wrote:
You can find lots of this kind of thing by searching for "home
automation", for example

http://www.smarthome.com/7005.html

Assuming you have a phone line at the dock, go to a Alarm system and
security supplier and ask for a voice dialer. The one I use for an on
land application plays 3 messages (chosen by one of three trigger
inputs) to upto 3 preprogrammed phone numbers. Hook one input via a
domestic thermostat switch to +12V (needs a 12V pulse or level to
trigger) and program that message as 'frost alarm', hook the next one up
via a float switch in the bildge slightly higher than your bilge pump
and program that as 'bilge flooding' and hook the last one to the
contacts of a mains voltage relay with the coil hooked to your shore
power, message 'power lost' so you can be sure your batteries are
getting their trickle charge. If daysailing occasionally, LEAVE IT
PERMANENTLY POWERED BY +12V as they tend not to have a backup battery
for the message memory and phone numbers. You might want a switch to
disconnect the three inputs to disable it.

--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
[at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & 32K emails -- NUL:
'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Uffa Fox designed,
All varnished hot moulded wooden racing dinghy circa. 1961