You would only have to be "in range" of the RFID for the remote start to work. You would not have to get in to the boat to wake the boat up. It would Sence the remote and the ignition would place it self in a ready to start mode. This system would be awesome for me but anyone with kids around I could see a system like this a accident waiting to happen. Of you could install some override switch that would disable the system untill u were in the boat and flipped hidden switch. I have only done minor mods to the Bennington. This year she is gonna get a system installed.along with a few extra batterys and some lights. Nothing crazy. I'm going to try and focus on a real effeciant system on this boat, the polor oppasate of what's in the other boat