Why SailorGuard Gateway?
SailorGuard Gateway PCB is engineered from the ground up to deliver reliability, simplicity, and intelligent automation without the technical overhead typically found in traditional marine electronics.
Zero Configuration
Plug it in. Power it on. It just works.
Traditional marine systems require complex setup: SD card flashing, configurations, network settings, plugins, and dozens of technical steps that frustrate everyday boat owners.
SailorGuard eliminates configuration entirely.
- No operating system to maintain
- No SD card imaging or reflashing
- No command-line tools
- No NMEA mapping required
- Automatic sensor detection
Whether you’re installing your first navigation sensor or upgrading a charter fleet, SailorGuard is designed so anyone can set it up in minutes without needing a technician or background in marine electronics.
SD Card Corruption
Engineered without the #1 failure point in marine electronics.
Most marine gateways and DIY servers rely on SD cards, which frequently fail due to:
- Power fluctuations
- Moisture
- Heat
- Continuous read/write logging
- Sudden shutdowns
When an SD card dies, the whole system becomes unusable.
SailorGuard is built with no SD card and no filesystem dependency.
Instant Boot
Your system is ready the moment you turn on the battery.
Unlike traditional servers that take 20–60 seconds to boot or that freeze after an unexpected shutdown, the SailorGuard gateway:
- Boots in under one second
- Recovers instantly after power interruptions
- Never “hangs” or gets stuck in a boot loop
- Always comes back online after storms, voltage drops, or battery reconnections
When you need depth, wind, or anchor control you get it immediately.
No waiting. No rebooting. No guesswork.
Secure & Reliable
Safety-critical systems require safety-first engineering.
Boats depend on accurate data for navigation and anchoring.
SailorGuard is engineered with a strong focus on stability and security:
- Encrypted communication (HTTPS/WSS)
- Secure pairing to prevent unauthorized access
- Over-the-air firmware updates
- Health monitoring & heartbeat signals
- Fail-safe anchor control with manual override
- Marine-grade isolation & surge protection
- Designed for 24/7 operation in harsh environments
Whether you’re monitoring wind at night, tracking depth in shallow water, or relying on emergency anchor automation, SailorGuard ensures consistent performance and trusted reliability.
Integration with Navionics & OpenCPN
Use your favorite navigation apps with live boat data — anywhere.
SailorGuard acts as a high-performance WiFi gateway that streams real-time NMEA/SignalK data directly to charting apps like Navionics, OpenCPN, and other third-party navigation tools.
With a single SailorGuard device onboard, your tablet, phone, or laptop instantly becomes a full navigation instrument panel.
What This Means for You
✔ Live navigation data inside Navionics
Depth, speed, GPS, heading, wind, AIS targets — all appear live on your Navionics chart via WiFi.
✔ Full compatibility with OpenCPN
SailorGuard vs SignalK
Together, they offer the best of both worlds for every type of boater
| Category | SailorGuard Gateway | SignalK Server |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | ✓Simple, plug-and-play hardware gateway for real-time boat data, safety, and remote monitoring | ✓Full-featured data server with advanced customization, dashboards, and plugins |
| Installation Difficulty | ✓Very easy — no setup, no SD card, no OS, auto-detect sensors | ✕Complex — requires Raspberry Pi or computer, OS install, SD card, configuration |
| Boot Time | ✓Instant (under 5 second) | ✕20–60 seconds depending on hardware |
| Reliability | ✓Extremely high — no SD card to corrupt, no OS to crash | ✕Can fail due to SD card corruption, OS updates, or misconfigured plugins |
| SignalK Data Output | ✕Yes — streams core NMEA data (depth, wind, GPS, speed, heading, batteries, tanks) | ✓Yes — full data model + plugin extensions |
| Power Consumption | ✓Ultra low (ESP32-level) | ✕Moderate–high (Raspberry Pi or PC) |
| NMEA 0183 Support | ✓Native | ✓Full (via CAN adapters) |
| NMEA 2000 Support | ✓Native (via hardware) | ✓Full (via CAN adapters) |
| SeaTalk1 Support | ✓Yes | ✕Depends on additional hardware |
| Anchor Control Integration | ✓Yes — remote UP/DOWN, chain meter, auto-drop safety | ✕Not built-in — requires custom hardware & integrations |
| Primary Strength | ✓Simplicity + reliability + zero maintenance | ✓Flexibility + customization + unlimited expansion |
| Primary Limitation | ✓No plugin ecosystem, no full dashboards | ✕Requires maintenance, technical knowledge, higher cost |