Workboat & Punt Security: Monitor Bilge, Battery, and Access Remotely

Not all farming happens on dry dirt. For Australian farmers managing properties along river systems, operating massive irrigation dams, or running coastal aquaculture leases, the water is your workplace. Punts, workboats, and floating pump pontoons are critical tools, but leaving them moored in remote locations exposes them to a unique set of hazards.

The Vulnerability of Floating Assets

A vehicle parked in a shed will generally stay exactly how you left it. A boat moored on a river or dam will not. Torrential rain can overwhelm self-draining decks, bilge pumps can jam with debris, and the constant drain of marine electronics can quietly flatten a battery over a few weeks. By the time you drive out to the mooring, the boat might be sitting on the muddy bottom.

Furthermore, remote moorings are prime targets for opportunistic thieves looking to strip expensive outboard motors or steal fishing gear. But how do you monitor a floating asset when it sits kilometres away in a cellular black spot?

LoRa on the Water: Superior Signal Strength

This is where the FarmKeeper Keeper v3.0 excels. While it is renowned for punching a signal through 20 kilometres of scrub, the 915 MHz LoRa radio signal travels even more efficiently over flat bodies of water. Without relying on mobile phone towers or monthly subscriptions, the Keeper provides a dedicated, direct radio link from your remote workboat straight to the Monitoring Display on your kitchen bench.

4 Critical Checks for Your Watercraft

By installing the Keeper v3.0 on your floating craft, you gain real-time oversight of the four most critical marine parameters:

• 1. Bilge Water Level Alerts: The fastest way to lose a boat is a failed bilge pump. By wiring a simple float switch to the Keeper's Water Sensor Input (Terminal 10), you will receive an instant alarm if the water rises above a safe level. Crucially, this input has a built-in 20-second delay, which filters out false alarms caused by boat rock and wave action.
• 2. Battery Voltage Monitoring: There is nothing worse than arriving at the boat ramp only to hear the starter motor click. The Keeper automatically monitors its own DC supply (Terminals 1 & 2), actively tracking your boat's 12V or 24V battery health so you can address a voltage drop before it leaves you stranded.
• 3. Intrusion and Security Activities: Secure your cabin doors, outboard cowlings, or storage lockers using magnetic reed switches wired to the Door Sensor Input (Terminal 8). Combine this with the built-in PIR motion sensor to detect anyone stepping aboard your vessel after hours.
• 4. Cabin Temperature and Humidity: If you have an enclosed cabin or a sensitive engine bay, wire a digital DHT22 sensor to Terminals 5, 6, and 7. Monitoring internal climate helps prevent devastating mould build-up and extreme heat damage to marine electronics.

Beyond the Farm: Perfect for Yachts and Recreational Cruisers

While the Keeper v3.0 was forged in the harsh realities of Australian agriculture, its rugged, off-grid capabilities make it the ultimate security solution for any floating craft.

If you own a recreational yacht, a coastal fishing boat, or a houseboat moored at a marina, you face the exact same threats of sinking, theft, and flat batteries. Traditional marine security systems often require expensive cellular data plans and complex integrations. The Keeper v3.0 offers a brilliantly simple, subscription-free alternative. Mount the control unit in the cabin, plug the display in at home, and own your security network outright.