Marine NavigationAustralia · 2026

Projects & Installation

Refits, wiring, sensor siting, commissioning and the documentation that makes a boat troubleshootable.

7 guides33 min of reading
A network diagram showing a trunk cable with a terminator at each end, four device drops for display, AIS, wind and autopilot, and a power injection point. TERM TERM MFDAISWINDPILOT 12 V IN NMEA 2000 BACKBONE
A backbone with exactly two terminators, short drops to each device, and one power injection point.
A network diagram showing a trunk cable with a terminator at each end, four device drops for display, AIS, wind and autopilot, and a power injection point. TERM TERM MFDAISWINDPILOT 12 V IN NMEA 2000 BACKBONE

refit

Marine electronics refit guide

A refit is a systems-engineering job, not a shopping list. The biggest mistake is replacing equipment before understanding what the existing equipment does.

Projects & Installation7 min read

Read the guide A wiring diagram showing a 12 volt battery, a fuse, positive and negative conductors running to a display, the round-trip run length dimensioned, and a maximum permitted voltage drop of 0.36 volts. 12V fuse round-trip run −0.36 V max (3%) VOLTAGE DROP

power

DC power for marine electronics

New electronics on poor wiring are still unreliable electronics. Most mysterious marine equipment faults are power faults wearing a costume.

Projects & Installation7 min read

Read the guide A sailing yacht profile with labelled positions for the masthead wind, VHF and radar, the GNSS antenna, the heading sensor near the centre of motion, and the hull transducer. wind · VHF · radarGNSS antenna heading sensortransducer SENSOR SITING

installation

Sensor siting and installation

Sensor position directly determines sensor performance. A convenient location is very often a poor location, and no display can fix it afterwards.

Projects & Installation7 min read

Read the guide A glass helm showing a chart on the main multifunction display with soundings and a vessel symbol, a wind instrument dial, and an autopilot head holding 040 degrees. 1219824 SOG 6.4DPT 12.4 WIND 040° PILOT · AUTO MFD · INSTRUMENTS · PILOT

commissioning

Commissioning and sea trials

A refit is not complete when the display turns on. Commissioning is where calibration, source selection and alarm configuration turn boxes into a system you can trust.

Projects & Installation6 min read

Read the guide Concept illustration: a supervised clear-weather radar sessionAI illustration

radar

Radar in action: a clear-weather training scenario

A structured, hypothetical radar practice session for a newly installed system, connecting product choice with observation, settings and useful records.

Best for A supervised clear-weather radar sessionCheck first An illustrative exercise is not a collision-manoeuvre planAlso needed Accepted installation, suitable conditions and competent supervision

Projects & Installation2 min read

Read the guide Concept illustration: a 6 m coastal fishing-boat planAI illustration

fishfinder

Worked example: electronics for a 6 m coastal fishing boat

Build a hypothetical trailer-boat shopping list, compare Eagle and Elite FS, and separate chart coverage, sonar installation and future expansion.

Best for A 6 m coastal fishing-boat planCheck first Future live sonar requires its own hardware and budgetAlso needed Exact display, transducer, Australian charts and installation

Projects & Installation2 min read

Read the guide Concept illustration: a 10 m sailing-yacht depth refitAI illustration

depth

Worked example: replacing depth instruments on a 10 m sailing yacht

Follow a hypothetical depth-instrument refit from diagnosis to equipment choice, depth-reference arithmetic and a recorded acceptance check.

Best for A 10 m sailing-yacht depth refitCheck first Unidentified sensors prevent a compatibility decisionAlso needed Diagnose first, then quote the supported complete installation

Projects & Installation2 min read

Read the guide

Other topics

The library is organised so each shelf answers a different kind of question.

FoundationsEquipment & SensorsBuying GuidesBy Vessel TypeSeamanship & SafetyReference