Protecting your boat

Most leisure sailors invest a considerable amount of time and money into their past time.

As well as the original purchase price of the boat, the tweaks and gadgets, the modifications and regular repairs all add up in both time and monetary value.

That investment is worth protecting. From theft, from loss of ecternal power or from mechanical failure.

EMM-Tek products can be used in a variety of ways to help you protect your boat.
The photo below is from http://www.flickr.com/people/8043800@N05/

Perhaps you want to measure the temperature too?

Location

It's reassuring to know where your boat is and a GPS reporting system is ideal for this purpose. Our own MarineGuard product is an extension of our RMC301 that adds a GPS system. This uses the GPS satellite technology used by TomTom and Garmin to get a position fix on the boat when you arm the MarineGuard.

If the boat should move from this position, an alarm is raised, and you can be alerted by a text message. The internal relay can also be activated to power a siren or similar warning device.

But why a text message? Isn't email better?

Probably not. Modern mobile phones are amazing allowing you to send and receive data almost anywhere; it's the almost that is important.

In a city centre you'll probably get a strong 4G or 3G signal for any mobile device but that's not where you sail. In the harbours of Cornwall or the more remote areas of coastline the strength of the data element (GPRS, EDGE, 3G or 4G) drops away quickly. Eventually it can be a struggle to make a voice call. But, even in these conditions an SMS message will often still get through.

When you really want a message to get through send it by text and that is exactly what our products do.

Power

If your boat uses a mains power connection to keep electrical and electronic equipment going whilst you're away, what happens if that power is interrupted? Pumps stop, refrigerators get warm, alarms become useless. So you need a warning system.

Our RMC301RC has internal Supercap reserve energy technology that means it can send messages when power is interrupted. It can monitor its own DC power feed or even monitor the mains with an adaptor and optional I/O board. (Ask us about this for your application).

Result? You know within seconds if there is a power failure, wherever you happen to be.

Theft

It's a sad fact of life that there will always be a thief willing to take the risk of stealing from your boat. However add a PIR sensor or magnetic reed switch to your boat; hook it up to the MarineGuard or RMC301RC and you'll have an alarm system that will notify you by text and scare of the would be thief if you have it linked to a siren.

Temperature

Winter is here and it's possible that you are more concerned about the interior of the boat getting too cold whilst unattended. Our SENS2 temperature sensor can be connected directly to the RMC301RC or MarineGuard units to provide a warning if the temperature gets either too hot or too cold. It's a simple way avoid frost damage.

EMM-Tek products are designed to used in a wide variety of flexible ways. A little thought or a phone call/email to us can often be the basis of a very workable protection system for your boaty investment.

Marine Guard features in Motor Boats Monthly magazine

There's no getting away from the fact that if a thief can take what's your without being detected, he'll probably try to do so.

Theft from all kinds of recreational vehicles (including boats) is a persistent threat.

This month Motor Boats Monthly Magazine ran a feature on low cost security devices and included our own MarineGuard product.

And here is the article in the magazine (apologies for the rather snap happy picture)

The MarineGuard is a feature rich version of our RMC301 product that includes a Geo-Fencing function allowing you to set an alarm based on how far the boat has moved from its original position. You can set this area as being very tight (3 metres or so) or as loose as a 100 metres or more to allow for movement in a harbour area.

When the alarm is tripped the unit will text you straight to your mobile phone. You can also use the control features to turn on heaters or pumps via the onbaord relays. (Low voltage only, use an external contactor if you need to switch mains voltages).

See more about the product here http://www.emmtek.co.uk/boat-security.html

Cost? just £223 pounds plus £6.50 delivery to a UK address. A worthwhile insurance we think you'll agree.

Protecting the tiny house and mobile home

There is quite a movement growing especially in the USA to downsize your home and get back to living in smaller, cheaper and more manageable spaces.

These small dwellings (often less than 500 square feet) can in some cases be mounted on a trailer chassis and moved around caravan style.(This blog site by Lloyd Kahn is great jumping off point for more information http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.co.uk/)

Protecting that potentially mobile home calls for a different approach to the usual domestic alarm system.

The EMM-Tek RMC301RC is a versatile GSM based controller that can act as an alarm system and can also be integrated with a GPS receiver. It can be powered by battery in conjunction with a solar panel to provide an 'off-grid' protection system you can rely on.

The RMC301 can protect your home or garage or garden office

Link the RMC301RC to a PIR sensor and/or magnetic door switch and it can tell you (by SMS text message) that you have an unwelcome visitor immediately. In these times of reduced policing, it's likely you'll get to your home before police do to scare off the intruder.

The unit is easily powered by a small solar panel and lead acid battery combination; ideal where there is no mains power available. The unit is small (122mm long), weatherproof and is easily fixed almost anywhere. If you add the optional GPS module it can text you a warning that your home, caravan or trailer is being moved and then tell you where it is!

If you are going to downsize then it makes even more sense to protect what you value the most and the RMC301RC does just that.

I have neglected the blog...

But now I'm back blogging!

We have been busy over the course of the spring and summer. We have been building on our tracking technology with some new services that we'll announce later this year.

We have also been working on the the Vacant Building Wireless Alarm System, the RMC320.

The prototype RMC320. The production one has a larger label on the front

It's a completely self contained building protection system. No mains needed, no phone line needed. Just put it in place with the PIR sensors facing the main thoroughfare of the building and turn it on. Easy.

It's a great way for Letting Agents to protect their clients (and earn some extra cash too). The RMC320 makes it easy to protect a building between lets.

It'll send a text message if either the front or rear PIR is triggered so that you can investigate immediately and secure the building.

It will also send you a daily status update so that you know the system is working correctly.

It's battery powered and the battery will last up to a year .

Take a look here for the specifications.