Vanemar is another provider positioning itself in the growing market for boat monitoring systems. The system is distributed in Germany by Ferropilot. Unlike hard-wired solutions, Vanemar relies on self-adhesive wireless sensors that can be installed in just a few minutes without drilling or wiring. The company promises a plug-and-play solution to keep an eye on the boat via remote smartphone monitoring.
Modular design with two package options
The Vanemar Gateway is the base station for remote monitoring and monitors GPS position, battery status and geofence areas as standard. It has an integrated GPS module, a global SIM card for 4G/LTE connection to over 500 mobile phone providers in 200 countries and a backup battery that allows up to eight hours of operation after a power failure. An anti-tamper system on the back continuously measures the distance to the mounting surface and triggers an alarm in the event of tampering. The gateway can connect up to 20 wireless sensors via the ZigBee standard, which is also widely used in smart home products.
The Basic Set adds four wireless sensors to the remote monitoring gateway: a water sensor for the bilge, a door or hatch sensor, a PIR motion detector and a temperature and humidity sensor. The Extended Set supplements the Basic Set with a smoke detector with integrated siren and a smart plug for remote control and monitoring of the shore power supply. All sensors work wirelessly via radio and are self-adhesively mounted. The sensors are powered by an internal battery, which should last for around two years. According to the manufacturer, additional sensors can be retrofitted at any time.NMEA 2000 integration and engine parameters
The Vanemar remote monitoring system can be integrated into the existing on-board electronics via an optional NMEA 2000 adapter. The gateway can then read data from the NMEA 2000 network and display it in the app - including engine parameters (speed, operating hours, temperature), tank levels (diesel, fresh water, grey water, black water), battery details (voltage, state of charge, ampere hours, estimated remaining runtime) and environmental conditions. The number of devices connected via NMEA 2000 is unlimited.
Remote monitoring via app with automatic calls
The Vanemar app forms the centrepiece of the remote monitoring system and enables the system to be armed and disarmed at the touch of a finger. In the event of an alarm, the system sends push notifications to the smartphone. As a special feature, Vanemar promises automatic phone calls in the event of critical alarms: If a push message is not acknowledged for 60 seconds, the system automatically initiates a call to ensure that the boat owner is informed. The app displays the journey history, speeds and all sensor values in real time and allows multiple boats to be managed. Access can be shared indefinitely with family, friends or staff.
A subscription is required for remote monitoring.
The remote monitoring, push notifications and automatic calls only work with an active Vanemar Connect subscription. This costs €15.99 per month with monthly cancellation or €159 per year with an annual contract. The remote monitoring subscription can be paused if the boat does not need to be monitored in winter, for example. The integrated global SIM card with 4G/LTE connection is included in the subscription. Without a subscription, only local monitoring via Wi-Fi works, provided the boat is within range of a network - which severely restricts functionality in the harbour.
The Vanemar gateway alone costs 650 euros. The Basic Set (gateway plus four sensors) is available for 850 euros, the Extended Set (gateway plus six sensors and smart plug) for 1,030 euros. Individual sensors can be retrofitted. There is also the obligatory Vanemar Connect subscription for €15.99 per month or €159 per year. Available in Germany via Ferropilot.
TECHNICAL DATA:
Vanemar remote monitoring gateway:
- GPS localisation and geofencing
- Battery monitoring (voltage measurement)
- 4G/LTE integrated SIM card (over 500 providers, 200 countries)
- Backup battery: up to 8 hours of operation after a power failure
- Anti-tamper system (distance measurement to the mounting surface)
- Wireless communication: up to 20 wireless sensors
- NMEA 2000 interface (optional, via adapter)
- Power supply: Vehicle electrical system 12V/24V
- Price: 650 Euro
Basic Set (850 euros):
- 1x gateway
- 1x water sensor (bilge)
- 1x door/window sensor
- 1x PIR motion sensor
- 1x temperature/humidity sensor
Extended Set (1,030 euros):
- Everything from Basic Set plus:
- 1x smoke detector with integrated siren
- 1x Smart Plug (shore power monitoring/remote control 110V/220V)
Vanemar Connect subscription (mandatory for remote monitoring):
- Monthly: 15.99 euros (can be cancelled/paused monthly)
- Annual: 159 Euro
MORE ARTICLES ON THE TOPIC:
Hauke Schmidt
Test & Technology editor
