Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

Magic Boat Beacon, now available for Android

by Lee Mylchreest on 27 Aug 2012
Steve Bennett, inventor of Boat Beacon SW
Good news for Android-using sailors: You can now use your devices to keep a watch on nearby boats, and let other boats, family and friends know your current location, using Boat Beacon Maps and AIS systems.

The Boat Beacon app, which has become popular among iPhone-using sailors and power boaters, is now available for Android-based smartphones and tablets.

The Boat Beacon app, developed by a skipper for other skippers, does not require an external AIS receiver or transponder equipment and provides location tracking at a fraction of the cost of an AIS system.

Boat Beacon was developed by Electric Pocket. Steve Bennett, the company’s CEO, sought an easy and relatively inexpensive way for his family to keep an eye on his location when he was sailing on his boat in the Bristol Channel. He also wanted a means of spotting big boats heading toward him, enabling him to trim his sails accordingly.

'High speed craft, such as Catamaran Passenger Ferries, travel so fast they can be upon you from beyond the horizon or an island in a few short minutes,' said Bennett. 'AIS Systems provide the standard solution to detect potential collisions, sending and receiving ship position and movement details on a regular basis.

'However, AIS receivers and displays are an expensive piece of kit to buy and install and are limited by line of sight, which can be less than 6 miles away at sea level!'

Bennett knew there is a large network of AIS shore stations collecting and sharing AIS data that an app could tap into. Also, most coastal and popular ports now have 3G or 2G data coverage - the UK has nearly complete coast coverage out to 12 miles to sea as do all the major U.S. ports, coastal areas and inland waters in the US.

Boat Beacon offers a professional, easy and inexpensive way to experience the benefits of AIS navigation. Features of Boat Beacon include:
1. Real-time 'Map View' of both the user’s and other boats via AIS.
2. Continuous Collision detection using Closest Point of Approach (CPA)
3. 'Compass' mode to sight ships on the map including bearing to and distance from.
4. Enable friends and family to see the user’s location and course on Boat Beacon and Global AIS Systems.
5. Current Speed, Course and GPS location
6. Details about other ships including photos.
7. MMSI numbers to contact nearby boats via VHF.

By enabling Boat Beacon’s 'Transmit' mode, the user’s boat will appear on other Boat Beacon-equipped devices. With its AIS Sharing feature, the user’s boat will also appear on live ship tracking websites such as AIS Hub, Marine Traffic and Ship Finder.

To learn more, or to purchase, https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Boat+Beacon&c=apps!click_here.

Maritimo M75X-Yachts X4.3Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTER

Related Articles

Admirals Cup: Day 8 - Minnows win AC25
Two small sailing countries have struck a hammer blow for the sport, taking top places in AC25 In a result that is a hammer blow for the sport and the revival of major offshore teams trophies, Monaco and Hong Kong have provisionally taken first and second in the world championship of offshore racing.
Posted today at 3:15 pm
A Crown for the Principality
Yacht Club de Monaco wins the 2025 Admiral's Cup The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is delighted to announce the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) as the winner of the 2025 Admiral's Cup.
Posted today at 12:41 pm
49er & 49erFX Junior Worlds kicks off in Rungsted
Officially opened last night with a vibrant Opening Ceremony Today, we proudly welcome 105 teams and 210 athletes from across the globe to Rungsted for the start of the 49er and 49erFX Junior World Championship 2025.
Posted today at 10:56 am
RS Feva Worlds Qualifying Series complete
Sailors split into three flights of yellow, blue, and red Two days of qualifying series with 168 boats on lake Bourget, Club Nautique Voile d'es Bains, sailors split into three flights of yellow, blue, and red.
Posted today at 10:24 am
A defining finale to the Admiral's Cup 2025
Provisional results are in and the overall winner will be officially announced today At the end of the 5th day of the Rolex Fastnet Race just 7 boats in the Admiral's Cup fleet were still racing. The majority had moored up in Cherbourg and the dock was filled with sailors and supporters sharing a beer, a slice of pizza and their stories.
Posted today at 9:50 am
Etchells prepare for 2029 Worlds in Geelong
With the Etchells Australasian Summer Championship in January The next Etchells World Championship in Australia will be held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club in January 2029. To help Australian sailors prepare, on 8-11 January 2026 the Royal Geelong Yacht Club will host the Etchells Australasian Summer Championship.
Posted today at 9:20 am
Get ready to whoop it up
At 74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) has been working hard to provide a memorable experience for all at its 37th edition of Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), this year sponsored by 74 Islands Distillery and to be held from 7-14 August.
Posted today at 5:13 am
Women's Helm, Navigator, and Radio Operator Race
Belle Brightens Grey Day with Clean Sweep After months of planning and a strong return in 2022, the ORCV's Women's Helm, Navigator, and Radio Operator Race (WHNR) made another inspiring comeback on Saturday 26 July, reigniting the club's commitment to creating space for women in offshore racing.
Posted today at 5:05 am
Sailing's Lost Olympic Dream
Honouring the 1980 Yachting Team In an era where politics overshadowed sport, the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow became a defining moment of sacrifice for many Australian athletes, including the 12 sailors who were selected to represent their country but never got the chance to compete.
Posted today at 4:55 am
Fastnet Race 2025 | D4 Update from Cherbourg
Update on the leaderboard across the different classes Information on finished boats, including a summary of discussions with the Black Jack 100 team, and an update on the leaderboard across the different classes.
Posted on 29 Jul