Anyone have a “Smart boat?”

Havana Shamrock

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Sep 9, 2008
5,422
Sarasota Fla.
Boat Info
2019. 250 SDX OB
Engines
300 Verado V8
So I’m a gadget junkie I am slowly turning the house into a smart home
I’ve added Verizon gigabit connectivity with google Wifi or boost and extend the signal even outside the house the main reason we did this is to monitor the house (kids) while we are in FLA so We know who opens and closes the front door and when they have their own codes. Every bathroom has a multi sensor for leaks the garage doors have sensors for open/close and vibration
The thermostats are also on the hub. I added smart under cabinet
Igniting and when the garage doors open after a pre determined time they light to 40% for 20 mins to give you light as you enter heck the Xmas tree was programmed to go on/ off daily.
So my point is has anyone done this to their boats? Well I have started to given the marina WiFi’s are getting more reliable and or hotspots. I added some of the same features on the boat. I added a hub, an Alexa device and all openings have sensors on them that will text me immediately if opened. I have a water sensor in the Engine room that also gives temperature and humidity
I have cameras but they do not email /text me although recording 24 hrs I can check in live but it’s a work around to get there. So I am adding a WiFi camera to the cockpit that when triggered will text me and turn on longest inside the boat and on the bridge I also have the capability to sound a siren
Cool thing is I have set up scenes such as “away” “arm” etc so I don’t keep getting texts while on the boat. I’m adding ambient lighting above the salon windows and behind the tv and will be fully integrated. So aside from the security features has anyone done things like this? Any other gadget guys here?

ps. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.
 
My boat: nada. There’s not really any WiFi at my tiny marina. Anything would have to be via some cellular data plan.

That said, now that we have a new boat and are in a slip, my wife is starting to want a security system. Probably because some a-hole stole my 30 amp shore power cords. I have to start looking into something. It would be nice to be able monitor the boat remotely. And maybe turn in the AC when leaving for the dock.
 
Not much on the boat. Hard to have a “smart” boat when the captain struggles.

When we built the house we are in now we put in a home automation system. We have Control4. Unbelievable what we are able to do.

Have thought about what could mean on a boat, but haven’t done any automation on the boat yet.
 
I am with you 100%... we went thru whole home automation thing 7 years ago.... and I mean everything.. everything... drapes/blinds to sprinklers. It was an obsession. Today we are looking at a new homes and I want none of it... I used Honeywell for the current house ...all state of the art back 7 years ago and today it’s all failing... most of the house is back to manual switches. For me the cost and maintenance is no where near worth the rate of return... KISS

for example I lost the WiFi router just after Christmas.... I have spent two afternoons replacing it and reconnecting everything... security system, cameras, printers, network, sound system... damn garage door openers.... ridiculous !!
 
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I've been slowly gadgetizing my boat. I live about 2.5 hours from my slip, so I like to keep tabs on the boat. I added a Boat Command device, which will notify me when things go awry. Currently notifies me if;

- bilge pump goes on
- there is a leak in my fresh water tank
- the boat moves outside of its geo-fence
- loss of shore power
- extremes in cabin temperature

I expect to add a trigger for the cabin door soon. In addition, I can turn on the HVAC remotely to warm or cool the cabin while I'm on the way. Will probably add the ability to turn on the water heater as well. The boat has a WiFi hotspot on Verizon which I use to view and control a PTZ camera mounted under the arch. The camera will also text me if it senses motion, at which point I can pull it up on my iPhone to see what's going on. I can then turn on two way audio and yell at the duck crapping on my swim platform. Maybe I'll add a train horn that I can control remotely so I can watch his head explode.
 
I'm set up with two nest camera's, one at the marina looking at the boat, And one down below looking at the cockpit door . They also retain video and alert the phone. But you must have Wifi! :cool:
 
Curious how you handle Alexa connectivity. If it’s on the marina wifi, what do you do when you travel? Seems like you’d have to reestablish a wifi connection each time you’re in a new marina. If on cell, how much data are you using?
 
Have a 80% smart home, but not much on the boat, yet. Got cameras, but that's about it.

The SeaTalk1 to SeaTalk NG to N2K transition was sufficient learning curve for last year. Was able to network all the SeaTalk1 generation displays into an N2K MFD so all the data flows through.

Next is the engine gateway for data to the MDF.
 
I had boat command in the 340da and it worked great. I put Siren Marine in the 520DB and it works the same. I like siren because I have added lots of wireless sensors such as salon slider, engine room hatch, door to bridge and all those are wired into a very loud hailer if triggered. They also alert me via text and email. I get alerted to other things such as regular bilge pumps, high water pumps, state of shore power, geo fence ETC. it is a great system and provides peace of mind when I am not at the boat.
 
Curious how you handle Alexa connectivity. If it’s on the marina wifi, what do you do when you travel? Seems like you’d have to reestablish a wifi connection each time you’re in a new marina. If on cell, how much data are you using?

Jeff, I Use a rogue wave that sends a signal (wifi or onboard hotspot) to an onboard router I use a SmartThings hub and Alexa device so the hub connects to the “boat” WiFi through that router. Only thing is it won’t connect automatically if we move the boat so from marina to marina I’d have to switch the rogue to their WiFi or just leave it on hotspot and use marina WiFi when long term dockage .
so far this system acts just like some of the marine purpose systems and has no monthly fee sensors on all hatches, slider bridge and for high water in the bilge I just don’t have a solution for loss of shore power yet. The sensors are so fast if I forget to disarm it I get a text as I’m walking through the slider. Tested the ring camera from home and all my Alexa devices announced intrusion onboard MOJO throughout my home that that was cool.reliable WiFi is the only down side nit I have a unlimited data hotspot that should be fine for data alerts video is not fantastic as it hits the speed limitations
 
IMG_4230.JPG
Does going boating on other people's boats count as smart? If so we have a smart ones.
 
So I’m a gadget junkie I am slowly turning the house into a smart home Any other gadget guys here?

ps. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.
I'm your guy. Since acquiring Beach House in 2003, I have constantly fiddled with and upgraded various aspects of the vessel. I'm lucky now that the boat is moored right below my balcony, so good connectivity is a non issue. To that end, I have a few things set up. First a central router for the boat, so I don't have to reconnect everything when away from my dock. That will be upgraded to an endpoint router that supports both wifi and cellular based WANs, with automatic fail over so I don't have to deal with redirecting the router. The sweet spot may turn out to be a TOGO. Primarily made for RVs, but the concept is applicable. ATT Unlimited high speed for $30/month!
The router connects the boat to the house as a wifi extender, which is loaded up with Echos, Rokus, Apple TV, and some outlet controls.
The boat has an echo, which primarily is used to converse with the house through drop in, and for streaming music, or asking stupid questions. The TVs are digital tuners of course, but at my dock the local reception is almost non-existent. Easy fix is to use the cable company's app (Spectrum). Because I am connected to my home network, I get all channels as I would in the house. I went through all the analog to digital transformation over the years with set top boxes, and computer monitors, etc. IT's amazing how hard this used to be, and how easy it is now. So, the boat currently monitors temp in cabin, temp in engine room, humidity, with text alerts. (LaCrosse Technology). Ironically, it also sends me an alert of the monitor isn't seen for an hour. That is always because I have lost power to the vessel. So, there's another monitor. I don't really have a need for an alarm, but I do have blink cameras watching over the outside and entry to the salon in case someone decides to come by water for mischief. Beyond that, I have Raymarine wifi for the chartplotter, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, SiriusXM, a couple of Android tablets, and of course the trusty I-phones. The biggest decision now is to pick which way to view something, or listen to something.
 
I'm your guy. Since acquiring Beach House in 2003, I have constantly fiddled with and upgraded various aspects of the vessel. I'm lucky now that the boat is moored right below my balcony, so good connectivity is a non issue. To that end, I have a few things set up. First a central router for the boat, so I don't have to reconnect everything when away from my dock. That will be upgraded to an endpoint router that supports both wifi and cellular based WANs, with automatic fail over so I don't have to deal with redirecting the router. The sweet spot may turn out to be a TOGO. Primarily made for RVs, but the concept is applicable. ATT Unlimited high speed for $30/month!
The router connects the boat to the house as a wifi extender, which is loaded up with Echos, Rokus, Apple TV, and some outlet controls.
The boat has an echo, which primarily is used to converse with the house through drop in, and for streaming music, or asking stupid questions. The TVs are digital tuners of course


, but at my dock the local reception is almost non-existent. Easy fix is to use the cable company's app (Spectrum). Because I am connected to my home network, I get all channels as I would in the house. I went through all the analog to digital transformation over the years with set top boxes, and computer monitors, etc. IT's amazing how hard this used to be, and how easy it is now. So, the boat currently monitors temp in cabin, temp in engine room, humidity, with text alerts. (LaCrosse Technology). Ironically, it also sends me an alert of the monitor isn't seen for an hour. That is always because I have lost power to the vessel. So, there's another monitor. I don't really have a need for an alarm, but I do have blink cameras watching over the outside and entry to the salon in case someone decides to come by water for mischief. Beyond that, I have Raymarine wifi for the chartplotter, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, SiriusXM, a couple of Android tablets, and of course the trusty I-phones. The biggest decision now is to pick which way to view something, or listen to something.

interesting I’d love more info on the router and hotspot. We switched to you tube tv so all Apple TV’s now we can use 3 at one time over the air is spotty .
 
So here we go again, I installed “valance lighting”
They are Zigbee protocall which means they’ll talk to my onboard smart hub. Basically plug em in and control from my SmartThings app I can have the hub recognize that my phone is home and turn the lights on to help us on night entries. I also have it set up to turn on at 6:30 pm at 100% then at 9:30 pm when the wife watches the housewives of who cares? They dim to 50% then turn off at 1:30 am
I like the look so for now they stay.
FAD15117-C2A7-4C90-AF3F-3805C5B7DAB3.jpeg
7A335BF7-3E2B-4ABD-8EF8-B62F68AEA94E.jpeg
 
We have basic cable tv included at our marina. I called Comcast and they installed internet service for me. All my tv's were replaced with smart televisions. I use Alexa to control my sound system. I also have 4 Wyze cameras and 2 Wyze wifi plugs on the boat. These devices can be controlled in person or from the apps on my phone from anywhere. I can use the plugs to turn anything plugged into them on of off. Primarily I use them to turn on electric heaters if I'm coming over to the boat in the winter. I don't want the heaters on all the time but I want the boat warm by the time I get there. When we take a trip away from the marina, I can switch over to a hotspot from my phone.
 
Rogue Dual Band Wave WiFi antenna hooked to a WiFi Router. 3 Samsung SmartCams (Bridge - looking aft, main salon - looking at sliding door and cockpit looking at entry and bridge steps. They record movement and send alerts. LaCrosse temp sensors in ER, Galley, master head and VIP Head. They send wifi temp alerts.
 
Wifi speed is still limiting my use of these. I will probably install a ring door camera this year to at least alert if someone is on the boat, but so far we are happy with security at our marina.
 
but so far we are happy with security at our marina.
I thought the samething until a racoon got on the boat this summer. My camera alerted me that he was on the boat and potentially saved me a lot of damage.
A camera is a good idea as far as I am concerned
 
So here we go again, I installed “valance lighting”
They are Zigbee protocall which means they’ll talk to my onboard smart hub. Basically plug em in and control from my SmartThings app I can have the hub recognize that my phone is home and turn the lights on to help us on night entries. I also have it set up to turn on at 6:30 pm at 100% then at 9:30 pm when the wife watches the housewives of who cares? They dim to 50% then turn off at 1:30 am
I like the look so for now they stay. View attachment 79310 View attachment 79311
Thats a nice look Joe! wanted to do somthing like that as i think our vintage rays could use some nice indirect lighting. Do you have link to what you purchased?
"House wives of who cares" LOL! BTW hows the youtube tv working out for you? mine recently started logging me out for no good reason....quite annoying but still my only complaint.
 
We have basic cable tv included at our marina. I called Comcast and they installed internet service for me. All my tv's were replaced with smart televisions. I use Alexa to control my sound system. I also have 4 Wyze cameras and 2 Wyze wifi plugs on the boat. These devices can be controlled in person or from the apps on my phone from anywhere. I can use the plugs to turn anything plugged into them on of off. Primarily I use them to turn on electric heaters if I'm coming over to the boat in the winter. I don't want the heaters on all the time but I want the boat warm by the time I get there. When we take a trip away from the marina, I can switch over to a hotspot from my phone.

My sister has a bunch of Wyze cameras at her lake house. I'm considering adding some to my boat based on how much she likes them.
 

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