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Most issues you may run into have been addressed on this page — we recommend reviewing the relevant section below before contacting support.

Smart Skipper Support

Roving Watch — Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to keep your Roving Watch system running smoothly, from first-time pairing to maintenance and troubleshooting.

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Android App Notice

We are currently aware of some users reporting issues with the Android version of the app. During this period, we recommend using an iOS device such as an iPhone or iPad for the most reliable experience.

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Smoke Detector Replacement Notice

The following smoke detectors have been discontinued and are difficult to source: First Alert SA520/521, SA511, and SM500-V. If you have an immediate need for a replacement, you can use the First Alert SMI-100-AC and wire it the same way as the SA520/521 you already have on board.

Are you having trouble with the app communicating to the Watch Mate devices?

If your units have fallen out of sync with the app, follow these three steps in order. This full reset, re-pair, and reconfigure process resolves the majority of communication issues.

1

Factory reset every Watch Mate

Reset each unit individually before moving on to re-pairing.

  1. Get a stopwatch ready — do not count the seconds yourself.
  2. Press and hold the button on the Watch Mate for exactly 32 seconds, then release.
  3. Repeat for every Watch Mate in your system.
If you hold the button too long The unit will go into an unstable state. Open the faceplate, peel the internal enclosure off its Velcro, and use a paperclip to flip the power switch (in the rectangular cutout on the left side) off and back on. Then retry the reset.
2

Re-pair each unit to the app

  1. Open the app and navigate to the Sensors tab (bottom-left, star/snowflake icon).
  2. Tap the "+" in the top-right corner.
  3. Start with the Alarm Watch Mate. Stand in the wheelhouse and tap on it to provision first.
  4. Then pair each Roving Watch Mate one at a time.
  5. Verify you're pairing to your units by matching the serial code on the right side of each unit to what appears in the app. Rename each station to its physical location (e.g., "Engine Room," "Galley").
Metallic vessels Pairing signal can be weaker through metal. When pairing each new unit, stand between an already-paired unit and the one you're trying to pair so the signal can hop cleanly. Fiberglass and wood vessels can usually be paired from the wheelhouse or galley.
3

Apply the correct settings to each device

Toggle each of the following settings on for the corresponding device type.

Alarm Watch Mate (Wheelhouse Unit):

  • Wired Smoke Alarm Connected

Roving Watch Mate:

  • Activate Buzzer on Alarm
  • Timer set to 60 minutes (one unit must be set to 1 minute for inspection)
  • Activate Local Alarm on Timeout
  • Wired Smoke Alarm Connected

Smoke Alarms:

  • Tap the gear icon, then save — no other changes needed.
Confirm everything is working Once configured, arm the system and check that every unit's button light is a solid orange. Then return to the Sensors tab and verify that the "Last Message Received" timestamp is current under every device.

Getting Started

How do I pair my Watch Mates to the app?

Follow these steps in order for the smoothest setup:

  1. Open the app and navigate to the Sensors tab — the far bottom-left tab with the star/snowflake icon.
  2. Tap the "+" in the top-right corner to begin provisioning.
  3. Start with the Alarm Watch Mate. Stand in the wheelhouse and tap on it to provision first.
  4. Pair the remaining Roving Watch Mates one at a time.
Tip — Match each unit to the right device Each unit has a serial-code sticker on its right side. Cross-check this against the app so you know exactly which station is which. You can rename stations to match their physical location (e.g., "Engine Room," "Galley").
I have a metallic vessel — does that change how I pair the units?

Yes. Signal can be weaker through metal, so we recommend a relay-style approach:

  • Fiberglass or wood vessels: You can usually stay in the wheelhouse or galley to pair all units.
  • Metallic vessels: When pairing a new unit, stand between an already-paired unit and the one you're trying to pair. This helps the signal "hop" cleanly across the boat.
What settings should each device have for inspection?

Below are the recommended settings. If a setting is listed, toggle it on.

Alarm Watch Mate (Wheelhouse Unit):

  • Wired Smoke Alarm Connected

Roving Watch Mate:

  • Activate Buzzer on Alarm
  • Timer set to 60 minutes (note: one unit must be set to 1 minute for inspection)
  • Activate Local Alarm on Timeout
  • Wired Smoke Alarm Connected

Smoke Alarms:

  • Tap the gear icon, then save — no other changes needed.

Daily Operation

How do I arm and disarm the system?

You can arm or disarm from either the app or the Alarm Watch Mate itself:

  1. From the app: Navigate to the Tiles page (the four-square icon). Tap the green "Arm" button to arm, or the red "Disarm" button to disarm.
  2. From the unit: Press and hold the button on the Alarm Watch Mate until it chirps once — typically about 5 seconds.
How to confirm the system is armed When armed, the button on each unit will be lit a solid orange.

Maintenance & System Health

How often do I need to check on the system?

If you leave the Watch Mates on full-time, open the app at least once every 30 days. This keeps the units in sync and prevents the need for a factory reset.

During each check-in:

  1. Open the app and go to the Sensors tab (star/snowflake icon, bottom-left).
  2. Look at the "Last Message Received" timestamp under every device.
  3. Confirm that each one shows the current date and time.
The "Last Message Received" isn't current — what should I do?

The fix depends on how outdated the timestamp is.

If it's less than 30 days old, try the following steps in order:

  1. Turn Bluetooth off, then back on. Wait at least 5 minutes to see if the status updates.
  2. If that doesn't work, restart the app.
  3. If that still doesn't work, restart the smart device.

If it's more than 30 days old, you'll most likely need to perform a factory reset on all Watch Mates. See the Factory Reset question below.

How do I power down the system if I'm not going to use it?

You have two options:

Option 1 — Internal Power Switch (Recommended):

  1. Open the faceplate of the unit.
  2. Locate the internal enclosure with the green terminal at the bottom. It's held in place with Velcro — you can peel it off the inside of the larger enclosure.
  3. On the left side of the internal box, you'll see a small rectangular cutout.
  4. Using a paperclip, flip the switch to the opposite position so the LED lights turn off.

Option 2 — Cut Power:

Cut power to the units and let their internal batteries die out naturally.

When powering back on Have your smart device handy. You'll need to open the app and verify the "Last Message Received" timestamps update correctly (see maintenance question above).

Troubleshooting

My units are all showing disconnected after I paired them — what should I do?

This is normal at first. After pairing, the units take a few minutes to establish their mesh network with each other. Give it about 5 minutes before taking any action.

If the units are still showing disconnected after 5 minutes, follow the steps below for your device type.

On iOS (iPhone or iPad):

  1. Toggle Bluetooth off, then back on.
  2. If that doesn't work, fully close the app and reopen it.
  3. Wait a few minutes for the units to reconnect.

On Android:

  1. Tap the profile icon in the far bottom-right of the app.
  2. Tap Restart Application.
  3. If that doesn't resolve it, toggle Bluetooth off and back on.
Still having issues? See the full reset walkthrough at the top of this page — it covers a complete factory reset, re-pairing, and configuration of every unit.
How do I perform a factory reset on a Watch Mate?

A factory reset is required when the "Last Message Received" timestamp is more than 30 days old, or when units fall out of sync and other troubleshooting steps haven't worked.

Steps:

  1. Get a stopwatch ready.
  2. Press and hold the button on the Watch Mate for exactly 32 seconds.
  3. Release.
Important — Use a stopwatch Do not count the 32 seconds out yourself. Timing matters here. After you've done a few resets, you'll start to recognize the beep patterns and won't need a stopwatch anymore.
I held the reset button too long — what now?

If you hold the button beyond 32 seconds, the unit will go into an unstable state. To recover:

  1. Open the faceplate.
  2. Pull the internal enclosure off its Velcro backing.
  3. Use a paperclip to flip the internal power switch (in the rectangular cutout on the left side) to the opposite position.
  4. Wait a moment, then flip it back to restart the unit cleanly.

Once the unit is back up, you can attempt the factory reset again — this time with a stopwatch.

Still need help?

Our team is here to make sure your Roving Watch system works flawlessly.

Contact Support