Boat security and monitoring systems

At a bare minimum, installing wired or wireless security cameras is a simple, affordable step towards boat protection. The best cameras can record 24/7, have motion and audio sensors that can ignore small animals and trigger only when humans are detected, and will send alerts to your phone.

To tap into live footage and get a visual on your intruder – and be sure it’s not just your marina neighbour’s cat gone wandering – you’ll need leave the internet connected aboard and have sufficient power to keep it running in your absence.

Alternatively, set your motion-sensor cameras to activate lights or a siren when they detect movement. This can be enough to scare off an intruder, especially if other liveaboard boaties are anchored or moored close by.

Wireless cameras are easy to fit yourself but require regular battery recharging. Despite needing professional installation, wired cameras will generally record for longer periods.

Useful for finding your way aboard when you arrive after dark, motion-activated lights are also a cheap deterrent for would-be thieves. They come as battery-powered stand-alone units but are more commonly hardwired and integrated into security camera/alarm systems.

When you install magnetic contact sensors to a hatch, window or door, the act of them being opened triggers an alarm when the magnets part ways. These are a useful deterrent, especially when your or a friendly neighbour can respond.

Consider attaching a satellite tracker such as SPOT Trace or a Bluetooth tracking Apple AirTag to any valuable gear onboard, including the dinghy or the boat itself.

Cheap to buy and requiring no subscription, AirTags track via Bluetooth, which means they rely on the close proximity of other Apple devices to update the location of the tag. Priced at $49 ( officeworks.com.au).

For reliability in remote locations and offshore, consider a SPOT Trace device that works via satellite and its internal GPS to send real-time location updates via text message or email if your boat or belongings start moving. See theboatwarehouse.com.au.

These are either internet-reliant or phone reliant, and send their alerts via SMS or product apps when sensors detect intruders or there’s high-water in the bilges or battery issues. They offer location tracking if your boat is stolen.

In addition to the price of the hub, sensors and accessories, consider whether the system also charges an ongoing subscription fee. 

Australian-designed Trek Transponder monitors your boat’s doors, hatches and windows via sensors, movement-detection HD cameras, and hidden Space Guard sensors that can detect the presence of an intruder through fibreglass or timber.

Set the system to trigger a siren and/or flashing lights, or remain silent when sensors are activated, and receive alerts via SMS, or optional phone call or email with HD camera images.

Trek Transponder integrates HD cameras that can detect and record intruders, also allowing you to monitor onboard maintenance situations by adding sensors. An inbuilt GPS means you’ll know when your boat moves, and you can set up geofencing to notify you if your boat drags at anchor.

See trektransponder.com.au.

The Vanemar Gateway system with wireless sensors can be installed without bringing in a pro. Set up geofencing and monitor your boat’s location through the Vanemar app, and add your choice of wireless, battery-run sensors to monitor and alert for the bilge, smoke, changing battery levels, temperature and humidity, intrusion and hatch or door entry.

See integratedmarine.com.au.

Owned by Yamaha Marine and bundled into Helm Master EX installations, the Siren 3 Pro is designed for easy installation on small to medium-sized boats. It uses wireless sensors and connects to your boat’s NMEA 2000 network to transmit and control a whole range of engine and maintenance data, digital switching of lights, air conditioning and batteries, and provide alerts via a free app.

An internal GPS lets you monitor location changes, and up to 16 sensors alert for changes to bilge levels and temperature, detect motion and hatch and door openings, and monitor 120 and 240 AC shore power.

Like many competitors, the system requires the hub, sensors and an ongoing subscription to work.

See sirenmarine.com.