Remote Temperature Monitoring during Winter

[Taras]

Hey All,
I'm looking for a remote temperature monitoring system that I can use while I'm away from the boat over the winter to obviously see if the heaters inside the boat are adequate and things aren't dropping below freezing. I do intend to winterize the boat while its in Portland, OR, but would like to have remote monitoring as I live outside the state. I should be able to connect to the marina's wifi.
Any suggestions good or bad on products you've used?
Thank you for any suggestions!
Taras

 

[Mac2]

I have the Govee cameras on the boat, which are wireless and Bluetooth enabled. I have been very happy with the quality/picture and I am now ordering the temperature/humidity sensor for inside the boat. I ordered on Amazon and you can get multiple sensors if you want. One of the features I like the most is the battery status. When you pull the app up, it shows you the status (in bars) of the battery in each device. The cameras claim a two year battery life (depending on use). I have only had the cameras about three months, so I can't verify. The temp sensor is rated for one year, which like you, I only need for the winter.

As a side note, I will get a second sensor for the engine room to monitor for high temperatures.

 

[NoRain]

I use the hardwired sensors into my Cerbo, and three Ruuvi tags for wireless readings (dock freezer, inside boat freezer etc). The Ruuvis are communicating into my Cerbo but can also be connected to a Ruuvi Hub which can then connect to the internet. The small photo is a widget on my iPad. The other is a screenshot from VRM showing the kind of historical info you can also get. I have a number of heaters on wi-fi outlets that I can then turn on and off remotely as required.

 

[ksanders]

I have a smartthings hub.

Sensors attach wirelessly, and the sensor batteries last over a year.

I have motion sensors that also have temperature, water sensors, even dry contact for things that need that type of signal.

 

[NWSeadog]

I Installed an Ambient Weather station on the bridge with temperature / humidity sensors throughout the boat. (All wireless and connected though the marina WiFi. I also have wireless switches for turning on and off dehumidifiers and heaters as needed.

Ambient Weather Station

 

[Comodave]

I am not a fan of leaving a boat unattended with space heaters running. What type of heater do you have? Does the marina allow portable heaters? If you winterize the boat then it should be just fine. I used to winterize my boats here in Michigan. Once done properly I never checked the boat. What exactly is your concern?

 

[Shrew]

I am not a fan of leaving a boat unattended with space heaters running. What type of heater do you have? Does the marina allow portable heaters? If you winterize the boat then it should be just fine. I used to winterize my boats here in Michigan. Once done properly I never checked the boat. What exactly is your concern?

Agreed. I wouldn't leave a boat in the water unattended for long periods of time. I definitely wouldn't leave heaters running.

Is the boat in the water or on land? I haul and winterize my boat and I live a little over 1200 miles away from the boat. It is safer and you'll rest easier.

 

[kthoennes]

The answer to he OP's question really depends on whether marina wifi is available, or if you have to do a cell connection. We do have marina wifi (in the slip and the storage yard) so I very easily installed a couple cameras what are surprisingly low-cost and crystal clear and (so far) very reliable, and great night vision. There's no power to the boat in the storage yard so this is one of the cameras:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTYB76JF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

And then the other is solar powered mounted on the radar arch, pan and tilt so I can look around:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7BX43NX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

But the OP asked about temperature. I do that too -- just for kicks since our boat is in a storage yard in South Dakota so it drops to well below zero, also battery powered, but that's a different app. Temperature and humidity: https://www.amazon.com/Feit-Electric-Heating-Temperature-Humidity/dp/B0BQH2SL9Q/ Feit also makes a wifi water alarm, really designed for residential basement leaks, but can also be used as an alarm if my bilge pumps fail. Remote monitoring has gotten very cheap and easy lately (with wifi anyway).

 

[Mac2]

I can't speak for the OP, but his temperatures are similar to mine. We can boat year round here, so I don't know to many people who winterize their boat unless they take it out of the water. I will be out of the country this year for a few months during winter. I installed cameras and will have temp sensors for this purpose. There is typically only a few weeks of freezing I am worried about. If OP is like me, he will have neighbors/family standing by. The biggest threat for me is the power circuit. I've had neighbors turn off my power by accident and circuit breakers trip for unknown reasons. The temp sensors and Bluetooth activated light should give me a heads up to have my neighbor turn a switch/breaker on. Water pump, and water heater will be turned off along with all through hulls. Residential heat pump will be left on and hydronic heater will be set to a low temp as back-up.

I have the T-Mobile hot spot box for wifi

 

[Alan Mainship]

Check out Marcel, Sensored life units.
Worked great for me for years, no false alarms, and very economical!

 

[Taras]

I am not a fan of leaving a boat unattended with space heaters running. What type of heater do you have? Does the marina allow portable heaters? If you winterize the boat then it should be just fine. I used to winterize my boats here in Michigan. Once done properly I never checked the boat. What exactly is your concern?

Thank you all for your great responses and suggestions. I do plan to winterize the boat while in Portland Oregon this winter. I also plan to pop in from time to time to do projects. My idea was to have a remote temperature monitor inside the engine room so I can keep tabs on what the temp is while I'm away, out of state. I will have an oil filled radiator type heater in the engine room set on low so the boat isn't a complete ice cube when I board the boat and stay onboard. I feel the radiant type heater should be safe while I'm away (let me know your thoughts). Thats the current plan......

 

[SteveK]

Govee has a WIFI based temp/humidity pack. 3 sensors and base. Works great when I have WIFI for this purpose.

 

[mvweebles]

I have the Govee cameras on the boat, which are wireless and Bluetooth enabled. I have been very happy with the quality/picture and I am now ordering the temperature/humidity sensor for inside the boat. I ordered on Amazon and you can get multiple sensors if you want. One of the features I like the most is the battery status. When you pull the app up, it shows you the status (in bars) of the battery in each device. The cameras claim a two year battery life (depending on use). I have only had the cameras about three months, so I can't verify. The temp sensor is rated for one year, which like you, I only need for the winter.

As a side note, I will get a second sensor for the engine room to monitor for high temperatures.

I have three Ruuvi tags on Weebles. Although they are configured on my Victron Cerbo, it depends on VRM which has not been consistent and stable for me. Plus the tags are $30 each.

I recently wanted temperature and humidity for our condo in Mexico. I too went with Govee. Much cheaper and works very well for basic information. The Ruuvi is nicer, but for the money, Govee is solid.

Amazon.com

Peter

 

[guy with a boat]

FWIW, Blink cameras have temp sensors on them. The cameras are pretty inexpensive, wireless and have long battery life (more than a year). We have them around the boat and as a bonus we can see temps where each cam is located. They have a setting do alert you if the temps go outside a set range.

Obviously this only helps if you need/want cameras anyway.

 

[DDW]

I have three Ruuvi tags and two temp sensors connected to the Cerbo. VRM has been completely reliable for me (I have an external WiFi antenna on the Cerbo otherwise that might be the weak link). I get temp and humidity readings every 10 minutes, stored forever, observable anywhere.

In addition, I used one of the Cerbo relay outputs to control an solid state relay which controls power to the dehumidifier. This turns on and off automatically based on pilot house temperature, but can also be turned off remotely on VRM from anywhere in the world.

An additional benefit with the Cerbo that the Govee and other solutions may not provide is the battery and AC line status. I can see if the boat has become unplugged by someone for example, or if power is out in the area.

 

[Patemey]

I have the Govee temp/humidity sensors and with corresponding Govee wifi outlets to plug the heaters into (salon outlet = salon temp sensor, etc). One app controls everything. I have them connected to a Tmobile Jextream ($20/mo), so I don't need marina wifi.

The Govee temp sensors have upper / lower limits, so it'll give your phone a warning if it gets to cold or too warm.

 

[SteveK]

@Patemey
Is that $20 standalone or an add on to a cellular package?

 

[Patemey]

@Patemey
Is that $20 standalone or an add on to a cellular package?

Its separate from a cell plan, this is a hotspot and standalone plans range from $10-$50 and is month to month. You just need to buy the device = $200.

 

[Greg QS]

If you have a victron system You can install temp sensors on that and then read them remotely through the victron portal. I also have maretron system. Both systems send alerts if the temps are too low. I have sensors in the er, lazarette, and salon.

 

[Pathfinder]

Look at YoSmart on Amazon for the Yolonk hub and temp/humidity monitor that connects to Wi-Fi and no monthly fee. Amazon.com

Chris Barlow, Pathfinder
www.mainship400.com

 

[fryedaze]

If you have Internet access this a nice option. It has a phone app and graph trending .

 

[Taras]

So many great ideas and suggestions here! Thank you all for the responses!