GPS tracking for your ski/trailer!!

[catfish4767]

I came across a company called GoTrack that does national GPS tracking for vehicles and assets. I spoke with Jeff there and he set me up with a small asset tracker for my ski. You can order this online and they will ship it to you for free!! So far this thing is sweet!! It pings every 12 hours when the ski is not moving, or every 15 minutes while moving. Hence if your ski was stolen, the GPS tracker could help you track it down! The website keeps a detailed activity log for you too. You can rename each tracker so it says ski/trailer/utv/atv etc. so you know where each thing is if you had more than one. I just have a SN with a bpipe and few bolt on stuff but figured for $10 a month its worth knowing when the ski moves (parked outside on a trailer) and where it is at all times. They had two trackers and I chose the smaller one (measurements in pics) and mounted it just above my battery and used the straps to hold it in place. You could bolt it somewhere if needed. I figured the guys with AM skis would/could benefit from this, especially since they have more of an investment than I do. The tracker I got runs off of 4 AAs but the bigger one has its own battery pack. I paid $99 total for the unit and activation fee but after that its just $10 a month (I paid yearly). I thought this was pretty cool, others may or may not. Just figured I would pass along the info!

 

[Quinc]

Cheaper to get insurance coverage. And then you don't have to worry about trying to track it down, or if it sinks or gets wrecked on the way to the lake etc etc.

 

[fx1mark]

you don't think if someone stole your ski they would not see that thing and dispose of it?

 

[catfish4767]

I have insurance on it but also have a deductible. So a $10 a month fee isn’t a big deal, plus it’s just $10.

In my situation they probably would @fx1mark but if I screwed or bolted it to something they would have a tougher time. Or they might just grab it n go. Who knows. There was a story about a 17 year old that was car jacked in Miami; he had their GPS tracker in his car. Dad logged into the account and gave the info to the local PD and in less than 15 minutes they had the vehicle and suspect in custody. I thought that was cool and just figured I would share with anyone who cared.

 

[catfish4767]

you don't think if someone stole your ski they would not see that thing and dispose of it?

It doesn’t say GPS tracking on it so they may think nothing of it. Also I could always hide it up by the water box or next to the tank. This was just a quick and easy way for me. Again just sharing for others to take a peak. I would definitely mount it better if I had a built AM ski but our home owners association no longer allows them (watercraft cannot leave the water).

 

[ngerk]

I looked into trackers before, specifically for a trailer. What’s the battery life on that one?

 

[Quinc]

if I had a built AM ski but our home owners association no longer allows them (watercraft cannot leave the water).

Damn that sucks! you need to get on the board so you can get that taken care of!

 

[catfish4767]

I looked into trackers before, specifically for a trailer. What’s the battery life on that one?

It just depends on how often it moves. For me, my ski/trailer doesnt move during the winter. Once spring hits, i ride here and there (wife had a baby last June so didnt ride much at all). With this tracker its just 4 AA batteries so they said if you are traveling with it 5-6 hours, you will see about a months worth of battery life. Occasional use around 6 months. But again to replace them its super easy and just 4 AAs. They have a bigger tracker that runs off of a battery, sounded like a NiCad battery pack or something, and those last years. They did say the bigger trackers shouldnt be submerged though so thats why I didnt screw one to the trailer. If you had one with a long enough tongue, you could probably attach it to that without it getting submerged, or if you just pulled up to the beach and used a cart that would work too.

 

[catfish4767]

Damn that sucks! you need to get on the board so you can get that taken care of!

Ha! The board is full of older residents who want to make it a sailing and pontoon lake only. At first they thought bringing the vintage skis back was a fun thing to see but now they are back to being grumpy farts. No chance in changing their minds until the new generation takes over.

 

[Big Kahuna]

What do you

It doesn’t say GPS tracking on it so they may think nothing of it. Also I could always hide it up by the water box or next to the tank. This was just a quick and easy way for me. Again just sharing for others to take a peak. I would definitely mount it better if I had a built AM ski but our home owners association no longer allows them (watercraft cannot leave the water).

mean "Cannot leave the water?" As in Jump?

 

[catfish4767]

What do you

mean "Cannot leave the water?" As in Jump?

Exactly. Not supposed to jump wake of other boats or even your own skis wake. We usually find out where water patrol is and then go to the other end of the lake. Then when they buzz down to that end, we go to the other end. Endless cycle of staying away from patrol. Its a 600 acre lake so its pretty easy to stay away from them.

 

[Quinc]

Ha! The board is full of older residents who want to make it a sailing and pontoon lake only. At first they thought bringing the vintage skis back was a fun thing to see but now they are back to being grumpy farts. No chance in changing their minds until the new generation takes over.

Need to start the process now of getting yourself and you bro etc elected. We need a new video!

 

[Christian_83]

Guys check this GPS tracker - its the best ive found
https://www.dantracker.com/dk/

All pottede / build in unit, dust, water and shock proof. battery time is up to 15 years, as it only uses battery when it sends a gps coordinate.

the down side about gps, is they do not work inside a carbonfiber hull :/

 

[catfish4767]

I think I’ll stick to the local guys