No AIS transponder
Most pleasure sailboats and catamarans do not have one: it is only compulsory for certain vessels. Without a transponder, no position is transmitted, whatever the coverage.
LOCVOILIER fleet tracking
Boat tracking: GPS tracking and remote monitoring
Where your boat is and how it is doing: position, batteries and bilge visible from your phone, even without AIS. You are alerted before a problem turns into an incident.
- Real-time 4G position
- Battery, bilge and zone alerts
- From €9/month
Our boat tracking service answers a simple question: where is my boat, and how is it doing? Tracking a boat through free AIS websites has its limits: MarineTraffic and similar sites only show a pleasure boat when a land-based receiver picks up its signal, and only if it transmits at all. With LOCVOILIER fleet tracking, your boat remains visible at all times, in port, at anchor or under way, and you receive an alert as soon as a battery runs low or water enters the bilge.
Why MarineTraffic is not enough
The three limits of free AIS
On MarineTraffic or VesselFinder, a pleasure boat only appears under specific conditions, rarely met continuously.
A short-range signal
Even when fitted, a Class B AIS transmits weakly. Its position is only picked up if a land-based receiver is within range: at anchor in a calanque, the boat often disappears from the map.
No technical data
AIS only gives a dot on a map. Nothing about battery charge, water in the bilge or a boat moving outside a planned charter.
MarineTraffic / free AIS
What you do not get
- Nothing if the boat has no transponder
- Position lost out of range of a receiver
- No alerts, no technical data
- Limited or paid history
LOCVOILIER fleet tracking
What you get
- Continuous position, without AIS
- 4G link, in port and on coastal passages
- Out of coverage, positions stored then sent
- Battery, bilge and geofence alerts
- Full history, unlimited access
The principle
A GPS unit on board, reliable data
The system does not depend on any AIS network: the boat communicates directly through a dedicated SIM card.
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1
A unit on board
A discreet sensor, connected to the boat’s electrical circuit: GPS position and, depending on the plan, batteries and bilge levels.
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2
A dedicated 4G link
Data travels via an M2M SIM card, like a phone, without relying on AIS or the marina’s WiFi. Out of coverage, the unit keeps everything in memory.
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3
Your private account
Position, sailing history and technical status are displayed on your phone or computer, at any time.
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4
Alerts before the incident
Low battery, water ingress, unplanned exit from a zone: you are warned before it becomes a problem.
Three types of data
What the system monitors for you
Depending on the plan, tracking covers position only or the whole technical health of the boat.
Where the boat is
- Real-time position, in port and under way
- Sailing history available at any time
- Alert if the boat leaves a defined zone (geofencing)
- Ideal for following a charter or a cruise from land
How the boat is doing
- Live battery level and voltage
- Water ingress detection in the engine bilge or main bilge
- Low battery alert before full discharge
- Remote control of some equipment, depending on the unit
Tracking, not surveillance
- The owner keeps full access to their data
- LOCVOILIER uses it to anticipate maintenance
- A shared basis for charter management: check-in, check-out, schedule
Owners
Built into charter management
Fleet tracking naturally complements the LOCVOILIER charter management contract, with annual technical follow-up (mechanics and hull) and commercial management of charters. A boat placed under management can be equipped as soon as it enters service.
Choosing well
Boat tracking: which solution should you choose?
There are several ways to track a pleasure boat. They do not meet the same needs: some only give a dot on a map, others also monitor the boat’s health. For a sailboat or catamaran that sails the Mediterranean coast and spends most of the year in port, here is how they compare.
| Solution | Position | Batteries and bilge | Alerts | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free AIS website | Only with a transponder and within range of a receiver | No | No | Free |
| Standalone GPS tracker | Yes, as long as its battery lasts | No | Sometimes, depending on the model | Purchase and subscription |
| Satellite unit | Everywhere, including offshore | Depending on the model | Yes | Higher subscription |
| LOCVOILIER fleet tracking | Continuous, 4G link, memory when out of coverage | Yes (Comfort and Prestige) | Battery, bilge, geofence | From €9 per month |
Free AIS websites are invaluable for following merchant ships, but they are not designed to monitor a pleasure boat. Battery-powered standalone trackers are easy to fit, but they say nothing about the boat’s condition and need recharging. Satellite units cover every sea on the globe: they make sense for ocean cruising or a transatlantic crossing, with a subscription to match.
LOCVOILIER fleet tracking is designed for the most common case: a boat based between Marseille, Cassis and La Ciotat that sails close to the coast. 4G coverage is good there, and when the network drops, at the far end of a calanque for example, the unit stores the positions and sends them as soon as the link returns.
Real examples
Alerts in practice: what they prevent
The costliest incidents on a pleasure boat often start with a detail nobody noticed in time. That is what fleet tracking is for first and foremost: being warned early, when a simple visit to the pontoon is still enough.
The shore charger has tripped
A pontoon circuit breaker trips while you are away: the batteries drain slowly, then the bilge pump can no longer work. The low battery alert warns you days in advance, giving you time to send someone round.
Water in the bilge
A leaking stern gland, a worn hose, heavy rain: the sensor detects water in the engine bilge or main bilge, and you are alerted immediately on your phone.
The boat leaves its zone
You define a zone around the port or anchorage. If the boat leaves it without a planned trip, you receive an alert: a broken mooring line, a dragging anchor or an unauthorised departure.
A charter to follow
During a charter, the position lets you check that the boat stays within the sailing area set out in the contract and react quickly if there is a problem.
In the event of theft, the real-time position and the sailing history are also useful information to pass on to the authorities. For the safety of people on board, however, nothing replaces the statutory equipment of Division 240 and the VHF: fleet tracking is a tool for monitoring the boat, not a means of rescue.
For whom
Who is boat tracking for?
The owner whose boat stays in port all year
Your boat stays at Port Corbières, Pointe-Rouge or Cassis while you are at work or travelling. You check at a glance that all is well.
The boat under charter management
Position, batteries and bilge shared between the owner and LOCVOILIER: every charter is tracked and maintenance is anticipated.
The owner who lives far away
Do you live in Lyon, Paris or abroad? Tracking replaces inspection visits and reassures you between stays.
Deliveries and cruising
During a delivery, your family or the owner follow the boat’s progress, leg by leg, from land.
Fleet tracking is available to all owners, whether or not they entrust their boat to LOCVOILIER. It naturally complements our charter management and our boat delivery assignments, for which the position is shared live with the owner.
Prices
Three plans, from position to full supervision
Buy the equipment and keep it, or have it included in the subscription, with no upfront cost.
Position
Knowing where the boat is, at all times: the reliable alternative to AIS.
€9/month
€150 equipment
Installation included · 12-month commitment
- Real-time GPS position
- Sailing history
- Geofence alert
- Unlimited app & web access
Position + technical
Position, batteries and bilge: designed for a boat under charter management.
€19/month
€490 equipment
Installation included · 12-month commitment
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Live batteries and state of charge
- Water ingress detection in the bilge
- Low battery alert
- Monthly report to the owner
Full supervision
A classic boat or a closely monitored fleet, with custom sensors.
from €29/month
On quotation
Quote based on the sensors chosen
- Everything in Comfort, plus:
- Temperature, humidity and intrusion sensors
- Integration with the charter management schedule
- Priority support and technical on-call service
| Feature | Essential | Comfort | Prestige |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time position and history | ● | ● | ● |
| Geofence alert | ● | ● | ● |
| Batteries and state of charge | – | ● | ● |
| Water ingress detection | – | ● | ● |
| Monthly report | – | ● | ● |
| Custom sensors | – | – | ● |
| Priority support | – | – | ● |
Indicative prices for one boat, adjusted according to the model, the equipment already on board and the number of units. Sliding-scale discount from 3 boats for the same owner or the same fleet under charter management. SIM card and platform access included in the subscription.
No works needed
Installing the tracking unit
We carry out the installation ourselves, alongside, without drilling the hull or modifying the structure.
- An initial discussion. Boat model, home port, existing electrical equipment: we define the right plan.
- Fitting on board. The unit is installed in a dry, discreet place, connected to the existing 12 V circuit, usually in less than an hour.
- The sensors. Depending on the plan, a water sensor is placed at the bottom of the bilge and the voltage measurement is connected to the battery bank.
- Commissioning. We create your access, set the alert thresholds and the monitoring zone with you, then test each alert.
The unit uses very little power and the battery alert warns you well before a full discharge. If you sell the boat or change plan, purchased equipment remains yours; rented equipment is simply collected at the end of the subscription.
Your account
What you see on your phone
All the data is sent to a private account, accessible from a phone, tablet or computer. No need to be a marine electrics specialist: the essentials can be read in seconds.
- The map: the boat’s current position, with the time of the last update.
- The history: trips over recent days or months, useful after a charter or a boat trip.
- The batteries: voltage and state of charge, with their trend over time to spot a tired battery.
- The bilge: a dry or wet indicator, and the time of the last alert, if any.
- The settings: the monitoring zone and alert thresholds, which we adjust with you.
With the Comfort plan, a monthly report summarises the boat’s activity: trips, hours under way, battery condition and the month’s alerts. It is a valuable basis for planning maintenance, talking to your mechanic or preparing a sale, because a tracked and documented boat reassures a buyer.
FAQ
Boat tracking: your questions
Does tracking work if my boat has no AIS?
Yes, that is the whole point: the unit communicates via a dedicated 4G SIM card, without an AIS transponder or land-based receiver. The position comes through even if the boat has never been visible on MarineTraffic.
How much does boat tracking cost?
The Essential plan starts at €9 per month with €150 for the equipment, installation included. Without buying the equipment, the unit is included in the subscription from €18 per month, with a 24-month commitment.
What happens when the boat is out of 4G coverage?
The unit keeps recording positions and technical data. As soon as the network returns, everything is sent: the sailing history stays complete, even after a crossing or an anchorage far from the coast.
Can I rent the unit rather than buy it?
Yes. LOCVOILIER remains the owner of the unit, its maintenance and replacement are included, and the cost is spread over the monthly subscription instead of being paid upfront. This is the “Equipment rented” option in the plan comparison.
Who has access to my boat’s data?
The owner keeps full, personal access to their data. For a boat under charter management, LOCVOILIER also has access, solely for technical follow-up and the trips provided for in the contract.
Does installation require any works?
No. The unit connects to the existing electrical circuit, usually in less than an hour, without drilling or modifying the structure.
Can I change plan during my subscription?
Yes, you can move from Essential to Comfort or Prestige at any time. Only additional equipment may be needed, depending on the sensors already installed.
Do I have to place my boat under charter management to benefit?
No. Fleet tracking is available to any pleasure boat owner. It is simply even more useful under charter management, because the data is also used to follow charters and maintenance.
Is tracking useful if my boat stays in port?
Yes, that is actually where it is most useful: most incidents (flat battery, water ingress, broken mooring line) happen when nobody is on board. The alerts warn you in time.
Does the unit replace AIS or the distress beacon?
No. It is used to monitor the boat, not to raise the alarm in distress. Statutory safety equipment, the VHF and, if needed, AIS remain essential.
Can several boats be tracked on the same account?
Yes. An owner or a fleet can track all their boats from the same account, with a sliding-scale discount from 3 boats.
Does boat tracking work at anchor in the calanques?
Yes. At the far end of a calanque, the 4G network can be weak: the boat tracking unit then records the positions and sends them as soon as the link returns. Your fleet tracking stays complete, with no gaps in the history.
Does fleet tracking work during winter storage?
Yes, as long as the unit remains powered, afloat or ashore in a cradle. In winter, monitoring the batteries and bilge is often the most useful, because the boat goes a long time without a visit.
Free quote
Equip your boat, or a whole fleet
A quick conversation is enough to define the right plan and, if needed, prepare a quote for several boats.
Set the right course from the start!
