The installation of Sailsense on a boat is very simple: a central box to which are connected peripheral boxes that collect the information. All the intelligence of the system lies in the ability to centralise information from the different parts of the boat (electrical circuit, navigation electronics, engine, generator, etc.).
All this information is analysed and processed on the spot by the central unit which, according to internal algorithms, will be able to trigger alarms. On board, the skipper can connect in Wifi with his mobile phone on the box and display the status of his boat.
A maintenance prediction program
Once close to a network, the mainframe is also able to transfer this data to a cloud on a secure Sailsense server. This server will then analyze the information more finely to be able to do predictive maintenance.
For example, if an engine temperature curve slowly increases over several weeks through no fault of the weather's own, it is likely that the cooling system will begin to clog or the water pump will have some weakness. A maintenance must therefore be scheduled soon. In the same way, depending on the charging and discharging time, the battery temperature or the number of cycles, one can judge the state of the battery park and announce a next replacement.
On board, the user of the boat also receives advice and recommendations on how to use it properly. If he is sailing at too high an engine speed, an indicator will tell him that he is consuming too much fuel. If the flow rate of the water pump decreases, it is probably a problem on the strainer. The user has an immediate alert to go and check it out.
If it is a rented boat, an alert warns the renter according to the distance from the port of departure, if he has to set sail to be on time for the check out.
Ideal for managing a rental fleet
When you entrust a boat for charter, whether you are a professional charterer or a private individual, you would like to be a little mouse on board to see how the boat is treated. The Sailsense system does that.
In addition to the recommendations for proper use of the boat, all Sailsense sensors are equipped with shock sensors. For example, a bottoming is automatically detected after verification with the sounder and decelerometer data. But the GPS also shows the boat's position, so you can see if it has been sailing in unhealthy waters. The same goes for a high engine speed that would have been maintained for too long. An overly violent gybe can also be detected..
All this information is available to the owner on a dashboard, a kind of logbook. He can interrogate it remotely during the charter and facilitate the return of the boat with this confidence indicator on the use of the boat. With Sailsense, one could even imagine automating the return process.
For whom?
Sailsense is for all types of boats. From the simple semi-rigid to the largest of charter catamarans. Developed over the past 2 years, Sailsense now counts major rental companies among its customers all over the world. But this product is also suitable for smaller boats, for day trips for example. A RIB will be able to have just one Sailsense box connected to the engine network without any other sensor. In this case, the owner can follow the rental of his boat and check that it has not been misused. The return inventory can thus be made with confidence.
How much does it cost?
The HUB box from Sailsense costs 799 euros, the additional POD sensor costs 499 euros (you can add as many POD sensors as you need depending on the equipment to be monitored). Monthly subscription: 30 euros per month and per boat.
