GPS Trackers for Boat Tracking

Whether you operate a boat rental service or just own a single vessel for personal use, monitoring and tracking what you have is essential. Boats are a great way to spend a day, but tracking down one you’ve lost—not so much. They are notoriously hard to track down once lost, and they have a low recovery rate as a result. Luckily, GPS trackers can make all the difference. 

For example, a man we’ll call Henry owned a boat rental agency but had an ongoing issue. His boats kept getting stolen. Specifically, they kept getting stolen on holiday weekends when business was booming. Not only did that make it hard to keep tabs on all of his boats, but it wasn’t something he wanted to be focusing on when there were customers to meet with and sales to be made. 

Finding Your Way on the Water with GPS Tracking

Nevertheless, the number of customers his business helped made tracking each one of them almost impossible. Most of the time, he didn’t realize a boat was even missing until it was already out of the water and gone. But Henry had an idea: GPS trackers. With a few clicks online, he had the solution in his hands. He installed the GPS trackers onto his rentals and set up a GPS perimeter around the waterway. If any tracker exited the pre-defined zone, it would send him a notification immediately. Within weeks, he had not only cut down thefts, but had also significantly reduced customers improperly using his boats.

And Henry’s not alone— it’s not the only problem boat owners face. Even if you don’t think your boat is at risk of theft, there’s a lot more a GPS tracker can do for you.

What a Boat GPS Tracker Does for You

GPS trackers have many ways to assist you no matter what sort of venture you’re taking your boat out for. We’ve already discussed how a GPS tracker can help you find your boat after a theft. hile it’s important to have that sort of solution for when a problem arises, it’s not the only situation where a GPS tracker is useful.

A GPS tracker placed directly on your boat offers peace of mind knowing where it is located at all times. You can make sure your teenagers stay in the designated area or know immediately if someone took it out for a joyride. Not to mention, you can also find that legendary fishing spot every time you head out (you’ll have to find it again first though).

But seriously, with the right features, you can be alerted anytime someone drifts out of the safe zone. Whether on accident or on purpose, it’s important to know when your boat’s gone somewhere it shouldn’t have. On top of that, if someone doesn’t come back when they were supposed to or they’re stranded, you can locate them. You don’t have to  worry about someone getting lost on the lake without gas and having no way to find them because with a GPS tracker you can. 

The way it works is actually pretty simple – as the device moves, its location is updated. At Logistimatics, for example, we record each data point directly on a map display. The map is then visible through either our mobile app or a web browser. Using one of our GPS trackers and Logistimatics’ GPS tracking service, you can always know where your boat is for a very low monthly service price.

Any old GPS tracker isn’t going to cut it though. You need a GPS tracker that can handle the storms of the sea and the wear and tear of everyday life.

Trackers on the Water

A typical GPS tracker will not handle the rigors of being on the water. Either due to coverage or even a lack of waterproofing, you have to make sure you have a GPS tracker that can handle rough seas and not leave you floating on your own. 

Here are some attributes you’ll need to make sure the GPS tracker you buy has its sea legs:

• Waterproof: This one might seem obvious, but it’s important. Placement alone will not protect your GPS tracker. Logistimatics, for example, has multiple GPS trackers with waterproof cases, such as the Asset-432. But even that won’t be enough on its own.
• Sturdy: A boat is often subjected to the elements 24/7 so you will want a GPS tracker that’s not going to fall off or break on the first wave or the thousandth (or when the guy in the dock next to you knocks into your boat… again). Make sure the GPS tracker is as prepared to be on the water as you are. 
• Battery Life: If you have your boats out year-long or only for a season you want your GPS tracker ready at all times. Long battery life will ensure your GPS tracker is working the way it should when you need it. On top of that, you don’t want the hassle of changing it out every time you get on the boat. Battery life is a matter of both necessity and convenience.
• Mobile Tracking: Whether you are looking for your boat or you’re on it, tracking from your office isn’t going to work. For that reason, you will want to be able to access your GPS tracker from wherever you are. The best way to do that is from your mobile device (and you’ll want to make sure it’s compatible with either Android or iOS). On top of that, you’ll want to make sure that the service you are using extends onto the water you’ll be surfing. If they don’t cover the waves, then you won’t be able to find your boat when they’re on them.

On top of these must-haves, there may be other more specific features to consider like how often it updates the location or audio recordings—but that’s an article for another time.

Case Study: GPS and Boat Theft

An owner of a boat rental agency has been having issues with theft of his rentals on major holiday weekends. The volume of customers makes tracking each boat a near impossible task throughout the day. Oftentimes the boat would be out of the water and taken before it was noticed to be missing. The owner decided to install GPS trackers onto his rentals and set up a GPS perimeter around the waterway, to be notified immediately if any tracker exits the pre-defined zone. Within weeks, the owner was able to not only cut down on thefts, but better monitor the locations and possible improper use of the rentals as well.

Have a Fun Time on the Waves

You did it. You’re mentally prepared to get a GPS tracker that will keep you and your boat safe. GPS tracking helps you prevent theft and enjoy yourself with peace of mind.  And it’s a quick and easy few steps to buy a tracker and sign up with Logistimatics. So, before heading out on the waters, grab a Logistimatics GPS tracker and enjoy the breeze.