FAQs

Most people who see the MarkSetBot or hear about it have one main question; how does it get to where it’s going, and how does it remain there without an anchor? We hope that this helps to provide a general answer to that question.

The Bot is powered by a 50 or 100 ah battery, which sends current to a 12v Minn Kota trolling motor. This motor is akin to one you would find on a fishing boat. This electric motor is highly efficient and quiet. The motor itself is controlled by a ProNav unit, which, while integrated with the MarkSetBot app, is able to tell the Bot where to go.

Typically, the Minn Kota would be paired with a foot pedal on a fishing boat that an angler could press to go left, right, and to control thrust. However, in the case of the Bot, the “pedals” are connected to the MarkSetBot app. So, when a user sets a waypoint via the app, the app commands the ProNav unit to navigate the Bot to the proper location.

We get that some of you out there want to know more technical information, so please reach out to info@marksetbot.com with more questions! We are happy to dig deeper!

The current MarkSetBot is capable of 4 knots of speed (more in some conditions). 

This speed limitation often causes qualms for clubs and users who need to move their Bots a long distance to get to a racing area. To solve this dilemma, we have created a high speed tow raft which is capable of carrying 4 (6 with special order) Bots on a full plane (25+ kts). The Bots are strapped on and then easily launched from the racecourse to save energy and time.

Race Committees often are also concerned with how quickly they can change a course with the Bot. To hopefully ease these worries, we have created a table with course lengths, degree of course change, and time taken for the Bot to move to its new location. Check that out below:

 

Windward Mark:

Degrees/Length(nm)	0.2	0.5	1	1.5	2
5	0.02 nm / 0.3 min	0.04 nm / 0.7 min	0.09 nm / 1.3 min	0.13 nm / 2.0 min	0.17 nm / 2.6 min
10	0.03 nm / 0.5min	0.09 nm / 1.3 min	0.17 nm / 2.6 min	0.26 nm / 3.9 min	0.35 nm / 5.2 min
20	0.07 nm / 1.0 min	0.17 nm / 2.6 min	0.35 nm / 5.2 min	0.52 nm / 7.8 min	0.69 nm / 10.4 min
30	0.10 nm / 1.6 min	0.26 nm / 3.9 min	0.52 nm / 7.8 min	0.78 nm / 11.6 min	1.04 nm / 15.5 min
40	0.14 nm / 2.1 min	0.34 nm / 2.1 min	0.68 nm / 10.3 min	1.03 nm / 15.4 min	1.37 nm / 20.5 min

Starting and Gate Marks:

Degrees/Length(m)	50	100	200	250	300
5	4.36 m / 0.04 min	8.72 m / 0.7 min	17.45 m / 0.14 min	21.81 m / 0.18 min	26.17 m / 0.21 min
10	8.72 m / 0. 07 min	17.43 m / 0.14 min	34.86 m / 0.28 min	43.58 m / 0.35 min	52.29 m / 0.42 min
20	17.36 m / 0.14 min	34.73 m / 0.28 min	69.46 m / 0.56 min	86.82 m / 0.7 min	104.19 m / 0.84 min
30	25.88m m / 0.21 min	51.76 m / 0.42 min	103.53 m / 0.84 min	129.41 m / 1.05 min	155.29 m / 1.26 min
40	34.20 m / 0.28 min	68.4 m / 0.55 min	136.81 m / 1.11 min	171.01 m / 1.39 min	205.21 m / 1.66 min

The Bot is programmed to remain within a 5 foot radius of its GPS location. This is, in most cases, smaller than the radius that a standard mark stays within and is programmed by sending the Bot to an imaginary “circle”. The circle has a 10 foot diameter, and the Bot always remains as close to the center of the circle as possible. If a wave or wind gust sets the Bot back slightly, its GPS will sense this movement and engage the motor to take corrective action. This feedback loop is quick enough that the Bot rarely moves more than 1-2 feet from where it is programmed to be.

There is no set wind limit or wave height for the Bots. The range of conditions in which they can be used depends largely on a number of factors, the two most prominent of which are wind speed and wave height. We have used Bots successfully in up to 25+ knots of wind and 2 meter waves, but anticipate that Bots could be successful in conditions beyond that range. Additionally, any current in the racing area could either contribute to a longer battery life for the Bots, or shorter, depending on the direction. Wave frequency and steepness also plays a key roll, as very steep waves (potentially breaking surf) could move the Bot more aggressively than long, rolling waves of the same height.

MarkSetBot offers two battery options, a 50ah and 100ah lithium-ion battery. In normal conditions (i.e. 7-10 knots of breeze, 1-2 foot waves), the Bot has an approximate battery life of 12 hours with the 50ah battery and 24 with the 100ah. This battery life, however, fluctuates depending on how much the Bot must move around (course changes, motoring to course), wind speed, waves, and current.

In our trials, Bots have been able to last 8-10 hours in windy (over 20 knot) conditions even with the 50ah battery. The 100ah only extends this capacity. So, regardless of the battery option, and holding all else constant (current of 0), in wind-speeds of 20+ knots, the Bots can easily make it through an entire day of racing.

When you send a bot out to the race course on it’s own, it uses more battery than when holding place. Sending a bot 1nm uses about 10Ah (20Ah round trip). That leaves you with 30Ah or 80Ah depending on the battery you select.

Changing the battery on the water, while possible, isn’t recommended. It is not particularly easy. The battery is housed within a waterproof box which is strapped to the frame of the Bot and attached via waterproof connectors to the Minn Kota trolling motor and ProNav navigational unit. With that being considered, batteries can be exchanged on the water. This requires taking the battery box off of the Bot and into the RC boat or other platform for safety’s sake.

Yes. We use a service called myus.com to help make international shipping more cost effective. 

To ship internationally, we’ll ask you to sign up for a myus.com accounts, which gives you a forwarding address in Sarasota, Florida, USA

We ship to that address and then they forward to you.  It will cost between $90 and $100 for us to ship to Sarasota.  It usually costs around $200 – $300 for myus.com to forward the two boxes to you.  You pay myus.com yourself.  We have seen the price as high as $400 – $600.  You can get a quote at https://www.myus.com/pricing/.  One bot without a battery comes in two boxes and weighs 85 pounds.  With the 50Ah battery, it is 100 pounds.  With the 100Ah battery, it is 110 pounds.

When filling out an order online, you simply enter the address that myus.com gives you (the one in Sarasota, FL, USA.

Attached is a screenshot of the confirmation you will get when a package shows up at myus.com for you.

NOTE: This is a cost effective option but often is much slower than services like DHL

We anticipate that, with regular maintenance and the occasional upgrade, Bots can have a lifecycle of 30+ years. The physical technology used within the Bot is relatively standard. Additionally, we at MSB are working to make sure that none of our models go obsolete. Software upgrades (always provided free) will always be made available to all versions of the Bots and app, regardless of when they were made or purchased.

While this is not something we typically offer customers, we’re happy to work with you.  If you are interested, reach out to sales@marksetbot.com.

We can set you up for an agreement at https://www.codekeeper.co/

The agreements are around $25/month.

We plan to offer a subscription-based program, in which Bot owners can pay an annual fee and receive all of the upgraded parts that we introduce during a given year. Additionally, for users who do not find this to be a desirable option, we will likely offer parts at production price to existing owners.

MarkSetBot is happy to sponsor events! And, we are happy that you are supporting technology in sailing! If you’re interested in having MarkSetBot sponsor your event, please reach out and we’ll put together a sponsorship agreement. 

As part of this agreement, we have a few resources and guidelines for the clubs and organizations we sponsor! Below, you’ll find these general guidelines, along with MSB logos and a QR code to display at the regatta.

Sponsor Expectations: MSB Sponsor Expectations PDF Version.pdf

Logos: MSB Icon.jpg, MarkSetBot no tag no line.ai

When we enter an event sponsorship agreement, we will happily provide any additional logos, documentation, and resources you need  Please reach out to our marketing manager  doug.wake@marksetbot.com,  with any questions, comments, or concerns!.