Marine Electronics Installation
Marine Electronics Installation​​​
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Professional Marine Electronics Installation & Integration
Marine electronics have evolved dramatically over the past century. Early navigation systems such as LORAN, developed during the 1940s, used radio signals to help determine a vessel's position. As the technology became more accurate, reliable, and affordable, electronic navigation became increasingly common on recreational boats. Today, GPS and sophisticated integrated marine electronics systems provide capabilities that early navigation systems could never offer.
Modern boats can be equipped with multifunction displays (MFDs), chartplotters, fishfinders, radar, FLIR thermal cameras, sonar, AIS, VHF radios, satellite communications, autopilots, remote switching, marine networks, weather instruments, anemometers, and other electronic systems. While connecting some equipment may appear straightforward, a professional marine electronics installation involves much more than simply connecting power and data cables.
Proper Installation Requires More Than Connecting Wires
A quality installation starts with determining where equipment should be located, how it should be mounted, how it will be serviced, and how it will communicate with the rest of the vessel's systems. Display visibility, accessibility, water exposure, cable routing, ventilation, heat, vibration, and interference all need to be considered before equipment is installed.
Cutting openings in a helm or cabin requires precision and an understanding of the materials involved. Equipment must be mounted securely, openings properly sealed against water intrusion, and cables routed so they are protected from chafing, excessive bends, heat, moisture, and mechanical damage.
Transducer & Sonar Installation
Transducer installation is one of the most important parts of a sonar or fishfinder installation. Through-hull transducers must be installed in an appropriate location and at the correct angle and orientation for the hull and equipment. Poor placement or installation can significantly affect sonar performance.
Forward-looking and scanning sonar systems can be even more challenging. Some installations require specialized mounting arrangements, fiberglass work, fairings, or structural modifications to properly position the transducer beneath the vessel while maintaining a clean water flow and protecting the equipment.
Autopilot Installation & Calibration
Marine autopilots require considerably more than mounting a display and connecting a network cable. The autopilot drive, rudder feedback sensor, control arm, and associated electronics must be correctly positioned and securely attached to the vessel.
Depending on the vessel and steering system, installation may require fabrication, fiberglass work, or reinforcement to create a strong mounting point. Once installed, the system must be configured and calibrated, and a sea trial is often necessary to verify heading accuracy, rudder response, and proper autopilot operation under different operating conditions.
Radar Installation
Radar performance depends heavily on proper installation. The radar scanner needs an appropriate location with a clear view of the surrounding horizon and minimal obstruction from towers, hardtops, antennas, outriggers, or other equipment.
Mounting location, height, orientation, cable routing, network connections, and system configuration can all affect radar performance. We help ensure radar systems are properly installed and integrated with the vessel's navigation electronics.
Marine Networking & System Integration
Modern marine electronics increasingly depend on networking. NMEA 2000, NMEA 0183, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, proprietary manufacturer networks, and other communication systems allow equipment to share navigation, engine, depth, heading, weather, AIS, and other data.
Maritec Marine installs and integrates marine networks while paying attention to backbone layout, power distribution, termination, cable routing, network loading, and compatibility between devices.
We can also configure equipment from different manufacturers so compatible systems can communicate properly rather than functioning as isolated devices.
Wi-Fi, Remote Access & Connected Boats
Many modern boats use onboard Wi-Fi networks to connect phones, tablets, computers, and marine electronics. Proper configuration can allow compatible equipment to share information throughout the vessel and, where supported, provide remote access to boat systems from a phone or tablet.
Maritec Marine can help configure onboard Wi-Fi and connected marine electronics so owners can monitor or access supported systems while aboard or remotely through an internet-connected system.
Manufacturer-Trained Marine Electronics Technicians
Maritec Marine technicians combine hands-on installation experience with manufacturer training and certifications from leading marine electronics manufacturers, including Garmin, Simrad, Lowrance, and others.
Our knowledge of manufacturer-specific equipment, networking requirements, and installation procedures helps ensure that new electronics are not only installed correctly but properly integrated with the vessel's existing systems.
Where appropriate, our relationship with manufacturers and equipment suppliers can also help customers navigate warranty service and manufacturer support when an equipment problem occurs.
Complete Marine Electronics Installation
Whether you're replacing a single chartplotter or upgrading an entire vessel, Maritec Marine can handle the installation and integration of marine electronics, navigation systems, networking, radar, sonar, transducers, autopilots, communications, remote switching, and connected onboard systems.
Our goal is to provide more than an installation that simply powers up. We want your equipment to be securely installed, properly configured, integrated with the vessel's other systems, and accessible for future service and upgrades.
Maritec Marine provides professional marine electronics installation, integration, troubleshooting, and upgrades throughout Morehead City, Beaufort, the Crystal Coast, and Eastern North Carolina.
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