Our homes and businesses are usually our largest investments. Many of us protect these investments with security systems that monitor the physical security of the property and the fire and smoke alarms to provide us with a desirable measure of assurance that everything is reasonably in order when we are away from our property. Our boats are often next in order of value, and unless we are living on board they may warrant at least the same level of security protection as our homes and offices. Boats kept at marinas, where staff is on duty 24/7 are usually well protected, especially if the boat’s fire, smoke and high bilge water alarms are connected to an exterior bell and flashing light that will attract the attention of the marina staff. Boats kept in areas that don’t have adequate security, including those on moorings, need something beyond the ringing bell and flashing light level of protection. Specifically a wireless unit that provides reasonable assurance that people who can take corrective action are promptly notified when an alarm situation occurs.

A new wireless boat security system, the Magellan VRM-GSM has been introduced by Edgewater Technologies. Available in a number of configurations, the system uses a GSM cellular telephone link to instantly report the existence of an alarmed condition. According to Marc Curreri, President of Edgewater Technologies, the system came into being as the direct result of the purchase of a yacht when the owner, who was familiar with high-end land-based security systems, realized that his new vessel needed a level of security at least equal to that in his home and office. The result is the adaptation of a Paradox Security Systems central monitor for the marine environment.

The Magellan reports abnormalities and alarms using synthesized voice announcements sent to a pre-selected list of telephone numbers sent from its Artion GSM phone module. The calling system requires a positive response from the called number and will continue the calling sequence until the response is received. This eliminates the problem that would occur if the phone were answered by a person not familiar with the system or by a phone answering device. The MG 6060 Head Unit includes a hands-free speaker phone, making it possible for the person called by the system to speak with anyone who might be authorized to be on board the vessel, such as a technician performing maintenance work, who may have inadvertently triggered one of the alarm sensors. (The hands-free phone is not part of the MG 6030 unit.)

The system is comprised of either one or two Magellan Head Units (depending on the overall scope of the system chosen, the MG 6030 or MG 6060), an array of sensors, a cellular communication unit and optional audio/visual external alarms. A typical installation will include door and hatch sensors, fire/smoke detectors, motion sensors for interior areas, battery/shore power sensors and bilge water level monitors. All of these sensors are wireless, communicating with the Head Unit. (The sound you hear is applause from all who have installed the wiring needed to connect conventional sensors to a central alarm system.) The system can be armed and disarmed at the main control panel or with the wireless key fob control. An internal, constantly charged battery maintains system operation in the event of failure of the shore power supply. (System power demand when operating from the vessel’s battery bank is on the order of 1/10th ampere, a load easily sustained with the installation of a small solar panel for vessels on moorings.)

Both the MG-6030 and 6060 Head Units provide coverage for up to 16 wireless zones, each of which can be served by the type of sensor appropriate for the area to be protected. A typical sensor complement might consist of three bilge sensors, one DC and one AC voltage sensor, two motion detectors, two temperature sensors for refrigerator and freezer, two smoke/fire detectors and five door/hatch sensors. The system’s memory retains a record of alarms, identifying the alarm zone identity until the system is re-armed.

The Head Unit provides a number of features carried over from its terrestrial use, including a clock with alarm and an FM radio receiver in the model 6060. The speakerphone in the model 6060 can be used to make routine telephone calls “dialed” from the unit’s keypad. (Wonder how much longer we will refer to “dialing” a phone number when a large part of the population have never seen a phone dial, much less used one?)

The system can be remotely controlled via its cellular phone by calling the number and entering an action code. Actions include arming/disarming, recording a message on the 6060’s internal voice memory and listening to recorded messages stored in the on board unit.

Satellite telephones can be interfaced with the Magellan system so that remote alarming can continue when the vessel is out of range of a GSM cell tower. The company also offers a Nav-Tracker option which can establish a “Geofence” at the vessel’s location. Any movement of the vessel beyond the limits of the geofence is reported via an integral low-data-rate satellite link. This sub system can also provide periodic tracking information for shore –based tracking of the vessel when it is on a voyage out of range of cellular telephone coverage. For more information contact, www.edgewatertechnologies.com