She floats!

[Russ]

Russ, thanks for sharing the info about that 12v remote switch! That is pretty cool. I do a lot of remotely-accessible ZWave stuff at our cabin for heaters and things but taking it to the load for DC loads is next level!

That camera works well doesn't it? The TV is plenty big that it's visible from the helm.

So that mirror by the dinette has a nice wood wall behind it? Nice. I'm not sold on the mirror and I like how yours looks.

I've done a lot of home automation stuff. I used Smartthings with Z-wave devices. Then Samsung decided they don't want to support the platform so I've gone with Hubitat which is local and doesn't depend on the cloud (Internet connection). The nerd that I am, I also have to have cameras and I use Blue Iris for the NVR.

The boat is totally off grid. No shore power, no water. Nothing. Solar panel is my primary source of power.
So for the boat, my initial goal was to find a way to turn on the fridge/cooler ahead of time so it's cold when we got there. One suggestion (from this forum) was to use a GSM relay. I bought one and couldn't get it to work on my carrier. So I dropped the idea.
Then I got the idea of using an old iPhone as a hotspot with the WiFi switch/relay. It worked really well. Then I added in the camera and 12v battery monitor. Worked well until Apple decided to push an update or something. Then I had to reset the hotspot on the phone. Eventually I ditched the iPhone for a cheap android phone that has been flawless. It also runs the Airdroid app so I can control the phone remotely. Apple has no such capability short of jailbreaking the phone. I did jailbreak the iPhone but EVERYTIME you restart the phone you have to re-jailbreak it. Too much work to bring my laptop to the boat just to jailbreak it when it restarts.

The boat phone/Internet is on a $15/mo plan and is getting good signal.

I'm very impressed with the Wyze camera. It's a Tilt/Pan camera with 360degree pan, small and CHEAP ($40). I'd use them around the house except I don't like having all that WiFi traffic from multiple cameras. All my cameras at the house are hardwired with POE.

[LordElsinore]

So that mirror by the dinette has a nice wood wall behind it? Nice. I'm not sold on the mirror and I like how yours looks.

Yes! When I pulled my mirror off a couple of years ago I was very excited to discover that. I had to use some GooGone to remove some of the glue remnants, but I think it looks really nice exposed

[OverEasy]

Cool stuff!
Not a geek but even I like this!

[Russ]

I'm really liking the camera mounted on the spreader. It's a Tilt/Pan camera and I can move it to see anything.

It records constantly and I can access videos from my app.



For a $30 camera, it's pretty nice

https://www.amazon.com/WYZE-IP65-Rated- ... B0B9TWY11Q

[Jimmyt]

That is way cool!

[kmclemore]

It's a WYZE camera. The company was formed by some former Amazon employees creating some great, inexpensive products.

https://www.amazon.com/WYZE-IP65-Rated- ... 0B9TWY11Q/

Russ, I’ve been using Wyze cameras for security at my home and lake house for a few years now, and they work great. I switch them off when I’m actually at the house, though, so traffic isn’t an issue. Never thought of using one on the boat, but you’ve definitely got me thinking.

[Russ]

I've got cameras at the house. All hardwired POE cams. Long before I discovered Wyze products.

I bought this because it was cheap and would work on the boat. Highlander gave me the idea. It connects to an old cell phone acting as a WiFi hot spot. Which also gives me access to view the solar charger app remotely using "AirDroid" app. I can also turn on/off the fridge remotely before I head up to the lake.

I've been very impressed with the Wyze cameras. The company was formed by former Amazon employees and their products are stellar.
As you know, the cams can detect people, vehicles, packages and do it very well.

My boat is 90 miles away from home and it gives me comfort to be able to check after reports of T-storms rolling in. This year's fires gave me a view of the situation. Mounting on the spreader allows me full view of the entire marina.

One problem which is visible from the video above is our dock is floating too close to shore. The marina operators need to adjust the attachments to pull it further away. All the boats on the "left" side of the dock have to pass by my boat to get in/out. Having the camera allows me to see if anyone hits my boat in transit. e of incident

Yea, the geek in my likes it.

[kmclemore]

Yeah, Russ, for me it will just be plug-and-play because our marina has free WiFi. Off to Amazon!

[Russ]

Yeah, Russ, for me it will just be plug-and-play because our marina has free WiFi. Off to Amazon!

Nice.

We are lucky they put cleats on our docks. Which of course make for great shaming.

When I lived in NJ I taught the power squadron boating course. I really want to teach these folks some basics.

[kmclemore]

Nice.

We are lucky they put cleats on our docks. Which of course make for great shaming.

Ha! Yeah, our marina - Barcomb’s Marina - is pretty nice. In addition to WiFi, you get electric and potable water at your boat, and a $0.25/gallon discount on non-ethanol gas. Plus they have free bathrooms and showers, as well as a pub (drinks & grub) with a couple of pool tables. It’s the last marina on Lake Champlain before you enter Canada.

[Russ]

Nice marina.

We have a convenience store....showers kind of...water on the fuel dock (questionable). We are mostly on our own. Off gird boating so I have to be creative.

Another Wyze Product I bought for the boat was this vacuum. It's powerful and does the job well and is strong since I'm off the grid and must depend on everything being on batteries. It's rechargeable via USB so I can charge it off the boat's batteries.

https://www.amazon.com/WYZE-Handheld-Co ... B096DR4271

I don't work for Wyze, but have become a fan of their stuffs. I also bought an irrigation/sprinkler controller for the house that is pretty cool as well.