GSM Tracking device on ebay

Chris · 09 August 2008, 22:31

Hae been thinking of fitting some form of tracking device in case the boat gets nicked.

Has anyone tried one of these? only £49.00 using a vodafone Pay as you go SIM card so no expensive monthly costs. It wont give as accurate location as GPS but I suspect would be enough to get the general location. Also the thing that worries me about GPS it it wont work if the boat is under cover somewhere...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Car-Caravan-Bo...6.c0.m14.l1318

spartacus · 10 August 2008, 09:35

Isn't it possible to fit the same type of device as a tracker which would work on a car, hooked up to battery, etc?

Thieves are crafty bu**ers though and would probably disconnect battery. Something self-sufficient with it's own power supply is the answer.

Where do stolen boats go? Are they dispersed around the UK or shipped abroad?

Lewy · 10 August 2008, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacus

Isn't it possible to fit the same type of device as a tracker which would work on a car, hooked up to battery, etc?

Thieves are crafty bu**ers though and would probably disconnect battery. Something self-sufficient with it's own power supply is the answer.

looks like it has a 2 week backup with internal batteries!

nice to hear if anyone has one

Poly · 11 August 2008, 10:53

if they spot its a tracker presumably they can remove the sim card or the whole unit. think you would need to hide it well so it doesn't get found too quickly.

Cookee · 11 August 2008, 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

if they spot its a tracker presumably they can remove the sim card or the whole unit. think you would need to hide it well so it doesn't get found too quickly.

For that reason we offer them as an option on our boats "built in", either the cheaper GSM only ones or a full GPS / satellite version.

Chris · 11 August 2008, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

if they spot its a tracker presumably they can remove the sim card or the whole unit. think you would need to hide it well so it doesn't get found too quickly.

I agree I can think of a few places to hide one where most would never think to look.

Chris · 11 August 2008, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I agree I can think of a few places to hide one where most would never think to look.

I could then try and find somewhere on the boat too.

BritBoater · 12 August 2008, 00:36

This is an interesting debate, which came up in the pub a few weeks ago. My mate reckoned a stealth tracker was the way forward, but I reckoned a sticker with something like "This boat is fitted with a Tracker" would be a far better investment than an tracker... and cheaper too. Put the blighters off or at least stall them for a while as they look for it.....

Just my 2 cents....

Rooster21 · 12 August 2008, 12:09

Advertisning the fact IMHO is a bad idea.

Reason: Theres so many cheap mobile phone blockers available. You could just postion one in the boat and off you go.

BritBoater · 12 August 2008, 12:50

I'm not suggesting you actually fit the tracker (if my boat was stolen I really don't know if i'd want it back). I'm suggesting fit a sticker as a deterrent and hope that any would be thieves would pass up your boat and move to the next...

I dunno though... after all.. I've never stolen a boat so who knows how the minds of these b*stards work! :P

Cookee · 12 August 2008, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster21

Advertisning the fact IMHO is a bad idea.

Reason: Theres so many cheap mobile phone blockers available. You could just postion one in the boat and off you go.

Only proper organised professionals would bother with that kit - I would imagine that most of the boat theft market is amateur, unless someone knows differently?

BritBoater · 12 August 2008, 13:32

Exactly my thoughts....