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The Garmin OnBoard is a safety system for pleasure boats designed to immediately signal a person falling overboard (MOB) and stop the engine if necessary. It is based on wireless technology integrated into Garmin chartplotters.
Individual beacons to carry on board
Each user wears a wireless beacon. The beacon can be attached to the wrist with a wristband, fastened to a carabiner or slipped into a floating keyring. These beacons communicate continuously with the onboard tracker via a secure wireless protocol.
Two types of tags are defined:
- Captain : if it falls, the motor stops immediately.
- Passenger : its fall generates an audible and visual alert on the tracker.
The system accepts up to 8 beacons connected simultaneously.
A compatible plotter as a control center
The Garmin OnBoard system works only with Garmin trackers of the ECHOMAP or GPSMAP series. These devices act as an interface for settings and alerts. If the link between the beacon and the plotter is broken (e.g. by falling overboard or moving away), the :
- Automatically records a waypoint at the point of signal loss.
- Emits an audible alarm to alert the crew.
- Switches off the motor if the beacon in question is defined as "captain".
The entire system can be configured from the plotter interface.
Safety designed for a wide range of uses
Each beacon can be temporarily deactivated, for example when swimming or on land. This prevents false alarms or untimely engine shutdowns. The user can also switch off the engine manually via an integrated button on the master beacon.
Autonomy and hardware compatibility
According to Garmin, the beacons are designed to last more than one nautical season in autonomy. They are compatible with all boats fitted with an engine kill switch, provided the latter can be remotely controlled.
The system requires initial installation, particularly for the interface with the circuit breaker. Garmin recommends professional installation to ensure reliable integration.
Automated, customizable operation
Each beacon is individually identifiable. The user assigns a role (captain or passenger), a name and a profile to each beacon. These parameters are stored on the plotter and can be modified at any time. The system also records the history of events (loss of link, engine stops, MOB waypoints) for clear tracking in the event of an incident.
Package contents and price
The Garmin OnBoard basic kit is priced at ?649.99 incl. VAT. It includes :
- Central interface unit (for connection to motor circuit breaker)
- A wireless MOB beacon with wristband
- Connection cables required for installation
Additional beacons can be purchased separately for ?169.99 each. Up to 8 beacons can be used simultaneously.
As an example, a family of 4 sailing on a boat will have to pay ?1,150.96 for the equipment (provided they already have compatible Garmins on board).
