Best Anchor Watch/Alert/Alarms apps?

[ranger58sb]

I've tried to review what I think are all the relevant older threads here and on TF, but inexact app names as folks have sometimes apparently reported them complicates further evaluation...

Background is that we have built-in anchor watch alarms/alerts in the plotter and our redundant DGPS... as well as depth alarms on both depthfinder and fishfinder... and radar guard zones... but they're all on the (often enclosed) bridge and not hear-able from inside the boat. I could fix that, but it uses a boatload of power to keep almost any of that running all night...

And then we also have built-in anchor watch alarms in laptop and tablet/phone apps (TimeZero, Plan2Nav, iSailor)... but those are pretty much just a circle around the boat, without any additional settings (especially set-able afterwards) for exact anchor location... OK as far as they go, but not particularly exact...

And then there's Drag Queen... which works well enough for the basic functions (and let's you set/refine the anchor location after the fact)... but it doesn't really do much more than that (graphic time plots, SMS to phones, etc.)...

So I thought I'd look to see if any of the other apps out there might be truly wonderful, something we could use as yet another layer of redundancy. All this brought on by a bouncy/rolly anchorage last night, where Drag Queen worked fine even if minimally...

We do Android; has anyone used any of these?

Anchor Watch/Alarm (free and paid/pro versions) – Peckish Sloth
Anchor Alert (paid version) -- Slim Jim
Sailsafe Anchor Alarm (free and paid/pro versions) - HCSoft
Anchor Watch (free and paid versions) – net.fs
My Anchor Watch (free) – SjaellSoft
AnchorWatch (free) – Michael Konz
Anchor Sentinel (free) – Paul Lutus
Any other great ones that I didn't think to list?

Findings? Pros/cons? Are any of these on both Android and iThing platforms?

-Chris

[Woodland Hills]

I am happy with the WatchMate app that came with my Vesper AIS

[CatNewBee]

I use "Anchor Lite", and also run the Navionics HD app with track recording, to see the movement history of the boat at anchor on the map. Works sufficient.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

I use "Anchor Lite", and also run the Navionics HD app with track recording, to see the movement history of the boat at anchor on the map. Works sufficient.

I don't find one named Anchor Lite in the Play Store...

-Chris

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Woodland Hills

I am happy with the WatchMate app that came with my Vesper AIS

As far as I can tell from reading, that only works with Vesper equipment, yes?

-Chris

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

I don't find one named Anchor Lite in the Play Store...

-Chris

you are right, it is the caption / icon that says Anchor lite, in the app store ir is listed as anchor watch.

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

you are right, it is the caption / icon that says Anchor lite, in the app store ir is listed as anchor watch.Attachment 180076

here the icon

[Woodland Hills]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

As far as I can tell from reading, that only works with Vesper equipment, yes?

-Chris

Yes and it works very well IMHO

[StuM]

Very happy user of Slim Jim's Anchor Alert.

[belizesailor]

Big fan of MAW (My Anchor Watch) on Android. Highly configurable, including different swing scopes for different angles of arc around your drop point (for example, maybe there is an obstruction a bit close in one direction).

GPS update frequency can be configured to reduce battery consumption. Etc, etc...

I take mine to bed w me on my phone (Samsung J6)...easily lasts thru the night.

[DeepCut]

Anchor Alarm (paid version) with "Late Set" feature so you can activate app for approximate location of anchor when you forgot to do it as anchor being lowered.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by StuM

Very happy user of Slim Jim's Anchor Alert.

Second That

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

here the iconAttachment 180077

This app also allows to set the anchor relative to the current position by angle and distance offset. Nice feature, also alarm on low battery or signal loss.

I have a wall mount in the owners cabin with USB charging outlet for the tablet, so I can see instantly what is going on out there, the tablet is set to low brightness in low light conditions.

This set up is also good for night watches with display mirroring of the helm. When the Admiral is on watch and I am down bellow sleeping, I can just look up if something feels strange, course changes or the winch is running and have an overview of the situation in a glimpse (wind speed, direction, vessels around) and can either continue to rest or jump up to assist her.

[Steve Bedford]

“I am happy with the WatchMate app that came with my Vesper AIS”

I also second the WatchMate for the VesperAIS. I also believe the Anchor Watch is excellent that comes with the Aqua Map App. That is actually my primary anchor watch device on either the iPad or iPhone with the other running the Vesper AIS anchor watch. In my opinion, the Aqua Map is a little more user friendly and visually easier to set and view.

Steve

[Gaia]

Originally Posted by Woodland Hills

I am happy with the WatchMate app that came with my Vesper AIS

As am I. In fact I am delighted with it and have used it for years on our circumnavigation. One does need to set it at the moment of dropping the hook of course to make it truly useful. Haven't even thought of doubling up on it. My only criticism is having to find a loud enough alarm for it. Or better yet one with a lower frequency so that older ears can hear it easily.

Jim