For boaters around the world, anchoring is part of daily life, but it doesn’t come without risk. From dragging anchors in sudden squalls to unforeseen mechanical failures, anchoring issues can compromise safety, cause serious damage, or even result in vessel loss.
To address this, marine weather forecasting leader PredictWind has launched its new standalone Anchor Alert app. This innovative tool harnesses smart technology to deliver real-time alerts the moment an anchor begins to drag, giving boaters ultimate peace of mind. Whether onboard or ashore, users can remotely monitor their vessel’s status and stay connected to its safety, no matter where they are.
The Evolution of Anchor Monitoring
For generations, keeping watch over a boat at anchor meant constant vigilance, often requiring a dedicated anchor watch onboard. While traditional methods like GPS waypoints offer some assistance, they lack the real-time alerts crucial in some situations. The rise of integrated marine technology, however, has introduced a new era of anchor security.
“Anchor Alert is built for essential peace of mind, and its seamless integration with the PredictWind DataHub, a GPS tracker and smart device for all your marine data and communications, truly sets it apart,” says Jon Bilger, PredictWind Founder. “This combination delivers unparalleled remote monitoring, a comprehensive real-time dashboard, and pinpoint N2K accuracy, ensuring you know instantly if your anchor moves to take action quickly and avoid danger.”
Key Features of Anchor Alert
The Anchor Alert app is designed to provide boaters with real-time alerts that help safeguard both vessel and crew. Available as a free download, it utilizes precise GPS positioning to continuously monitor a boat’s location in relation to its anchor point. Users can set a customizable alarm radius and receive both audible and visual alerts if the vessel begins to drag or swing beyond set parameters. Alongside this, the free version also includes a basic dashboard for monitoring, built-in weather forecasts, and access to local knowledge features contributed by the community.
For those seeking enhanced functionality and deeper control, Anchor Alert Pro expands on these capabilities. It introduces more comprehensive real-time alerts, not just for anchor drag, but also for swing and scope, providing a fuller picture of anchoring behavior. A detailed dashboard displays essential anchoring data alongside NMEA 2000 (N2K) inputs such as wind speed, direction, and depth, offering a centralized view of critical variables. Users can also explore and contribute to a database of local anchoring insights, adding another layer of shared safety knowledge.
Perhaps most significantly, Anchor Alert Pro integrates with PredictWind’s DataHub, turning the app into a powerful remote monitoring tool. This connection enables push alerts for anchor drag, swing, and scope, even when the user is away from the boat. With the DataHub’s N2K instrumentation, boaters benefit from pinpoint GPS tracking accuracy that helps reduce false alarms. From wind speed and water depth to external GPS connectivity, the integration allows users to monitor key data from their phone, wherever they are.
A New Era for Boating Safety
The launch of Anchor Alert signifies a new chapter in boating safety, reflecting a broader trend in maritime technology towards more intelligent, integrated solutions. By providing intuitive tools that simplify complex data and deliver timely, actionable alerts, PredictWind is empowering boaters to approach anchoring with unprecedented confidence. This shift towards proactive monitoring allows boaters to enjoy their time on the water and ashore with greater peace of mind.
Anchor Alert is now available for download on iOS devices. The basic version is free, and Anchor Alert Pro is available for USD $99 per year, with monthly or quarterly subscriptions also available.
You can find more information or download the app here.
