When it comes to thievery, boats have always been a primary target. Many are left unprotected dockside, and mooring or trailer storage during periods of non-usage make them extremely vulnerable targets.

This is especially so when it comes to a luxury 47-foot trawler, such as the one owned by Matt Lombardi Sr. of Seattle-based Absolute Security Alarms (ASA). Lombardi chose the 2GIG GC3 by Nortek Security & Control (NSC).

“As someone who has been successfully installing 2GIG systems for years at ASA, I knew the 2GIG GC3 system would provide the high level of security and remote observation I need on my boat,” Lombardi said. “The GC3 offers the control and flexibility that I require to constantly check in and monitor the yacht remotely.”

The 2GIG GC3 security and control panel is an intuitive and customizable all-in-one wireless security solution that controls and automates smart home devices, including thermostats, light bulbs, light switches and more. With its 7-in. touch screen, the GC3 panel delivers intuitive access to the security and control system, which can also be remotely operated and controlled from a smartphone when away from the home — or in this case, the boat.

The 2GIG GC3 system provides Lombardi’s vessel with a user friendly interface and access to the boat’s entire security infrastructure. It also allows Lombardi to add lighting and climate control, as well as monitoring of the boat’s carbon monoxide and smoke detectors from the system’s touch panel. “It lets me know immediately the minute any security element connected to the system isn’t detected as communicating with the 2GIG GC3 panel,” he explained.

Soon after installing the GC3 system, Lombardi inadvertently discovered an added benefit of the 2GIG system as the boat’s engine needed some work. “I hired a mechanic to repair the engine, and boat mechanics charge by the hour,” he said. “The 2GIG system instantly detects whenever someone sets foot on the boat and then also tracks when they leave, so I knew exactly how long the mechanic was on the boat. It turns out that I hired a very honest mechanic as the bill matched up precisely to the number of hours the GC3 detected that he was working!”

Lombardi also added a 2GIG smoke, heat and freeze detector to protect the vessel 24/7, even when the system is not armed. “The CO detector is needed on a boat by law and I love having a supervised 2GIG CO detector aboard, as it provides worry-free operation,” he said.

Lombardi also uses Z-Wave compatible light bulbs at the boat’s entrance that are connected to the GC3 panel, so the lights come on automatically for a pre-programmed amount of time allowing safe entry on to the boat and down the stairs into the living room area.

A GoControl programmable thermostat allows Lombardi to manually set the boat’s diesel furnace on and off via the system’s app. “This way I'm not heating the boat when I’m not on it and I can turn it on when I’m heading to the marina so it’s warm when I arrive,” he said. “It saves a lot of fuel. The thermostat also warns me when preset highs and lows are reached, helping me to watch the temperatures.”