Anyone moored overnight in a motorboat usually relies on standard mobile apps or the boat’s on-board GPS. However, these systems measure the position at the water’s surface, which means that the boat’s swaying in the wind can quickly lead to false alarms or delayed warnings. The new Morphéis anchor buoy is designed to address this weakness. Priced at €1,499, the system offers a self-contained combination of a mechanical buoy, a transmitter unit and a mobile receiver for the cabin.
Positioning whilst at anchor
According to the manufacturer, the mechanical buoy, attached to a 25-metre-long Dyneema line, always floats vertically above the anchor. An automatic spring mechanism is designed to keep the line taut at any water level. Even in 30-knot winds, the buoy swings out by a maximum of three metres. The high-strength line, with a breaking load of 750 kilograms, prevents the buoy from drifting away in an emergency.
The removable electronic housing on the buoy determines the exact position via GPS. Unlike conventional navigation devices for anchor watches, the system measures the anchor itself rather than the drifting boat. As a result, Morphéis reliably triggers an alarm even at a deviation of just four metres. The buoy’s housing components are manufactured in France from recycled plastic offcuts.
Wireless connection and solar power
The transmitter on the buoy communicates directly by radio with the receiver on board. This radio link does not require a mobile network and has a range of up to 100 metres. An integrated solar panel automatically charges the buoy’s battery during the day. Two hours of sunlight are sufficient to provide enough energy for a whole night. When the buoy is fully charged, the battery is expected to last for 72 hours.
The portable receiver alerts the crew in the cockpit with a 100-decibel alarm. Using its own SIM card, the device can also send text message alerts to smartphones.
Ankerwache: The affordable app alternatives
With a purchase price of over 1,000 euros, the fully automatic anchor watch is not suitable for every sailor. For most users, the usual anchor apps on their smartphone are perfectly adequate. Well-established apps such as Anchor alarm for a one-off payment of 19.99 euros or Anchor Pro For a one-off payment of 6.99 euros, you get access to all features and it works out many times cheaper. However, if you’re going on a longer trip, moor regularly or don’t want to be dependent on a mobile device, it might be worth making a long-term investment in the Anchor buoy from Mooring Solution.
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David Ingelfinger
Volontär
