Patent ID: 8676402

Claim:
A method of utilizing an electronic sentry system proximate a docked boat for a remote user, comprising the steps of: docking a boat in a slip having a boat lift; configuring an electronic sentry system proximate the docked boat with operability to respond to communications sent from a cellular telephone of a remote user over a cellular telephone network; configuring an electronic operator of the boat lift and linking the electronic operator to the electronic sentry system such that the electronic sentry system can send control signals to the electronic operator and can change the status or state of the boat lift; linking a camera pointed at the slip to the electronic sentry system; said remote user querying the electronic sentry system from said remote user's cellular telephone for the status or state of the boat lift; and said electronic sentry system responding over the communications network with a response comprising both an indication of status or state of the boat lift, and, at least one current image from the camera.