In the United States, an estimated 100 million people go boating every year.
The popularity of boating has continued to grow, with even the pandemic failing to curtail it. If you’ve bought a boat or are thinking about it, boat GPS is one of the most important things to consider.
Here are seven reasons why you should have a boat GPS tracker installed in your boat:
1. Navigation Aid
Knowing where you are is important whether you’re out on the ocean or coasting through coves. Modern maps and graphs are extremely precise when it comes to boating. You can take advantage of that by having a boat GPS tracker installed.
This will allow you to see your exact position. You can then check the local area for any shoals or shallow points to be aware of. Being on a new body of water can be nerve-wracking because no one wants to get lost on the water. With a GPS tracker, that won’t happen to you.
Knowing where you are is even more critical when it comes to boats out on the ocean. Modern charting computers are designed to have your exact position. This allows you to see where you are and, with additional systems, where other boats and ships are in relation to you.
2. Loss Prevention
One of the best ways to protect your boat from theft is to have a GPS tracker onboard. If someone takes your boat, you can inform the authorities of where it is. This will help you get your property back in a faster and more efficient manner than ever before.
As GPS devices become more commonplace, the rate of theft continues to decline. An amazing 75% of boats stolen are at or under 26 feet. One of the main reasons for this is that they are easy to move, but also, smaller boats are less likely to have a tracking system installed.
The more common tracking systems become, the safer boats are going to be. In this way, you’re not just protecting your boat but everyone else’s boat too. You are doing your part to make boats a less attractive option for thieves to target.
3. Save Money
Having a boat tracking system installed may help lower your insurance premiums. The protection that is afforded by the tracking system makes it easier for insurance companies to lower rates. Stop wasting money. Get a GPS tracker installed.
What other system can you have added during regular boat maintenance that will save you money, make you safer, and make it more fun to be out on the water? There’s no competition when it comes to the value that a GPS tracker brings to your boat.
4. Safety at Sea
Even in the modern era, boats going out on the ocean face definite risks. Mechanical failure, accidents, and other catastrophes can happen while you’re out on the water. If an unfortunate situation occurs to you, you’ll be much better off with a boat GPS installed.
Of all the boat tools that help with search and rescue, nothing comes close to a GPS. This will give you the exact position of your boat. You’ll be able to relay these coordinates to help if something is going wrong when you contact the harbor or coast guard authorities.
This will give anyone that is going to come and render assistance a better chance of finding you. When you’re faced with any kind of maritime disaster, speed is of the essence. Not only will this help rescuers find you, but it will give them a good position to start searching from.
5. Sinking and Recovery
If the worst happens and your boat sinks, having a boat tracker installed will help make recovery easier. Getting your boat back from its watery resting place is made much easier if you know exactly where it sank. Without this information, it may never be recovered.
If you have to pay divers or others to search for your boat, it will cost a lot more to recover. In many lakes and rivers, having a boat removed is important for other vessels and safe navigation. Make it easier on yourself and on other boaters by having a boat tracker installed.
6. Keep an Eye on Your Boat
If you have children or friends that borrow your boat, having a tracker will let you see where it is. With many tracking systems, you can log in to your account and locate your vessel. This will show you what is being done with it and whether or not it is where it is supposed to be.
This can give you the peace of mind to relax while your boat is out being used without you. If you don’t want your children or anyone else using your boat, this will help you find out if people are going behind your back. Either way, peace of mind and knowledge go hand in hand.
7. Darkness and Hazards
One of the worst things that can happen to you is when you become bounded by fog or the sun sets while you’re still out on the water. Even if you never leave sight of land, this can be a very upsetting position to be in. With a GPS tracker, you will know where you are at all times.
This can help you navigate out of a situation that would have been dangerous otherwise. Fog, unstable sea states, and darkness are all far easier to deal with when you have GPS working for you. Even if you take every safety precaution, bodies of water are unpredictable.
Boat GPS and You
When it comes to the advantages of having a boat GPS system installed, they can’t be understated. Your life, safety, and property are all protected by GPS. Those who you take with you out onto the water are also protected by having a GPS.
If you’re ready to have a boat GPS system installed on your boat, we’d love to help you find the right system for you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.