won't handle the intended purpose - get the perp off the boat.

Your comments are appreciated.

BEST !

RWS

 

[Stee6043]

A motion detector on a boat? What could possibly go wrong

Get a decent camera that can send you emails when it detects motion. Many of them also allows you to speak through them, ie hollar at the bad guys if you so desire. The rest seems a bit excessive...

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

I'd mount the moron detector - excuse me, MOTION detector low, and at the helm.

The system would only be armed when needed.

Noise/lights & camera would hopefully get the MORON off the boat before doing any damage hacking up the dash or the cabin door.

It has to happen quickly to be effective, and a camera only option can't do that.



RWS

 

[Fred]

I had a motion detector mounted low and at the helm. It false often based on the position of the sun. It’s now in the cabin we’re it belongs.

 

[bobeast]

Putting magnetic entry sensors on the transom and cabin doors might be less problematic than motion sensors.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I just put a Blink motion camera on mine, happy with it. I can get live views anytime as well. I can turn a mic on as well when there's motion.

I just took this live pic:

 

[yobub]

@Maybe A Dancer I have SimpliSafe at home. The setup is really easy. I think you should be able to mount a motion sensor in the cockpit in a place where it wouldn't be triggered by motion outside the boat. You wouldn't mount it to cover a wide area the way you would in a home, you would mount it to cover a "trigger zone" like a small area that someone would walk through, like a very small area right in front of the cabin door and maybe another one at the base of the helm where someone would stand to get to the helm electronics. The door sensors would probably work well on the transom door, so that could be an alternative as well. No wiring to any of the sensors, so you can really be creative about where you put them, to focus on a small area.

The main camera that is part of the kit that has the siren in it is bigger than you think, but it could sit up on the dash if you wanted. I'm pretty sure it needs 120v power.

The smaller room cameras need power, but they use a USB adapter to 120v, so you might be able to power those 12v. Otherwise, you could combine it with a ring camera or blink camera that is battery-operated.

Regarding the keypad, no need to mount that in the cockpit, you can arm or disarm the system from an app on your phone. Just put the keypad in the cockpit. I would say you could leave it out of the system altogether, but you use it to program and activate the sensors.

 

[The Bill Collector]

Simplisafe for 4 years now, our marina doesn't have Wi-Fi, so the cellular option was the most important thing. The system is on the boat so it travels with the boat, but we do have door switch, motion detector, smoke alarm and 2 sirens, one in the boathouse and the other on the dockside of the house. The boat has water detector in the ER, smoke detector there too, salon has CO detector, panic button, and door switch. The cockpit has motion and transom door switch. I was so impressed I dumped ADT and have it at our house now... Last year the boat system at 3 yrs old was replaced 100% totally free of charge by them. Sorry, I forgot 2 temp sensors, cockpit and galley.

 

[firecadet613]

I put SimpliSafe in our new house and almost put it in the boat a few years ago. As said above, it should work perfectly for what you're trying to do...I would just add a camera or two to go along with it.

 

[OllieC]

We brought our SimpliSafe with us when we moved. We have had the older/original version for about 7 years. I won’t rehash what others have mentioned above about the system, but I think it’s a great idea.

 

[carterchapman]

I had a motion detector mounted low and at the helm. It false often based on the position of the sun. It’s now in the cabin we’re it belongs.

I'm with Fred. My motion detector cameras send me alerts at sunrise/sunset, whenever the wind blows dockmate's flags, etc. There could be a LOT of siren events!

 

[FootballFan]

I guess I am still thinking about the original question and trying to process.

Are you moving the boat to transient slips in other marinas then leaving it unattended for long periods of time? Or is this for protection over a few hours you are away from the boat exploring or having dinner?

Most of the time you can get decent wifi at transient slips - but not always. It's broken, down that day, or the signal is weak. Are you building a dependency on WIFI that you may not have control of or can count on it always working?

The alarm goes off! What's the desired outcome? Are you close enough to rush back the boat and confront the intruder? Are you capturing video evidence to be used later for investigation and prosecution? Is the thought you will sound a loud alarm and scare off the intruder? ( see how that goes over in a transient marina)

What are the areas that you will be traveling in? There are some marina's that I have more concerns than others. For example in the Key's I would not leave a tender in the water tied to the boat with a line - Even if I was on the boat.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

I guess I am still thinking about the original question and trying to process.

Are you moving the boat to transient slips in other marinas then leaving it unattended for long periods of time? Or is this for protection over a few hours you are away from the boat exploring or having dinner?

Most of the time you can get decent wifi at transient slips - but not always. It's broken, down that day, or the signal is weak. Are you building a dependency on WIFI that you may not have control of or can count on it always working?

The alarm goes off! What's the desired outcome? Are you close enough to rush back the boat and confront the intruder? Are you capturing video evidence to be used later for investigation and prosecution? Is the thought you will sound a loud alarm and scare off the intruder? ( see how that goes over in a transient marina)

What are the areas that you will be traveling in? There are some marina's that I have more concerns than others. For example in the Key's I would not leave a tender in the water tied to the boat with a line - Even if I was on the boat.

============================================
GOOD QUESTIONS FROM FOOTBALLFAN

FootballFan post: I guess I am still thinking about the original question and trying to process.

Are you moving the boat to transient slips in other marinas then leaving it unattended for long periods of time? Or is this for protection over a few hours you are away from the boat exploring or having dinner?

Presently, I don't anticipate leaving her anywhere unattended. Could be she's behind the house and I'm out of town. Could be at a marina out for dinner, or a night out, or even behind the house here in my safe neighborhood/small town there's always bad guys or even teenagers looking for something - maybe just to raid the liquor cabinet. Don't care about the liquor, do care about that busted salon door. When docked behind the house the boat is never locked. Different story on the hook or at the marina.

Most of the time you can get decent wifi at transient slips - but not always. It's broken, down that day, or the signal is weak. Are you building a dependency on WIFI that you may not have control of or can count on it always working?

This main function of the alarm is not dependent on any external WIFI or other signals. Just make noise and lights to scare off an intruder.

The alarm goes off! What's the desired outcome? Are you close enough to rush back the boat and confront the intruder? Are you capturing video evidence to be used later for investigation and prosecution? Is the thought you will sound a loud alarm and scare off the intruder? ( see how that goes over in a transient marina)

Confront the intruder? He's on and off the boat in a heartbeat. Likely interested in electronics and or what goodies might be in the cabin. Either way, the dash and or salon door will be hacked/damaged badly. I want to scare off the intruder with light and noise. Don't need WIFI or the cloud for that. Get the hell off my boat, and leave my stuff alone. That's all. The camera itself is just a bonus.

What are the areas that you will be traveling in? There are some marina's that I have more concerns than others. For example in the Key's I would not leave a tender in the water tied to the boat with a line - Even if I was on the boat.

For now, Florida coastal and keys. hopefully will explore further and focusing on the real possibility of a Great Loop run down the road, as I ease myself out of my business.

I carry a cable/padlock combination that can be used to secure my dinghy & motor - that said it's only an Achilles 10' air floor with a 2.5 hp Suzuki - not a high end/desirable item. Nevertheless, I do on occasion lock them up. Can you cut the cable - well yes but at least they will have to be prepared for that.

OK so all THAT said, I pulled the trigger and ordered a system with some extras:

· Base Station : 1 -this goes in the salon - will be out of sight

· Wireless Keypad : 2 -one in the salon and one in the cockpit with access BEFORE the motion sensors

· Motion Sensor: 2 these go at the helm and at the salon door - will mount these very low - perhaps ankle to knee height or lower as to reduce false alarms. Placement/locations will likely be a "process"

· CMOB1 | Outdoor Security Camera: 2 -one in the cockpit, one in the engine room

· Smoke Detector: 2 -one in the engine room, one in the cockpit - I already have battery powered, independent smoke /CO detectors in place

· Key Fob (Obsidian): 1 -just a remote to easily arm/disarm on exit and entry to avoid the cockpit keypad - might have a short life but for $20 it's worth a try

· Water Sensor: 2 - one in the engine room and one in the fwd bilge in the midcabin

This all comes together for well under $400

Noise & Light to scare off the intruder is my essential basic need. All the other stuff is a bonus.

I am also adding a PEPLINK SURF Router with WIFI:

Pepwave Surf MK3 SOHO Router with AC Wi-Fi - 5Gstore, 298 Reviews

and the $40 external antenna.

I will likely NOT use the monthly Simplisafe monitoring feature.

So that's my story.

THANKS TO ALL WHO SHARED THEIR KNOWLEDGE HERE !

BEST !

RWS

 

[Stray Current]

I love my simplisafe in the house, but just remember even though the alarm has cellular backup the cameras only work on strong Wi-Fi. I’ve opted for standalone cameras. Simplisafe also has an additional siren you can mount in the cockpit. My house has 2 outside.

I’d do mag switches on the door and cockpit door personally. I don’t foresee the motion detector working well in the cockpit for long unless you have a full enclosure. That full enclosure will set it off in the wind though unless it’s drum tight. Very sensitive. A postcard fell off my cork board and set the garage motion off from 18 feet away. Cameras confirmed that’s all it was

 

[The Bill Collector]

============================================
GOOD QUESTIONS FROM FOOTBALLFAN

FootballFan post: I guess I am still thinking about the original question and trying to process.

Are you moving the boat to transient slips in other marinas then leaving it unattended for long periods of time? Or is this for protection over a few hours you are away from the boat exploring or having dinner?

Presently, I don't anticipate leaving her anywhere unattended. Could be she's behind the house and I'm out of town. Could be at a marina out for dinner, or a night out, or even behind the house here in my safe neighborhood/small town there's always bad guys or even teenagers looking for something - maybe just to raid the liquor cabinet. Don't care about the liquor, do care about that busted salon door. When docked behind the house the boat is never locked. Different story on the hook or at the marina.

Most of the time you can get decent wifi at transient slips - but not always. It's broken, down that day, or the signal is weak. Are you building a dependency on WIFI that you may not have control of or can count on it always working?

This main function of the alarm is not dependent on any external WIFI or other signals. Just make noise and lights to scare off an intruder.

The alarm goes off! What's the desired outcome? Are you close enough to rush back the boat and confront the intruder? Are you capturing video evidence to be used later for investigation and prosecution? Is the thought you will sound a loud alarm and scare off the intruder? ( see how that goes over in a transient marina)

Confront the intruder? He's on and off the boat in a heartbeat. Likely interested in electronics and or what goodies might be in the cabin. Either way, the dash and or salon door will be hacked/damaged badly. I want to scare off the intruder with light and noise. Don't need WIFI or the cloud for that. Get the hell off my boat, and leave my stuff alone. That's all. The camera itself is just a bonus.

What are the areas that you will be traveling in? There are some marina's that I have more concerns than others. For example in the Key's I would not leave a tender in the water tied to the boat with a line - Even if I was on the boat.

For now, Florida coastal and keys. hopefully will explore further and focusing on the real possibility of a Great Loop run down the road, as I ease myself out of my business.

I carry a cable/padlock combination that can be used to secure my dinghy & motor - that said it's only an Achilles 10' air floor with a 2.5 hp Suzuki - not a high end/desirable item. Nevertheless, I do on occasion lock them up. Can you cut the cable - well yes but at least they will have to be prepared for that.

OK so all THAT said, I pulled the trigger and ordered a system with some extras:

· Base Station : 1 -this goes in the salon - will be out of sight

· Wireless Keypad : 2 -one in the salon and one in the cockpit with access BEFORE the motion sensors

· Motion Sensor: 2 these go at the helm and at the salon door - will mount these very low - perhaps ankle to knee height or lower as to reduce false alarms. Placement/locations will likely be a "process"

· CMOB1 | Outdoor Security Camera: 2 -one in the cockpit, one in the engine room

· Smoke Detector: 2 -one in the engine room, one in the cockpit - I already have battery powered, independent smoke /CO detectors in place

· Key Fob (Obsidian): 1 -just a remote to easily arm/disarm on exit and entry to avoid the cockpit keypad - might have a short life but for $20 it's worth a try

· Water Sensor: 2 - one in the engine room and one in the fwd bilge in the midcabin

This all comes together for well under $400

Noise & Light to scare off the intruder is my essential basic need. All the other stuff is a bonus.

I am also adding a PEPLINK SURF Router with WIFI:

Pepwave Surf MK3 SOHO Router with AC Wi-Fi - 5Gstore, 298 Reviews

and the $40 external antenna.

I will likely NOT use the monthly Simplisafe monitoring feature.

So that's my story.

THANKS TO ALL WHO SHARED THEIR KNOWLEDGE HERE !

BEST !

RWS

Buy a CO for master stateroom, so they'll know where to find the body...

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

Buy a CO for master stateroom, so they'll know where to find the body...

======================================

Planning to avoid that issue.

Similar to last boat, have separate/independent battery operated smoke/CO detectors in salon, aft & fwd cabins.

Guess I'm anal about the boat

always have been.

 

[The Bill Collector]

======================================

Planning to avoid that issue.

Similar to last boat, have separate/independent battery operated smoke/CO detectors in salon, aft & fwd cabins.

Guess I'm anal about the boat

always have been.

I have had Simplisafe call to check on my safety and if FD needed to roll... I have one on the networked alarm system and one independent with a battery...

 

[firecadet613]

I have had Simplisafe call to check on my safety and if FD needed to roll... I have one on the networked alarm system and one independent with a battery...

Yep...can't beat having a Simplisafe CO and smoke detector...instant notification...

 

[ocgrant]

Ok I am weighing in as a few boats on my dock just got broken into, none of them had any alarms or devices to deter them. I myself have a Siren Marine alarm system and while I thought I was safe I did find a flaw in my design that I am now going to fix. Security is all about layers. Great you have an alarm system what does it do besides notify you someone is breaking in... that is what i would call useless in the moment as you are pretty helpless being miles away. It needs to make noise and light to make a thief get freaked out and move on. Also it should be clear that "your boat" has an alarm either via flashing "armed LED" or via stickers "Protected by Siren Marine Alarm". Most thief's are looking for easy targets and if you are visibly not that they might look elsewhere to an easier target. This one below got on my buddies 46 and while the cabin door was locked he turned up all the seats looking for quick sale valuables, opened the cockpit fridge and drank a couple beers before moving on taking nothing thank god. Then he broke into the boat next door, found a golf bag and bailed. Turns out there was a rifle in the golf bag which explains why he left with only that. Now what is my flaw that I identified?? Well if you watch the video you see the dirtbag unzip my buddies canvas and instead of opening the stern door he climbs over it. That's it, I have a reed switch on my stern door he would have not triggered my alarm. In reality he would of gotten past that layer of security. Now my camera would have captured him and alerted me and tripped the little noise maker on it (another layer) but the reality is he could just grab it and throw it in the water and that is solved for him. Now my next layer is a reed switch on the cabin door which is locked and I don't see that that could be by passed like the stern. But that leaves the cockpit and $10k plus in electronics unprotected. So I am going to add a motion sensor now to my "layers" that we if someone like this dirt bag climbs over the stern door the motion will pick him up and trigger the 125 DB siren. Next based on the recommendation of the police officer that came to take the report on my buddies boat is I am going to add a strobe light in the cockpit as he says thiefs hate those and it a tracks attention as something is wrong. In the end is spending money on a good security system... Here is how I look at it. If someone does break in and steals my electronics and trashes my boat for sure it is north of $10k to fix. Can I file an insurance claim and not worry? Well in the past yes, right who cares let the insurance buy me new stuff. Well in todays world you file a claim you get CANCELED or at best your rate doubles until they can cancel you. Do I want to lay out $10k and have to buy all new stuff and deal with a damaged headache...or spend about $2k for a well installed alarm system. So for me having a well installed security system is well worth the $$$ in this day and age. My system continues to get expanded as I find issues. Currently I monitor the boat doors, have sensors installed on the dinghy and jet ski that will trip if they try and take them, monitors the bilges, batteries, shore power, fuel level and geo fences the whole boat. Adding motion in cockpit and strobe in cockpit.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I have no expectation of my Blink camera on the boat, or the ones outside at my house, catching someone real time other than they're on video. There's a slight delay between the motion sensor going off and the notification showing up on my phone. If I do see the notification and they're on the boat, I can use the voice control to say something. Otherwise my goal is to have them on video and have a good enough video to turn over to authorities if need be.

Otherwise I put a Doberman Pinscher guard dog on the boat

What I do find interesting, and a little disturbing, is when I go to live view on the camera out of curiosity I sometimes hear my dock mates talking, I can clearly hear everything they say.