How much does it cost to install a NMEA 2000 network?

A question we often get is about the cost of NMEA 2000 networks, how much it costs to build them, maintain them and upgrade them. While there is no defined answer to å this because there are a large number of factors involved, the purpose of this article is to give a rough insight.

Obviously, the most important thing to consider is the size of the the network and the instruments required. For a leisure wearer on; a 30-foot boat, your costs will not be the same as for a 150-foot luxury superyacht, both when it comes to wiring costs and installed instruments.

For this example, we will use a fairly common scenario that we rely on:

A boat with two; analog diesel engines, where the owner wants to monitor the system by replacing older equipment with modern NMEA 2000 units. They need a GPS, AIS, MFD and digitized engine data.

As with most electronic products, the price increases as the capacity and features increase. This is fairly standard, and the marine industry is no exception. However, this does not mean that you need the most expensive equipment to bring; good results. As an example, look atå mobile phones... if you simply use your phone to send texts and calls, you don't need to buy the latest iPhone, and an older / more basic model will do everything you need.

The purpose of the article is to show how a fully functional, secure system can be created without costing a company. Of course you can gå out and buy 'top of the range' equipment, but do you NEED it? Driving to suit your own needs makes a lot more sense and is usually kinder to the wallet.

GPS

< p>A NMEA 2000 GPS unit can vary from about SEK 1,500 up to SEK 20,000, this is a huge price range and can be a very intimidating market for a new buyer of due to its saturation. The main point to consider is positional accuracy. GPS can vary greatly, from 20 meters accuracy on; internal GPS units, down to less than 1.5 meters accuracy on state-of-the-art devices that use triangle trilateration.

For around SEK 3,500 you can get a 72-channel GPS, capable of generating 10 position fixes per second, with an accuracy of less than 2.5 meters. For leisure use something like this is perfect, high accuracy, low cost, good performance. (eg RS150 from Raymarine)

Do you want to keep an existing NMEA 0183 GPS on board? Connect it easily with a NMEA 2000 gateway, which is the NGW-1, to achieve; clear two-wave transformations between the two the protocols. (eg NGX-1-ISO from Actisense)

AIS

When we talk about AIS, the requirements and specifications vary a lot depending on what type of vessel it is intended for. For example, a smaller recreational boat can use a basic class B AIS, which provides all the necessary information and helps to improve safety. the water. Å on the other hand, a cruise ship or a cargo ship requires a Class A AIS, which broadcasts information at regulated times and provides more information, while having Class B retrieval.

If you choose not to transmit AIS (it is not mandatory for all boats), you can simply use an AIS receiver, which, for example, is integrated with VHF is priced and may cost from SEK 9,000 and up. For those who want to implement an AIS transceiver (both send and receive) the prices vary from around SEK 15,000 to  up to SEK 45,000 for a fully operational class A system.

MFD – Multi-function displays

To some extent, buying an MFD is similar to buying a computer for your home. The same principle applies to 'better specs = higher cost'. Processors, screen size, resolution, IP rating, available connections and anti-glare etc. all play a role in how much an MFD costs.

An MFD with lower specifications cost around SEK 7,000, but for basic leisure sailing this is completely appropriate. The MFD will display all security and 'mission critical' data. At the top of the scale are MFDs that cost over SEK 150,000. For that price, of course, you get top specs and features... such as; really it's about what you NEED vs your budget.

Digitalization of engine data

There are twoå ways you can take this... the expensive way is to replace your engine(s) with newer digital NMEA 2000 / J1939 coupled units that already output CAN. Alternatively, you can use something like the Actisense EMU-1 to convert your old analog engine data to NMEA 2000 data for display on the your MFD.

The price difference is extreme between the two; the alternatives, with a EMU-1 which costs around SEK 6,500 and a new engine which often costs hundreds of thousands. Most new build projects now have NMEA 2000 engines already installed, but for those upgrading existing installations är EMU-1 a great alternative.

Conclusion

In summary, the cost of renovating an installation or replacing older equipment is extensive, depending on; your requirements and personal preferences and budget, which means that basically every installation is unique.

If you want help with your design, just contact us at Digital Skipper så We go through your requirements and needs; we will come up with a suitable solution for you.