We swapped the marina for a road trip through Andalucía — and ended up standing at the exact dock where Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492. Sand-covered streets, horses tied to every porch, and a rainy wild-west village that looks like it hasn't changed in 500 years: welcome to El Rocío and Huelva. The weekend kicked off with a curveball — the Harley wouldn't start (again), the boat was coated in Calima sand like breaded chicken, and it rained sideways for most of Saturday. Still, we found the three replica caravels of Columbus, had a very philosophical moment imagining convincing a crew to sail into the unknown on those tiny ships, and discovered that the Casa de Cristóbal Colón was, of course, closed. Back in El Rocío the clouds finally parted just long enough to show you the dirt roads, the horse parking spots nailed to every house, and — naturally — a ceramic shop the Blond could not walk past. The Harley is officially getting shipped home. The adventure continues on the water. Follow the journey: ▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sv_goat ▶ Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/svGoat ▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_svgoat

Italian friends, a five-star hotel in Marbella, and a very out-of-place suitcase — the fun starts before we even get back to the boat. Then it's heads-down into the catamaran's electrical system to install dual-color LED bulbs that flip from white to red for night navigation with a simple on-off-on trick (turns out the instructions matter after all). We also tackle the Furuno chartplotter mount that's been bugging Max for weeks — cutting a teak panel to cleanly frame the unit at the helm, so it's properly sealed, secured, and actually looks like it belongs there. Jigsaw, oscillating saw (RIP — missing in action), and one very stubborn screw later, it's finally done right. Follow the journey: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sv_goat Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/svGoat Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_svgoat #sailinglife #liveaboard #catamaran #marbella #boatwork #nightnavigation #furuno #chartplotter #sailingcouple #lagoon400

We almost couldn't finish this — a cut ethernet cable, a connector with nowhere to put the shield, and a hand locked in full muscle-cramp mode after hanging off the mast all afternoon. But the Furuno DRS4W NXT radar is finally alive on the chartplotter, and the difference vs. the old Halo 24 is immediately obvious. Max walks you through re-terminating a shielded RJ45 ethernet cable from scratch (with zero prior experience and a bunch of sacrificial connectors), routing the cable down from the mast, and the moment the radar rings appear on the Navionics overlay. Spoiler: it sees everything. Then The Blond takes over for a road trip to Marbella — hotel stay, plans to visit Ronda, and a cat named Vlad who nearly jumped ship to a neighbor's boat. Follow the journey: ▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sv_goat 📺 Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/svGoat 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_svgoat #sailing #liveaboard #furuno #radar #catamaran #boatlife #sailinglife #chartplotter #DIYboat #Lagoon400 #Mediterranean #svgoat #boatrepair

After days of wiring puzzles, mystery cables, and one very bold "just go for it" moment — the Furuno 710C autopilot is ALIVE. Watch the Beard Man wrestle four cables through the hull, decode a hydraulic pump with no ground wire (spoiler: it still works), and hit that sweet "Test Complete" screen for the first time. From fixing a humidity-killed TAPO solar security camera to routing twin heavy-gauge cables through the engine bay all the way to the nav station, this episode is pure liveaboard boat-project energy — equal parts frustration, improvisation, and genuine sticker-on-the-fridge celebration when the rudder actually moves in the right direction. With the autopilot done, the only thing standing between SV GOAT and departure is the new Furuno radar swap on the mast and a few dollops of silicone on the deck. The open water is getting very, very close. Follow the journey: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sv_goat Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/svGoat Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_svgoat #SVGoat #Sailing #Liveaboard #Autopilot #Furuno #BoatLife #CatamaranLife #BoatProject #DIYSailing #SailingCatamaran #Lagoon400 #MarineElectronics #CruisingLife

we had the guys from Starfurling #furlingboom onboard this week. The process is actually quite stright forward and simple. 2 guys did the job in 8h!!

StarFurl: leggerezza e praticità a portata di mano La Veleria Viganò offre soluzioni d'avanguardia, leggere e facili da utilizzare per quanto riguarda il boma avvolgiranda, disponibili a Trezzano sul Naviglio. La ditta è particolarmente orgogliosa di presentare a velisti amatoriali e professionali il sistema StarFurl, molto apprezzato per la sua estrema semplicità, che si dimostra molto leggero grazie alla realizzazione in composito, non superando il 20% del peso del suo predecessore. Il boma avvolgiranda proposto in provincia di Milano vanta inoltre un verricello integrato a circuito chiuso che, come se si trattasse di una normale dritta, vi permetterà di ammainare la randa in tutta semplicità. Modello Furlerboom Un altro cavallo di battaglia della Veleria Viganò per quanto riguarda il boma avvolgibile a Trezzano Sul Naviglio è il modello a marchio Furlerboom, che si contraddistingue per la sua estrema leggerezza. Questo tipo di boma, disponibile oggi in provincia di Milano, è realizzato in materiale composito e permette quindi di ottenere una forma rastremata. La rotaia da applicare all'albero è flessibile nei primi 4 cm: in questo modo è possibile avvolgere la randa anche con un vento apparente ad angolo di 80°.

This week on SV GOAT: a Furuno SCX-20 satellite compass joins the nav suite, the TZT XL 13 gets its latest firmware, and the Harley comes out for a run down the Spanish coast. First up, the SCX-20 install — mounting, wiring, NMEA 2000 integration, and why a satellite compass quietly outperforms a magnetic fluxgate on a boat full of steel, lithium, and electronics. No gimbals, no deviation, no recalibration after every alternator install. Then a walkthrough of the new TZT XL 13 software update. What changed, what didn't, and whether it's worth sitting through the install. And to close it out, we trade the dock lines for two wheels — Harley out, coast road, Mediterranean sun. A reminder that not every good day on the water happens on the water. 🛠 GEAR IN THIS EPISODE Furuno SCX-20 Satellite Compass Furuno TZT XL 13" MFD Harley Davidson 110 2016 Slim S ⛵ ABOUT SV GOAT Liveaboard life on a Lagoon 400 catamaran in the Med. Boat systems, refits, breakdowns, the occasional ride, and whatever else the week throws at us. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes weekly. #SVGOAT #Sailing #Liveaboard #Furuno #SCX20 #TZTXL #Lagoon400 #HarleyDavidson #Spain #Almerimar

Installing the Furuno NavNet TZtouch XL on SV GOAT — Full Helm Upgrade & Feature Walkthrough After running a TZtouch3 onboard for a while, I finally pulled the trigger on the new Furuno TZtouch XL [TZT__X]. In this video I walk through the full install on SV GOAT — from unboxing and pre-wiring through NMEA 2000 integration, Ethernet backbone, power, and first boot — then show you the chartplotter features that actually matter when you're liveaboard and crossing oceans, not just day-tripping. If you're upgrading from a TZT2 or TZT3, or speccing a new helm from scratch, this should save you a few of the mistakes I made. 🧭 CHARTPLOTTER FEATURES COVERED TZ MAPS with BathyVision — the new vector/raster/3D bathymetry charts AI Avoidance Route — auto-routing around hazards, one-tap send to autopilot Risk Visualizer — 360° collision-risk visualization (requires Furuno radar) TZ Weather — free enhanced forecasts + optional premium high-res service Dynamic Mooring with community updates TZ Cloud sync — waypoints/routes between MFD, TZ Navigator, TZ iBoat Edge-swipe hybrid touch UI (on 10"/13" models) / full-glass IPS (16/22/24) OTA software updates over Wi-Fi Full Furuno Ethernet network: radar, sonar, AIS, autopilot, cameras NMEA 2000 + NMEA 0183 integration 🔧 INSTALL TOPICS Rear-port color-coded connectors (big change vs TZT3) Power wiring & DC protection NMEA 2000 backbone — adding the XL to an existing network Ethernet backbone and why TZT3 ↔ XL sharing is limited (important gotcha) Radar integration — [DRS4D-NXT / Halo setup reference] AIS, VHF (IC-M510BB), and depth/heading data routing Mounting, cable runs, and helm layout on a Lagoon 400 ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro — why I swapped from TZT3 to TZT XL [00:XX] What's in the box [00:XX] Helm prep & removing the old unit [00:XX] Rear connector layout [00:XX] Power wiring [00:XX] NMEA 2000 integration [00:XX] Ethernet backbone [00:XX] First boot & initial setup [00:XX] TZ MAPS walkthrough [00:XX] AI Routing & Risk Visualizer demo [00:XX] TZ Weather & TZ Cloud [00:XX] Final thoughts — what I'd do differently ⚓ GEAR IN THIS VIDEO Furuno TZtouch XL [model] — [affiliate link] Icom IC-M510BB AIS — [link] [Radar model] — [link] [Transducer / other] — [link] Some links are affiliate — they don't cost you anything extra but help keep the channel running. 🎬 WATCH NEXT NMEA 2000 network troubleshooting on SV GOAT → [link] Full SV GOAT electronics tour → [link] ⛵ ABOUT SV GOAT We're [Max & crew] sailing SV GOAT, a Lagoon 400 catamaran, across the Med and beyond. Subscribe for liveaboard life, marine electronics deep-dives, and the real story of crossing oceans on a cruising cat.

NMEA 2000 (often written **N2K**) is the standard marine network used to connect instruments on boats—GPS, wind sensors, engine data, autopilot, tank levels, etc.—into one shared system. Think of it like the boat’s internal “internet,” but built for reliability and real-time data. Given you’re sailing and already running systems like Signal K and onboard electronics, this is exactly the backbone tying everything together. --- # 🧭 What NMEA 2000 actually is At its core, NMEA 2000 is: * A **CAN bus network** (same tech used in cars) * Running at **250 kbps** * Using a **backbone + drop cable architecture** * With standardized connectors (usually **Micro-C**) ### Key concepts: * **Backbone (trunk):** Main cable running through the boat * **Drop cables:** Short cables connecting devices to the backbone * **T-connectors:** Where devices plug into the backbone * **Terminators:** Required resistors at each end of the backbone * **Power injection:** 12V power supplied into the network --- # ⚙️ How the network is structured Here’s the mental model: ``` [Terminator]—[T]—[T]—[T]—[T]—[Terminator] | | | GPS Wind MFD ``` * The **horizontal line = backbone** * The **vertical lines = drop cables to devices** --- # 🔌 Components you need ### 1. Backbone cable * Thick cable running the length of your boat ### 2. T-connectors * One per device * Backbone plugs into left/right * Device plugs into the bottom ### 3. Drop cables * Short cables from device → T-connector * Max length: **6 meters** ### 4. Terminators (CRITICAL) * One **male** and one **female** * Must be at **each end of the backbone** ### 5. Power cable * Injects 12V into the network * Typically connected near the middle of the backbone --- # ⚡ Wiring step-by-step ## Step 1 — Build the backbone Start by laying out your T-connectors: ``` [T]—[T]—[T]—[T] ``` Then connect them side-by-side to form a line. --- ## Step 2 — Add terminators At both ends: ``` [Terminator]—[T]—[T]—[T]—[T]—[Terminator] ``` 👉 Without terminators, the network **won’t work properly**. --- ## Step 3 — Add power Insert a power cable into one T: * Red → +12V (fused, usually 3–5A) * Black → Ground ⚠️ Important: * Only **ONE power source** on the network * Do NOT power from multiple devices --- ## Step 4 — Connect devices Each device gets: * A drop cable * Plugged into a T-connector Example: ``` [T] → GPS [T] → Chartplotter [T] → Wind sensor ``` --- ## Step 5 — Turn it on Once powered: * Devices auto-detect each other * Data flows automatically (plug-and-play) --- # 📏 Important rules (people often get wrong) ### 1. Total backbone length * Max: **~100 meters** ### 2. Drop cable length * Max: **6 meters per device** ### 3. Total drop length * Max combined: **78 meters** ### 4. Power * Inject near the center of the backbone * Avoid powering from one extreme end --- # 🧠 How data works (simple view) Devices broadcast messages called **PGNs (Parameter Group Numbers)** Example: * GPS → position * Wind sensor → wind angle/speed * Engine → RPM, temp All devices can “listen” to all data. --- # 🔗 Integrating with your setup (important for you) Since you're already using: * Signal K * Grafana * Onboard systems You’ll likely want: ### 👉 NMEA 2000 → Signal K gateway Examples: * Actisense NGT-1 * Yacht Devices USB Gateway * CANable (DIY option) This lets you: * Log NMEA 2000 data * Visualize it in Grafana * Automate (like your anchor logging system) --- # ⚠️ Common mistakes ❌ Missing terminators ❌ Powering network from multiple points ❌ Using drop cables as backbone ❌ Exceeding cable lengths ❌ Mixing NMEA 0183 directly (needs converter) --- # 🧰 Minimal working setup example If you wanted the simplest network: * 2x Terminators * 3x T-connectors * 1x Power cable * 1x GPS * 1x Chartplotter That’s it—you’ve got a working NMEA 2000 network. --- # 🧭 Practical tip for your boat Given your Bavaria 44 and offshore setup: * Run backbone along **main cable routes (port or starboard side)** * Place T-connectors near: * Helm * Nav station * Engine panel * Keep drops short and clean * Label everything (huge time saver later) ---

Lets celebrate the 100th episode with a big piece of update to the boat. As 3 years ago 100 weeks ago here we are.. us and Marco from la casa dell'elettronica updaiting my systems to Furuno.

The full BOM that is going into the the GOAT 2.0 ChartPlotter: Furuno TZT 13XL Radar: Furuno DRS4D-NXT Wind: FI-5001 Autopilot: Furuno 711c Compass: Furuno SCX-20 Transducer: P319 airmar And it all was selected by Marco :)

Living the solo sailor life between boat projects and getting accustom to it all

Changing a forestay on a catamaran without dropping the mast — is it even possible? We did it, and here's exactly how. Our forestay on SV GOAT (Lagoon 400) was overdue for replacement. The "right" way means unstepping the mast — a boatyard job, serious cost, serious hassle. We did it the hard way instead: at anchor, with the mast standing. In this episode we walk you through every step: rigging temporary support, managing tension, swapping the stay, and staying (pun intended) safe throughout. No yard. No crane. Just two people, the right tools, and a plan. What we cover: Why we chose to do it with the mast up Tools and hardware you'll need Step-by-step process from start to finish Mistakes to avoid (we made a few) Cost breakdown vs. having a yard do it Whether you're on a Lagoon, a monohull, or any cruising sailboat — if your forestay is due for replacement, watch this before you call the boatyard. SV GOAT is a Lagoon 400 catamaran currently cruising the Mediterranean. We document the real side of live-aboard sailing — maintenance, passages, and everything in between. Subscribe for weekly sailing content Like if this saved you a boatyard bill Drop your questions below — we read everything #SailingLife #CatamaranLife #Lagoon400 #SailMaintenance #Forestay #DIYSailing #Liveaboard #SailingSVGOAT #BlueWaterSailing #SailingYouTube

We almost lost the boat. 3am, middle of nowhere, 200 miles offshore. No signal. No help coming. This is what living on a sailboat actually looks like — the parts nobody posts. If you've ever dreamed of quitting everything and sailing away, watch this first. It might change your mind. Or make you book a one-way flight tomorrow.

We adore our new lagoon but there are some thing they simply did not think through like the two bow lockers. There separated by an horizontal floor and this makes the locker useless as stowing things in there will request you to take everything in and out to retrive anything. Not a good fit for live aboard sailors who need a lot of spares, accessories and stuff in general. We got rid of the horizontal plane and created a monovolume space that can be used entirely and organised properly

Well yes, the storm keeps going and our wind indicators got busted... So, it's a trip to the mast for me

Apparently this part of souther spain in the alboran sea is essentially one big continuous storm with hurricane force from the end of Jan to the end of Feb... Mea colpa, we did not knew that. So we have been battling up to 78knots of wind for the past 2 weeks and is not stoping for the next 3 weeks... Biminis are blow to shredders, line are broken... morale is a bit log... but as my friend Eddy say, better than being at the office so... yeah we good!

This week i finally get to finish installing the Gobius C tanks sensor and set it on KIP dashboard. I'm amazed of how easy and flawlessly it integrates with signalK and KIP dashboard... i can now keep my app development going :)