Imagine you’re heading to the marina for a weekend trip. You’ve packed your gear, checked the weather, and you’re ready to enjoy time on the water. But one question always lingers: is my boat really ready?

Smart boating technology is changing the way owners answer that question. From keeping all your manuals and service history in one place to receiving live alerts if something goes wrong on board, today’s tools make boating simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.

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At Sentinel, we’ve built solutions that fit every type of boater — whether you own a small RIB, a family cruiser, or manage an entire charter fleet. With over 25,000 boats connected, nearly 400 charter fleets, and close to 40 OEM partners worldwide, including Grupe Beneteau, HanseGroupAG, Oyster and many more, we know that no two owners have the same needs.

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That’s why our platform comes in two distinct forms:‍

1. Sentinel GO — a completely free of charge&hardware free mobile app that gives every boater an easy entry point into smart boating.

2. Sentinel Premium — our full solution with the Boat Monitor, sensors, and subscription, designed for real-time monitoring and complete peace of mind.

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This article explains the difference between the two, shows how they work in practice, and helps you decide which one is right for you.

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Sentinel GO vs. Sentinel Premium — What’s the Difference?

Trip Tracking

1. GO: With just your phone’s GPS, Sentinel GO records every trip you take. It’s like keeping a modern captain’s logbook: you can add notes about the weather, crew, or highlights of the day, and even attach photos. Perfect for casual sailors who want to relive their weekends on the water.

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2. Premium: The Boat Monitor adds a new dimension. Its built-in GPS is always on, more precise than a phone, and doesn’t depend on you remembering to open the app. On top of that, Premium includes geofencing and anchor alarms. Imagine leaving your boat at anchor overnight — if it drifts, your phone will alert you immediately. What starts as a digital diary becomes a safety net.

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Service Log

1. GO: Works as a simple but powerful digital diary for your boat’s upkeep. Log every oil change, inspection, or winterization task, and set reminders so nothing gets forgotten.

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2. Premium: Goes further with automated inputs: engine hours, battery events, and more are logged automatically. You can attach photos, invoices, or even your mechanic’s contact details. Over time, this creates a complete digital service history — something that not only keeps your boat in top shape but also adds to its resale value. Buyers love seeing proof of care, and with Sentinel Premium, that proof is just a tap away.

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Documents

GO & Premium: Both versions let you upload and store your boat’s most important documents: registration papers, insurance policies, user manuals, even warranty details. Stored securely and accessible offline, they’re always at your fingertips. Picture arriving at a marina and being asked for papers — no rummaging through lockers, everything is already in the app.

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Checklists

GO & Premium: Whether it’s preparing the boat before a weekend trip or making sure she’s winterized correctly, checklists take the stress out of boating. Sentinel provides ready-made templates (departure, return, maintenance), but you can also create your own. The best part? You’ll never again forget the small but crucial steps, like closing seacocks or switching off the gas. Families or co-owners especially love this feature, because it keeps everyone on the same page.

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Messaging

GO & Premium: A direct line to your service partner, right inside the app. Got a strange sound in the engine room? Snap a photo, send it in the chat, and get advice without delay. It’s a simple feature that feels indispensable the first time you use it. In Premium, photo sharing makes conversations even clearer — your service partner can see exactly what you see.

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Sensors & Monitoring (Premium Exclusive)

At Sentinel, we know that no two boats — and no two owners — are the same. Some people own a small day cruiser, others a bluewater yacht. Some only sail on weekends, others manage charter fleets with dozens of vessels. That’s why Sentinel Premium is built to be flexible: you can configure it to match your exact needs, from just a Boat Monitor to a complete networked system with sensors and digital switching.

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Here’s what it can include:

1. Battery Diagnostics

Batteries are the beating heart of your boat. When they fail, everything else stops — navigation, pumps, lights, even safety systems. Worse still, repeatedly running a battery flat can permanently damage it, leaving you stranded — and in some cases even causing overheating or the release of harmful gases. Sentinel Premium constantly monitors your battery health and trends. Instead of discovering a dead battery just as your weekend trip begins, you get early warnings before problems escalate. This feature saves time, prevents frustration, and could even prevent dangerous situations.

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2. Bilge Sensors

A small leak can quickly become a disaster if unnoticed. With a bilge sensor connected to Sentinel Premium, you’ll be alerted the moment water starts to enter the bilge. It’s the kind of information that can literally save your boat — giving you time to act before damage becomes irreversible.

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3. Security (Motion, Door & Hatch  Sensors)

Peace of mind isn’t just about the sea — it’s also about the dock. Sentinel Premium can integrate with motion sensors, door and hatch sensors to detect unauthorized access. Whether you’re at home or traveling, you’ll know immediately if someone tries to enter your boat. It transforms your vessel into a secure space, with alerts that let you act right away.

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4. NMEA2000 Integration & Tank Monitoring

Most modern yachts are equipped with an NMEA2000 network that connects engines, navigation instruments, and onboard electronics. Sentinel Premium taps into this backbone, bringing all that data into one app. From wind sensor readings to engine RPMs, fuel consumption, and tank levels — everything is visible in real time. For long trips or fleet management, this integration makes the app incredibly powerful, turning raw data into clear insights that guide decisions.

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5. Digital Switching

The height of convenience. Sentinel works seamlessly with leading systems like CZone and others, allowing you to control onboard equipment — lights, pumps, heaters — directly from your phone. If your boat already has digital switching installed, Sentinel can connect easily. If not, adding Sentinel Hub provides simple digital switching capability. Either way, you gain remote control of your boat’s systems, whether you’re at the dock or at home.

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Above all, Sentinel Premium monitoring means peace of mind. It’s not just about gadgets or sensors — it’s about knowing your boat is safe, secure, and ready whenever you are. From preventing costly surprises to protecting your vessel against real risks, Premium turns your phone into the ultimate companion for confident boating.

Getting Started with Sentinel

Smart boating with Sentinel is designed to be simple from the very first step. You don’t need hardware to begin — just your phone. From there, you can explore, register your own boat, and when the time is right, upgrade to Premium with professional support.

Start with Sentinel GO

Download the app: “Sentinel – Your Boat, Online” from the App Store or Google Play — or simply scan the QR code below.

GooglePlay

AppStore

When registering your boat, you’ll be asked to provide its documents. This step is essential: first, to check whether the boat already exists in our database, and second, to verify its authenticity. By doing so, we maintain the highest level of trust and service quality across our platform.

Don’t worry — your data is safe. Sentinel follows the highest standards of data protection.

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‍Starting with Sentinel GO is completely free. Registration gives you immediate access to useful features, allowing you to explore the app and start managing your boat right away.

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Want a sneak peek into the app without creating your account just yet? Just scan a QR code to try the DemoBoat option. No registration is needed — in seconds, you’ll be exploring a real example boat in the app.

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Why Start with Sentinel GO?

Within Sentinel GO, you have the option to upgrade to a fully connected Premium experience at any time — simply explore our bundles, add hardware and sensors, and access advanced monitoring, real-time alerts, and complete control of your boat. This makes GO the perfect starting point: you can try the app for free, get familiar with its features, and only upgrade when you’re ready to take your boating experience to the next level.

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At Sentinel, we’re not just building technology — we’re boaters ourselves. We’ve spent enough weekends rushing back to the marina for forgotten papers, or discovering on a Saturday morning that the batteries are flat, to know exactly what frustrates owners. We’ve seen the stress of wondering whether the boat is really ready, and we’ve also felt the joy of slipping the lines knowing everything is under control.

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That’s why we created Sentinel the way we did. Not as a gadget, but as a set of tools we truly believe make life on the water simpler and more enjoyable. Sentinel GO helps you keep everything in order — your logbook, manuals, and checklists — so you can easily organize your boat and plan your adventures, making every trip simple and stress-free. Sentinel Premium then takes it a step further: you’re not just organized — you’re connected. Even when you’re away from your boat, you can monitor its status, know it’s safe, and enjoy peace of mind, keeping your boat in touch with you wherever you are.

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