We installed Garmin's OnBoard man overboard system on a local center console as part of a safety focused electronics upgrade.
The system works with compatible Garmin chartplotters. If someone wearing a paired tag goes into the water, it raises the alarm and marks the position on the plotter.
The customer wanted a modern safety system for offshore fishing and long runs. Unlike a kill switch lanyard, OnBoard pairs multiple wearable tags for family, guests or crew.
From the blog: Garmin’s New Wireless Man Overboard System
The work
This installation included:
- Garmin OnBoard MOB hub integration
- Wearable MOB tag setup and pairing
- Garmin chartplotter integration
- Network configuration and testing
- System setup and a walkthrough with the owner
The installation was completed with clean integration into the boat's existing Garmin electronics.
Why we like these
It is a practical safety upgrade with straightforward integration, and it scales to everyone onboard: up to eight tags can be paired at once.
If a paired tag goes overboard the system sounds an alarm and marks the GPS position on the plotter. If the captain's tag goes in, it can shut the engines down so the boat does not keep running.
The hardware is compact and the value is good next to a larger electronics project.
Interested in a Garmin OnBoard system?
Adding OnBoard to an existing Garmin system or planning a bigger electronics upgrade, we can design and install a setup that fits how you use the boat.