Raymarine Installation for Yachts and Motor Boats

Yes, we fit Raymarine equipment: Axiom chartplotters, Quantum radar, Evolution autopilots, i70 instruments, AIS and VHF, wired onto a SeaTalkng network and commissioned on board at your berth. We are an independent marine electrician rather than a Raymarine dealer, so the focus is on getting the installation right for your boat.

Raymarine is one of the most common electronics brands on British yachts, and many owners arrive with a mix of generations aboard: an older ST60 wind display, a newer plotter, perhaps a SeaTalk1 autopilot that still steers perfectly well. A good installation respects what already works and joins it up sensibly, rather than assuming everything must be replaced at once.

Whether you have bought new kit and want it fitted properly, or you are still deciding which screen and sensors suit your sailing, we can look at the boat, the existing wiring and the helm layout and set out a clear plan before anything is drilled.

Raymarine equipment we commonly fit

Typical jobs include one or more of the following:

SeaTalkng, SeaTalk1 and mixed networks

Modern Raymarine gear talks over SeaTalkng, which is Raymarine's own connector system built on the NMEA 2000 standard. That means blue backbone cables, white spur cables, T-pieces and a terminator at each end. When the backbone is laid out cleanly with one power feed, adding a device later becomes a simple spur job.

Older SeaTalk1 equipment uses a different three-wire bus. It can usually be kept by fitting the SeaTalk1 to SeaTalkng converter, which lets an older autopilot or instrument keep sharing data with a new plotter. We check which older units are worth keeping and which are near the end of their life before recommending either route.

Autopilot fitting done carefully

An Evolution autopilot is only as good as its installation. The drive unit must be sized for the boat's displacement and steering system, its mounting must take real loads, and the heading sensor must sit low, near the centre of the boat and away from steel, speakers and heavy current cables. The drive also draws significant current, so the supply cable is sized for that load over the full run length.

Once installed, the pilot goes through its dockside set-up and then a sea trial calibration, where it learns how the boat responds. We make sure you understand the controls and the response settings so you can trust it on passage.

Radar and antenna positions

Radar performance depends on height, a clear sweep and a mount that does not flex. On a sailing yacht that often means the mast, with the cable routed internally and the scanner guarded against sails and halyards; on a motor boat, an arch or hardtop. VHF and AIS antennas need their own space so they do not interfere with each other. We agree positions with you first, then seal every deck gland properly.

Power supply checks before new electronics

Screens that reboot during engine start, autopilots that trip out and instruments that flicker nearly always come back to voltage drop. Before adding a new Axiom or radar we look at the existing distribution panel, the fuse or breaker arrangement and the cable to the helm. If the supply needs upgrading, it is far better to do it at the same time as the installation.

Software updates, set-up and handover

New Raymarine units rarely ship with the latest software, and mixed systems work best when every device runs a compatible version. After fitting, we update firmware where needed, set data sources so the plotter reads the right heading and depth, calibrate the instruments and check AIS transmission and MMSI entry. You get a walkthrough and a note of what is on the network.

Frequently asked questions

Are you a Raymarine dealer?

No. We install and set up Raymarine equipment as an independent marine electrician, but we are not a Raymarine dealer.

Can I keep my old SeaTalk1 instruments with a new Axiom?

Often you can. A SeaTalk1 to SeaTalkng converter lets older units share data with newer displays, so working equipment can stay in use.

Can you fit equipment I have already bought?

Yes. Tell us exactly what you have and we will plan positions, cable routes and power before the visit.

Where do you carry out Raymarine installations?

On board at your berth, mooring or yard anywhere in our area from Brighton to Southampton.

Planning a Raymarine upgrade?

Send the boat details and the equipment you have or want, and we will plan the installation.