Practical Sailorvideo
Monitor Your Whole Boat From Home On A Mobile App
April 27, 2024 · 9 min · 12K views
What this video covers
A remote boat-monitoring system called SeenApps (also referred to as Synapse and CNAPS in the video) connects to a vessel's NMEA backbone via a small box and transmits sensor data to a smartphone app over marina Wi-Fi or cellular. The retrofit hardware costs just under $1,500; the annual subscription, which includes a cellular chip, runs just under $250. The app displays bilge pump status and run history, house and engine bank voltage, water depth, wind speed and direction, engine RPM, oil pressure, fuel level, water and black tank levels, engine hours, and GPS position with a configurable geofence that triggers alerts if the boat moves. Additional sensors cover cabin motion, companionway and hatchboard intrusion, and tender or outboard anti-theft. Beneteau now installs the system on new production boats, which Tim takes as a signal of reliability. Open questions include continuous power draw — estimated comparable to an iPad with the screen off, though the unit reportedly reduces reporting frequency when the boat is idle — and whether the built-in cellular is sufficient or a separate SIM is needed. The competing Siren 3 Pro system offers similar features at a similar price and adds an offshore satellite antenna option. Tim flags that Beneteau's promotional framing positions dealer-prompted maintenance alerts as a feature, which a DIY owner may experience as a sales funnel rather than a tool.
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