Every year boat owners face a serious problem of theft of boats and boats. In addition to financial damage, boat theft causes stress, loss of time and additional complications with insurance companies. Below we provide an overview of the problem of boat theft and an explanation of how BeeDigital GPS solutions can help prevent and solve this problem.

How common is boat theft?

Boat theft is not uncommon, and statistics show that it is a problem that should not be ignored. According to available data, around 73% of stolen boats were transported on trailers, often directly from the yard or marina they are located in. The most common targets of thieves are motorboats 6 to 8 meters long. Unfortunately, statistics show that only one out of ten of stolen vessels are returned to their owners. The reason for this is often lack of quality security systems or location tracking device.

Problems owners face when it comes to theft

When a vessel is stolen, owners face a number of problems:

• Financial loss – in addition to the value of the vessel itself, expensive additional equipment is often lost.

• Emotional stress – loss of property is always a stressful situation for owners.

• Waste of time – reports to the police, communication with insurance companies and attempts to find them take up valuable time.

• Problems with insurance companies – without clear evidence of the location or movement of the vessel, the procedure for collecting damages can be long and complicated.

How can GPS monitoring help?

GPS tracking systems allow owners to constantly monitor the location of their vessel via a mobile application or computer. The main advantages of using GPS tracking are:

• Real-time tracking – the owner knows the exact location of his boat at all times.

• Geofencing option – setting a virtual safety zone; as soon as the vessel leaves the defined area, the owner immediately receives a warning.

• Alarms for unauthorized movement or attempted signal jamming – the system automatically alerts the owner if someone tries to move the boat or interfere with the GPS device.

• Historical overview of movements – in the event of an incident, the owner has access to a detailed history of the movement of his vessel, which can be crucial for proving the event to the police or insurance.

Advantages of the BeeDigital GPS vessel monitoring system

BeeDigital GPS The systems are specially tailored to the needs of boat owners and offer a number of practical advantages:

• Easy installation – the device is easily connected to the existing ship's battery without the need to hire experts, and there are also battery-powered devices that operate completely autonomously (the battery is charged like a mobile phone, usually once a month).

• Precise location determination – using multiple satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) ensures maximum positioning accuracy.

• Detection of signal jamming attempts – The GPS device recognizes attempts to jam the GPS signal and immediately sends a warning to the owner (GPS jammers are often used during theft, and most satellite GPS tracking systems unfortunately cannot detect the presence of GPS jammers).

• Mobile application and web access – the user can check the location of their boat at any time via mobile phone or computer and receive alerts in the event of unauthorized movement.

• Detailed movement history – a view of movement history is available up to a year (although it is not important in the event of theft when it is necessary to know the movement history over the last few days, but it is certainly good to be able to check where the boat has been sailing in the past). 

How does BeeDigital solve theft problems?

With BeeDigital GPS monitoring, owners get an effective solution that significantly reduces the risk of theft:

• Immediate notification of unauthorized movement of the boat enables quick and timely response report to the police.

• Precise locating of a stolen vessel increases the chances of its quick discovery and return.

• Automatic detection of signal jamming attempts makes it more difficult for thieves and additionally protects the owner's property.

Additional tips for protecting boats from theft

When using the BeeDigital GPS system, we recommend additional precautions that can help protect your vessel:

• Use quality locks on the trailer and additional safety elements such as alarms or motion sensors.

• Regularly take a photo of your boat and you take notes engine serial numbers and equipment for easier identification in case of theft.

• Do not leave expensive equipment off the boat when leaving it unattended for an extended period of time.

What security products does BeeDigital offer you?

3. BeeDigital 4Nautic IP67 PRO 4G package – a more advanced (and more expensive) device that connects to its own power source, with additional digital inputs and outputs and a powerful battery that enables movement monitoring for a week from the moment it is disconnected from the ship's installation (accumulator). Of course, you will receive information on your mobile phone if this happens.

• Only one in ten stolen boats is returned to its owner:
  https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2016/october/analyzing-boat-thefts

• 73% of stolen boats were taken on trailers (most often directly from the owner's yard):
  https://tracki.com/blogs/post/how-to-keep-your-boat-from-being-stolen
  https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2016/october/analyzing-boat-thefts

• The most commonly stolen boats are up to 26 feet (75%), especially runabouts (46%) and cruisers (28%):
  https://tracki.com/blogs/post/how-to-keep-your-boat-from-being-stolen
  https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2016/october/analyzing-boat-thefts
  https://landairsea.com/blogs/consumers/gps-and-boat-theft-protect-vessel