Five Questions With: Phil Gaynor

Newport’s Siren Marine, a technology company that allows boaters to keep an eye on their craft while not there, just named Phil Gaynor its vice president of product management.

PBN: Siren Marine has trademarked the term “Connected Boat.” What does this connectedness offer boaters and marinas in terms of value?

GAYNOR: For a boater, there is really nothing worse than to arrive to the boat on a Saturday morning just to find out that the battery is dead or something else has gone wrong. Having a Connected Boat means owners gain the peace of mind that they can avoid surprises that will stop them from getting on the water. If something does go wrong, the instant alerts and follow-up information that the Siren Marine app provides helps ensure that the boat can always be ready to go.

PBN: What can boat owners monitor via the Siren MTC app?

- Advertisement -

GAYNOR: Universally, when people are away from their boats, they want to know that the boat is in the same place they left it, the batteries are charged, it is not filling with water and no one is breaking in. While out on the water, the Siren system also monitors how the engines perform, the water’s depth, the boat’s speed and even the type of winds that are present – all important information in case of engine trouble or even an accident. Generally, the Siren system can monitor everything about the boat and the environment that it is in.

PBN: How is Siren Marine different from other telematics-industry positions you’ve held?

GAYNOR: One of the realities of telematics is that applications vary widely and it is very easy for companies to focus on the technology rather than the value the technology delivers. Siren Marine puts a laser focus on creating the right telematics solution for the needs of boats and boaters. In fact, boats are perfect for telematic monitoring. They are expensive, they are left alone for long periods and they are kept in water, where there is more risk. Siren understands the needs of boaters and delivers true value to users rather than just technical information.

PBN: What do you think will be the biggest challenge in your new role?

GAYNOR: Without question, the biggest challenge will be managing growth. This is a rapidly growing field and keeping the products grounded in the same quality standards that they are known for while meeting the needs of the growing industry will be a great challenge.

PBN: Commercial businesses are finding value in Siren Marine products, too. Can you elaborate?

GAYNOR: The marine industry has a very large commercial segment to it – from fishing fleets to law enforcement – and operating a fleet of boats takes a lot of time and money. The Siren Marine monitoring system, with its specific focus on managing a number of boats at once, can provide companies with a great tool to keep boats out of the service shop and on the water.

Furthermore, commercial businesses can benefit tremendously by using the Siren system to monitor and record fuel use. Boats consume large amounts of fuel and by knowing how much fuel is being used, companies can take simple steps to improve boat operation and save thousands of dollars in fuel costs, not to mention the environmental benefits of better fuel management.

Susan Shalhoub is a PBN contributing writer.