MacGregorSailors.com

Guy in my anchorage lost his boat when it got blown out to sea after breaking it's mooring. Three boats were blown out past the reef(7 km away) during a severe squall last week. While I did not get my wind meter out due to being soaked and trying to get the paddle board secured, the rain was stinging my face. That says 40 plus k to me.
The next day one boat was recovered. The owner was aboard and attempted to reanchor but was blown nearly to the reef before his anchor took hold. The conditions made using the motor impossible. I'm assuming the typical keelboat low powered engine could not cope. The other two boats were not occupied and still have not been recovered.
This got me thinking about gps trackers. Also good for theft but hopefully people can find better boats to steal.
Any suggestions to brand? Anyone actually have one of these aboard?

Thx
Ix

Yes, I've been researching GPS Trackers for a long time.

After deciding on using an old smartphone instead of a dedicated tracker, I commenced testing android apps.
Many many hours and downloads later, I decided to write an app myself, most of the ones I tried had too much info and maps etc and you had to join some website etc
After deciding what info was required I started to design the program while still checking more apps,
Then I came across the perfect app for me, exacty almost what I was designing, how lucky can you be.

fcAnchor

Here is a link to detailed information, http://www.forwardconsulting.net/fcAnchor.htm

You would probably want fcAnchorPRO Pro and fcAnchorRemote

Uses SMS if boat moves out of area, and you can request current location using SMS and fcAnchorRemote.

There is a free version to play with but if you want the SMS part it is only a dollar or two for each app.

Hope this helps, and saves you some time.

For under $50 this is what I have been looking at for when I get a keeler on a mooring

Protects from break ins as well as movement or theft.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Realtime-Veh ... 486d8ba035

So are you saying that you leave your trailerable yacht at anchor in a force 6 wind and to try and recover it your looking for a cheap smart phone app? Something wrong with this picture. When it gets that rough here in Australia we just take our boats out of the water, well at least we do in Queensland.

In Chicago we leave the marina and head for the worst part of the storm - hmm...wonder if that's why our numbers keep going "down".

sunshinecoasting wrote:So are you saying that you leave your trailerable yacht at anchor in a force 6 wind and to try and recover it your looking for a cheap smart phone app? Something wrong with this picture. When it gets that rough here in Australia we just take our boats out of the water, well at least we do in Queensland.

sunshinecoasting wrote:So are you saying that you leave your trailerable yacht at anchor in a force 6 wind and to try and recover it your looking for a cheap smart phone app? Something wrong with this picture. When it gets that rough here in Australia we just take our boats out of the water, well at least we do in Queensland.

Pussy!!
Not all of us from OZ, some of us wait for it to get to Hurricane force then sail our s home on their trailers



Tropical Cyclone Oswald just getting up to a good breeze to go sailing

I move the boat for hurricanes and things but she has to stay anchored during sudden squalls and local severe weather events. I also wanted the unit for in case of theft, Ect.
Ix

This is what I use on my quadcopter. It's the size of a a pager (remember those).

Cheap $26. Can be wired to 12v via USB port. Or use it with built in battery that lasts 5 days. Can be attached to your dinghy or motor if you want to track that.
http://www.amazon.com/ATian-Vehicle-Tra ... ords=TK102



Get this SIM card $.01 free shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/Micro-Mini-Card-U ... 0+wireless
$10 for 90 days.




So for ~ $26 plus $3/month you have a GPS tracker.

You call the phone number. It rejects the call and puts it to voicemail and texts you the GPS coordinates. Click the link and display a map with the location. Program the thing to only respond to authorized phone numbers (yours).
It's cheap Chinese no instructions, but works. Has a panic button that will text your GPS coords every 30 seconds.

That looks cool cheap enough to have a couple. One for the boat and one for msybe the dinghy while cruising.
Ic

Looks good for theft and inland lakes. However if you get blown off shore...... No cell service no tracking.