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 :)

This week aboard GOAT 2.0, our Lagoon 400, we officially start the next phase of upgrades by improving one of the most critical (and often overlooked) systems onboard: tank monitoring. We installed Gobius C tank sensors, bringing accurate, reliable tank level information back to the boat without drilling holes or dealing with unreliable floats. But it wasn’t all wiring and configuration—because boat life is also about balance. So we took a break, jumped on our Harley-Davidsons, and rode along the southern coast of Spain, discovering the town of Adra… and unexpectedly finding tequeños, which immediately made the trip worth it. ⚙️ GOBIUS C TANK SENSOR – TECHNICAL OVERVIEW The Gobius C is a non-invasive ultrasonic tank level sensor, designed specifically for marine environments where reliability and simplicity matter. Instead of installing probes or floats inside the tank, the Gobius C is mounted externally on the outside of the tank and uses ultrasonic technology to measure the liquid level through the tank wall. Key Features & Specs: Non-invasive installation – no drilling, no contact with liquids Ultrasonic sensing through plastic or fiberglass tanks Compatible with fresh water, grey water, and black water tanks NMEA 2000 compatible, integrating directly into modern marine networks Outputs real-time tank level data to chartplotters, MFDs, and monitoring systems Extremely reliable in sloshing conditions and under sail Zero maintenance, no moving parts On GOAT 2.0, the Gobius C sensors feed directly into our NMEA 2000 backbone, allowing us to see tank levels on our navigation displays and inside our Raspberry Pi / Signal K system. This is a massive upgrade over traditional float sensors, which are notorious for sticking, failing, or giving false readings. For a cruising catamaran, knowing exactly how much water you have left is not a luxury—it’s safety and autonomy. 🏍️ LIFE BEYOND THE BOAT After days of boat projects, we needed a change of pace. So we fired up the Harleys and rode along the stunning Andalusian coastline, ending up in Adra, a small coastal town with deep maritime roots and a relaxed, authentic vibe. And then came the surprise: tequeños. Crispy, cheesy, perfect fuel after a long ride. Sometimes the best discoveries happen when you’re not looking for them. IN THIS EPISODE: Installing Gobius C tank sensors on our Lagoon 400 Integrating tank data into NMEA 2000 & onboard systems Why non-invasive tank sensors make sense for cruisers Harley-Davidson ride along southern Spain Discovering Adra and unexpected comfort food FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY: Instagram Sailing & Tech: @sailing_svgoat Instagram Lifestyle: @nobodysride Facebook: Sailing SV GOAT

In this week episode. IT IS XMAS!!! We had an amazing supper cooked by the blond and she wanted to show the recepies... the day after xmas we decided to do for a ride but as always with the new harley davidson battery issue almost destroyed our plans

We still just chilling in Souther Spain taking it slow. We visited malaga in 1 day and took the measurements needed for our new furling boom

We decided we will upgrade our Lagoon 400 with a in boom furling system. We researched internet for months trying to find the right solution... The main issue was must of the solution where either too expensive or have zero referrals or they were straight bad... We were about to lose hoper when we came across the guys from starfurl which had everything we where searching for. Great value for price, excellent customer care, quality and a track record of durability and performance. https://www.starfurl.it/

A 57 wind blow open our code zero and trying to put it down almost took my hand off... But we saved the sail. We also got our motor bikes down here in spain so we can no go explore the south of spain

We sailed 350nm with the new catamaran And we couldn't be any more happier if is wasn't for the B&G system.. We need help!

This week aboard GOAT 2.0, we dive head-first into the challenge of understanding and trusting our new B&G navigation system. Even though the setup includes some of the best gear B&G offers — the Zeus S3 multifunction display, Halo 24 radar, and NAC-3 autopilot computer — things just don’t feel quite right compared to our old Furuno system. I spend the entire week trying to configure, test, and sail with this technology, only to keep wondering: is newer really better? ⚙️ OUR CURRENT B&G SETUP B&G Zeus S3 Multifunction Display The Zeus S3 is B&G’s flagship sailing chartplotter, designed to integrate navigation, radar, autopilot, and sailing data on one screen. Tech Highlights: Ultra-bright SolarMAX HD touch display (9", 12" or 16") Quad-core processor for ultra-fast chart rendering Pre-loaded C-MAP DISCOVER™ charts Dedicated sailing features: laylines, wind plot, polar data, race panel NMEA2000 & Ethernet networking Even with all these specs, I find the software sluggish and unintuitive compared to the precision and simplicity of Furuno’s TZ Touch 3. B&G Halo 24 Pulse-Compression Radar The Halo 24 is B&G’s short-to-medium range radar designed for instant startup and 360° scans every second. Tech Highlights: 24-inch solid-state dome Pulse-compression for close- and long-range detection (6 m – 48 nm) InstantOn™ mode for quick activation VelocityTrack™ Doppler target-speed tracking Dual-range mode for simultaneous near/far targets Despite its power, the user interface feels clunky compared to Furuno’s clean overlay and target-acquisition logic, making me doubt its reliability when things get rough. B&G NAC-3 Autopilot Computer This is the brain of the system — a heavy-duty autopilot computer designed for large yachts. Tech Highlights: Drives systems up to 30,000 kg (66,000 lbs) Fully integrated with B&G helm displays and Triton² instruments Steering algorithms tuned for sailing performance NMEA2000 network compatible It’s a powerful machine, but the tuning feels overly sensitive and unpredictable, something that doesn’t inspire confidence offshore. 🐟 THE BRIGHT SIDE Amid all the tech frustration, the ocean gave us an incredible moment: we caught a 20 kg bacoreta tuna! It was our biggest catch yet — enough to fill the freezer and our hearts after a long week of debugging electronics. So, while B&G keeps testing my patience, the sea keeps rewarding it. IN THIS EPISODE: – Testing & troubleshooting B&G’s Zeus S3, Halo 24 Radar, and NAC-3 Autopilot – Comparing B&G vs Furuno systems – Frustrations with radar UX and system reliability – A 20 kg tuna catch to end the week right FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY: Instagram Sailing & Tech: @sailing_svgoat Instagram Lifestyle: @nobodysride Facebook: Sailing SV GOAT

This week marks the beginning of a whole new chapter in our sailing adventure. We finally transferred everything we own from GOAT 1.0, our beloved Bavaria 44, into GOAT 2.0, our newly purchased Lagoon 400 catamaran. It’s amazing how much stuff a sailboat accumulates over time—and moving it all was no small task. Finding a place for everything on a catamaran is both an art and a challenge. But little by little, GOAT 2.0 began to feel like home. Once we had all our belongings aboard, we dove into the biggest job of all: the complete electronics installation and migration. ⚓ NEW ELECTRONICS INSTALLED ON GOAT 2.0 Icom MA-510TR Class B AIS Transponder The Icom MA-510TR is a full-featured Class B AIS transceiver with a built-in GPS receiver, target list display, collision alarm, and integrated DSC functionality. With its color display and NMEA2000 connectivity, it provides real-time awareness of nearby vessels, helping us navigate safely through busy Mediterranean shipping lanes. Key Specs: Class B AIS with 5W transmit power 4.3-inch color TFT display NMEA2000 & NMEA0183 interface Built-in GPS receiver Collision alarm and CPA/TCPA data B&G V100 VHF Marine Radio The B&G V100 is a modular VHF radio system designed for sailboats, offering crystal-clear communication and multi-station expandability. We installed one station at the helm and another at the navigation desk. Key Specs: Modular design with up to 8 handsets & 4 external speakers Built-in AIS receiver (optional) NMEA2000 networking for full integration 60-second “replay” of last transmission Waterproof (IPX7 rated) B&G Halo 24 Radar For safety and situational awareness, we installed the B&G Halo 24 Pulse Compression Radar—one of the most advanced marine radars on the market. It provides near-instant 360° sweeps every second and can detect targets as close as 6 meters and as far as 48 nautical miles. Key Specs: 24-inch dome with Pulse Compression technology Range: 6m to 48nm VelocityTrack™ target speed tracking InstantOn™ mode for immediate use Dual-range operation for near and far targets simultaneously Aqua Pro Onboard PC To power all navigation and data management, we installed an Aqua Pro fanless onboard marine PC, built to run 24/7 in marine environments. This small but powerful system manages all onboard software, including charts, navigation, Signal K data, and our Grafana dashboards. Key Specs: Rugged, fanless aluminum case (IP65-rated) Low-power Intel CPU with solid-state storage Dual HDMI + multiple USB & NMEA inputs 12V DC power input for direct marine integration Raspberry Pi 5 Navigation & Monitoring System Our Raspberry Pi-based setup is the heart of the GOAT data ecosystem. It runs Signal K, integrating all NMEA2000 data (wind, depth, AIS, battery status, and more) and feeding our Grafana dashboards for real-time performance tracking. Key Components: Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB RAM) running Signal K & Grafana NMEA2000 USB gateway Custom scripts for data logging and automation Linked to our onboard PC for redundancy and backup Iridium GO! Satellite Communicator For offshore safety and communication, we reinstalled our Iridium GO!, a satellite-based communication device that provides text, email, GPS tracking, and weather data anywhere in the world. Key Specs: Global coverage via Iridium satellite network SOS and emergency tracking Email, text, and GRIB weather downloads Wi-Fi connectivity for up to 5 devices Ideal for offshore passages and remote anchorages After days of wiring, configuring, and debugging, we finally brought the entire network online—NMEA2000, AIS, radar, navigation, and telemetry—all talking together again. Seeing everything light up and work perfectly was one of the most satisfying moments of the refit. Now GOAT 2.0 is alive, smarter than ever, and ready for the adventures ahead. IN THIS EPISODE: – Moving aboard our new Lagoon 400 catamaran – Installing the complete new navigation suite – Migrating our entire NMEA2000 sensor network – Setting up Raspberry Pi & Signal K for real-time monitoring – The satisfaction (and frustration) of bringing a boat back to life FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY: Instagram Sailing & Tech: @sailing_svgoat Instagram Lifestyle: @nobodysride Facebook: Sailing SV GOAT

Description The 2010 Lagoon 400 Owner’s Version is a 39.27 ft (≈12 m) cruising catamaran designed by naval architects Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prévost (VPLP) and built by Lagoon, part of the Beneteau Group. It’s one of the most popular live-aboard catamarans of its decade — a comfortable, well-balanced vessel made for long-distance cruising rather than racing. Key Specifications Length overall: 39′ 3″ (≈12 m) Beam: 23′ 8″ (≈7.2 m) Draft: ≈4 ft (1.2 m) Displacement: ≈10,200 kg (22,500 lb) Hull & deck: Infused fiberglass sandwich construction Rig: Fractional sloop with optional square-top mainsail and code 0 bowsprit Engines: Twin Yanmar 30 hp or optional 40 hp Accommodation & Layout (Owner’s Version) The Owner’s Version offers a large master suite occupying one hull, with private head and shower, plus two guest cabins in the opposite hull. The saloon features wrap-around windows for 360° visibility, a bright galley on the starboard side, and a navigation station opposite. The cockpit and saloon connect seamlessly, creating a huge social space ideal for entertaining or living aboard. There’s ample storage throughout, and the headroom exceeds 2 m in most areas. Performance & Handling The Lagoon 400 is built for comfort and safety more than speed. In moderate winds (6–7 knots), she typically sails at 4.5–5 knots, and under power achieves around 7 knots with twin 40 hp engines. Her pointing ability upwind is about 55–60°, and her twin keels and engines make maneuvering in tight marinas easy. The shallow draft allows access to lagoons and anchorages off-limits to deeper monohulls. Strengths Excellent comfort and space for live-aboard life Bright, well-ventilated interior with panoramic views Great storage capacity and ergonomic layout Easy to handle with twin engines and wide beam Proven blue-water cruiser with strong community support Weaknesses Mediocre light-wind performance — she needs ≈15 knots of breeze to move well Some bridge-deck slamming in steep seas Older models may need refit: window sealant, through-deck fittings, sail-drive maintenance Slightly higher maintenance due to twin systems (engines, drives, rudders) Buying & Refit Notes Buyers should check for deck sealant degradation and water intrusion around fittings, evaluate sail-drive seals, and confirm engine hours. Many 2010 boats benefit from modern upgrades like lithium batteries, solar panels (800 W+ recommended), and watermakers. Owners also suggest upgrading from 30 hp to 40 hp engines for better motoring in rough conditions. Summary The Lagoon 400 Owner’s Version strikes the perfect balance between performance, comfort, and practicality. It’s ideal for couples or families seeking a reliable, spacious catamaran for extended cruising or circumnavigation. Though not the fastest cat on the water, it’s a safe, forgiving, and beautifully livable boat that has earned its reputation as one of Lagoon’s most beloved models.