Even the most seasoned sailors know that the uneasy feeling of dragging anchor never really goes away. It’s the quiet threat that can turn a peaceful night into a scramble of chain, wind, and worry. This month, PredictWind—best known for its global marine weather tools—released a new app designed to take some of that stress off the deck.
The Anchor Alert app is a standalone tool built to notify boaters in real time if their anchor begins to slip. Available now on iOS, the app uses GPS tracking to monitor a vessel’s position relative to its anchor drop point. If the boat drifts beyond a set radius, it triggers audible and visual alerts—prompting crew to act before a situation escalates.
The app is compatible on its own, but also integrates with PredictWind’s onboard DataHub, which enables push notifications to a mobile device even when sailors are away from their boats. That pairing also offers more precise GPS data via NMEA 2000 instruments—cutting down on false alarms from phones or tablets relying solely on internal GPS chips.
Jon Bilger, founder of PredictWind, says the app was created to offer practical peace of mind:
“A dragging anchor can become dangerous fast. With Anchor Alert and DataHub working together, boaters can know—instantly—if their position changes, and why.”
Anchor Alert includes a free version, which offers core functionality like drag and swing alarms, basic weather forecasting, and local anchorage tips contributed by the PredictWind community. A paid upgrade, Anchor Alert Pro ($99/year), unlocks advanced features such as:
- Scope and swing-radius monitoring
- A full anchor watch dashboard with wind speed, depth, and direction
- External GPS connectivity through the DataHub
- Remote push alerts when off the boat
For cruisers who anchor frequently—especially those leaving their boat unattended in busy harbors or unpredictable weather—Anchor Alert could serve as a useful supplement to traditional anchor alarms.
PredictWind’s expansion into anchoring tools follows its broader strategy of combining forecasting, vessel monitoring, and real-time onboard data. The app is available for download now through the Apple App Store, with Android compatibility expected in the future.More information and technical specifications are available at: predictwind.com/anchoralert.
