Anchor watch guide: setup, GPS and remote alarms
Remote anchor watch uses two roles: one device stays with the boat and reports its position; the other lets you check the watch from shore. Carrying the only tracking phone away from the boat would track the phone instead. Set up and test both roles before leaving.
Choose the boat device
Use a phone with working GPS and keep it secured aboard with reliable power. Select the boat-device role in AnchorHoy. Enter the chain length, depth, wind direction and alarm radius, then inspect the estimated anchor and watch circle. Wait for fresh location information of suitable accuracy. A Wi-Fi-only iPad is better used as the shore display than as a precise boat-position sensor.
Allow location and notifications
On the boat device, enable precise location and the background location access requested by the app. Allow notifications on devices that should receive alerts. On iPhone, review the app's Location and Notifications settings; on Android, review app permissions and any battery restrictions affecting background work. Labels vary by operating-system version. Test the actual locked-screen behaviour instead of relying on settings alone.
Pair the shore device
Select the shore-monitoring role on your companion device and use AnchorHoy's QR-code or invitation flow to connect the devices. Confirm in the connected-device list that the intended boat and shore devices appear. Treat invitation links and QR codes as private access information. If you change the phone staying aboard, check the selected boat device before starting another watch.
Check the subscription and both internet connections
Local anchor watch aboard is free. Remote monitoring requires an active subscription and supports up to three shore devices. The boat device and shore device both need internet for remote updates and alerts. Check the store's price and terms before subscribing. After purchase, confirm that the subscription is active in the app.
Perform a locked-screen test before leaving
With the devices paired, use the test-alarm action and lock the shore device. Confirm that the expected notification and sound arrive under the settings you actually use, including Focus or Do Not Disturb. Check the displayed boat position, accuracy, GPS time and last contact. If the test fails, resolve it while still aboard and repeat it. One successful test is not a guarantee of future connectivity.
Keep checking and know how to respond
From shore, review the latest position and timestamps as well as alerts. A stale GPS fix, low battery or lost connection reduces the information available to you. Acknowledging an alarm stops reminders according to the app's behaviour; it does not move the boat or fix the cause. Keep a practical way to return or get assistance, and reassess the anchorage when conditions change.