From theft victim to innovator
The story behind SeaSight
When businessman and lifelong boating enthusiast Tony Cantrill first launched his Ribeye A683 into the waters of Cornish harbour St Mawes in July 2024, he never would have imagined it would disappear just 23 days later.
A short-lived lifelong dream
Since the age of twenty, Tony had been putting aside money into his personal pension. When the chance came to access part of his tax-free allowance, he saw the perfect opportunity to upgrade his Ribeye of six seasons. He purchased a Ribeye A683 and named it “Lunacy” – a nod to many of his friends and family who thought buying the boat was exactly that: pure madness. But his dream was short-lived; after just 23 days on the water, Lunacy vanished without a trace.
Rather than dwell on the loss, Tony poured his efforts into building what would become SeaSight.
At first, many assumed Tony had simply misplaced his mooring. But with no signs of drift or relocation, the search for Lunacy escalated quickly. Thanks to some helpful CCTV footage, Tony finally uncovered the truth – his boat had been stolen. The theft, carried out under cover of darkness on a still, high-tide night, left no trace and no immediate explanation.
Initial reactions ranged from disbelief to confusion. Local harbour authorities and the boating community rallied in support, but despite coordinated efforts, the vessel was never recovered. As the investigation escalated to involve the marine police, Border Force, Project Kraken and even Interpol, it became clear this was not an isolated incident.
Boat theft on the rise
Theft from marinas and harbours across Devon and Cornwall were rising, with incidents ranging from stolen outboard engines to organised criminal activity. Yet there were few, if any, security solutions designed specifically for leisure vessels. This incident highlighted a significant gap in marine security – not just in terms of available technology, but in awareness.
Leisure boat owners often believe theft is unlikely, and most security systems on the market are adapted from automotive or fleet-based solutions, ill-suited to the dynamics of marine environments.
“The biggest myth I encountered,” Tony recalls, “was that nobody steals boats off the water. That just isn’t true.”
Turning loss into innovation
Instead of giving in to frustration, Tony channelled his experience into problem-solving as he began researching marine security products – only to discover a huge gap in the market.
“There was nothing out there built for the marine environment, and nothing that gave owners peace of mind for boats kept at moorings, marinas or coastal anchorages,” he says.
That was the spark that became SeaSight.
Drawing on his decades of experience in IT and systems engineering, Tony began developing a solution tailored to boats. Within just one year, this work led to the creation of SeaSight – a suite of practical, purpose-built tools designed to prevent theft, detect tampering, and maintain location awareness even in the event of interference.
SeaSight launched in 2025 with three core products:
Secure – marine-grade lock and cable.
Shield – connected onboard tracking and alarm unit with mooring sensor.
Stealth – concealed, self-powered device for covert location updates.
Together, they offer layered protection for small and mid-sized leisure vessels, helping owners safeguard their time on the water with greater confidence.
If you have a question about our products, need support with your existing setup, or just want to learn more about marine security, we’d love to hear from you!
Email us at info@seasight.world, or give us a call on 01326 536886.