Did you know…

Out of all the recreational boats that sink, 69% of them sink at the dock.

It makes sense, given that a boat spends most of its time tied up without anyone aboard to notice critical issues. But according to a BoatU.S. estimate, more than half of these incidents are preventable.

Even if you take your boat out every other weekend, that’s 30 days out of the year. During the other 335 days, do you know what’s going on when your boat is docked at the marina?

What if at a moment’s notice, you could see exactly what’s happening? What if you could address emergency situations as soon as possible?

Even if your marina has top-notch security, accidents happen and equipment failures can go unnoticed, leading to expensive or irreversible damage.

That’s where a remote security and monitoring system comes in.

How does a remote boat monitoring system work?

In most cases, a remote monitoring system uses external sensors that talk to a central hub. The hub communicates sensor information through a wifi, cellular, or satellite connection to an app on your cellphone, tablet, or computer. Text messages, push notifications, and emails can be enabled to get real-time alerts.

With a system like BRNKL, batteries, shore power, and bilge pumps are just a few of the systems that can be monitored, while data points like pitch, heel, location, temperature and impact are continuously logged. Security accessories like cameras and sensors can be added to create a customized surveillance system.

Think of it like having someone watch over your boat to let you know immediately if anything goes wrong.

Why monitor your boat at the marina?

Here are 10 reasons to monitor your boat while it’s docked at the marina.

1 – Reduce maintenance costs

You probably spent a fair amount of money on your boat, so the last thing you want is to continue paying for maintenance you could have prevented. Proactive monitoring lets you can catch things like leaks, humidity issues, temperature changes, and damage from bad weather before they become expensive problems.

2 – Protect your equipment from thieves

Your marina might be locked, but that doesn’t make it impossible for a thief to access your boat and take off with what they want. If this happens, you won’t notice what’s missing until the next time you visit your boat, days or months after the intruder is long gone.

Know when someone enters your boat with cameras that automatically take pictures of intruders, or door and window sensors that notify you if they’re opened when they shouldn’t be.

Read More: Boat theft caught on BRNKL WeatherCam

3 – Have a clean record of proof for insurance claims

Even if no one is trying to steal your boat, it could still get damaged in an accident. Having a clean record of the incident means there’s no question when it comes to making an insurance claim. You’ll be able to see exactly when your boat was impacted, and where it was at the time, improving your chances of getting reimbursed.

4 – Immediately address electrical faults

It’s easy for electrical connections to get wet on the boat and become corroded, causing problems like a blown fuse and affecting the operations of the bilge pump. If the electrical fault sets off a smoke alarm, you can be notified in seconds rather than waiting for someone at the marina to notice and figure out how to contact you.

5 – Keep your boat from sinking

It’s easy to rely on your bilge pump to bail you out if your boat starts to take on water, but this isn’t an effective strategy if your bilge pump fails. Use a monitoring system to get alerts if your pumps are running frequently or for a long time, and add a high water switch to know if there’s a failure or inability to keep up with a load of incoming water.

Watch: A 2AM bilge pump alert on Brandon’s boat

6 – Prevent mold from high humidity levels

Using a monitoring system can help you avoid the dreaded “m” word – mold! With real-time info on temperature and humidity levels, you can catch any dampness before mold has a chance to set in. Keep your boat dry and healthy, and save yourself from a major headache (and a lot of cleaning) down the line.

7 – Keep your batteries from draining

Did you know that the #1 reason boats sink at the dock is that their shore power is disconnected? Without shore power, your batteries could drain and prevent your bilge pump from operating. If your boat is left without a source of power, critical systems may fail and result in a completely dead boat the next time you’re ready to go out on the water.

8 – Keep your boat from drifting away

If your boat starts drifting away in a storm, you won’t know until you return and it’s nowhere to be found. When you set up a geofence, you get alerted as soon as your vessel drifts outside of your set circle so you can take action before it becomes irrecoverable.

9 – Reduce your insurance costs

With a security and monitoring system like BRNKL installed on your boat, you may be eligible for discounts on your insurance premium anywhere from 4% to 12%. Because of features like real-time notifications and bilge and high water alerts, you’re better equipped to prevent major damage and the total loss of your boat.

Not only will you pay less for your insurance, but the insurance company will have a greatly reduced risk of paying out a claim on your boat. It’s a win-win for everybody.

10 – Leave your boat with total confidence

No matter how much time you choose to spend on your boat, you can rest easy knowing that it’s being looked after while you’re away, You don’t need to worry about driving out in a storm to check on your boat because you’ll get notified if anything needs your attention. Just pull up the app on your phone to check where it is and what it’s doing, and get total peace of mind.