Starlink for boats.
Plan the power behind it.

Start with the way the vessel uses internet

Describe an ordinary day before considering the busiest possible day. Note when the crew checks weather, when guests are aboard, whether anyone works remotely, and which devices remain connected overnight. A system used only while the generator runs presents a different energy problem from one that must remain available throughout a quiet anchorage. Those operating details are more useful than a single advertised download figure.

Next, identify the activities that matter when capacity is limited. A video meeting may take priority over a television update. Crew administration may need a separate access policy from guest devices. Giving those activities an order helps define the routing and management conversation. It also helps establish whether occasional connectivity or continuous access is the actual requirement.

Keep Starlink hardware generations separate

Starlink names and configurations have changed over time, so record the product label, generation, mount, power supply, and supplied router before comparing kits. A listing described as Flat High Performance should not automatically inherit the specifications of a newer Performance product. Existing equipment may also have different activation arrangements from a new kit purchased for the same vessel.

Starlink's Mini specification sheet lists average consumption of 25 to 40 watts. Its support documentation lists 110 to 150 watts for Performance Gen 1 and Gen 2 equipment. Those are distinct hardware references, not a single range for every maritime installation. Use the planner's assumptions only for the identified equipment, and replace them with appropriate figures when another generation or configuration is being considered. The legacy Performance figures are AC-input kit averages that include the listed router and supply, so those components should not be counted twice.

Turn operating hours into an energy budget

Watts describe the rate of consumption. Watt-hours describe energy used over time. A hypothetical 100-watt load operating for eight hours consumes 800 watt-hours before any additional conversion loss. This simple relationship makes the planner useful: changing the daily operating schedule can have as much effect on the electrical budget as changing the hardware.

When equipment operates through an inverter, divide the equipment energy by the assumed conversion efficiency to estimate battery-side demand. At an illustrative 90 percent efficiency, an 800-watt-hour equipment load represents roughly 889 watt-hours at the battery. Avoid adding that loss twice if the input figure already represents battery-side measurement. An installer can help establish where a measurement was taken and which equipment it includes.

Use amp-hours with the correct battery voltage

Amp-hours become meaningful only when the voltage is known. Dividing estimated battery-side watt-hours by nominal battery voltage gives an approximate amp-hour requirement. The same energy demand produces different amp-hour figures on 12-volt and 24-volt systems. Compare energy first when reviewing vessels or battery banks with different electrical architectures.

Battery nameplate capacity is not the same as available daily energy. Other consumers, reserve requirements, charging conditions, battery management limits, and the owner's preferred operating window all matter. Enter the usable allowance intended for connectivity rather than assuming the entire bank belongs to Starlink. The planner does not estimate battery condition or authorize a particular depth of discharge. Those decisions belong within the vessel's broader electrical design.

Account for the equipment behind the antenna

The antenna is one part of the load. Routers, switches, wireless access points, cellular modems, and supporting equipment may remain energized even when nobody is actively browsing. List the components that run together and identify which can be scheduled independently. This is especially helpful when an existing yacht network has accumulated equipment over several refits.

An additional-load allowance is a planning input, not a substitute for model-specific specifications. If the routing hardware already appears inside a measured consumption figure, do not add it again. Keep a note beside each assumption explaining whether it came from a manufacturer document, an installation estimate, or a measurement aboard. That small amount of recordkeeping makes later comparisons far more reliable.

Choose the network architecture alongside the kit

A fast connection at the antenna does not establish consistent service in every cabin. The onboard network must carry that connection to the places people use it. Bulkheads, equipment locations, cable paths, access-point placement, and the number of simultaneous activities all affect the design discussion. A satellite upgrade cannot resolve every distribution problem inside the yacht.

Concord Marine Electronics offers Starlink equipment and MDS Blender network options that can be considered as part of a coordinated installation. Where multiple internet sources are relevant, ask which functions are provided by the proposed routing configuration and associated services. Failover, load balancing, and bonding are different capabilities. Confirm the intended behavior rather than assuming every multi-source router performs all three in the same way.

Match resilience to the route and the workload

Consider what happens when the preferred internet path becomes unavailable. A vessel spending most of its time near shore may have a different fallback opportunity from one making longer offshore passages. The useful question is which alternative sources are available where the vessel actually travels, and which onboard activities should continue if the primary connection is interrupted.

Redundancy also creates practical obligations. Additional antennas need space, modems need service arrangements, and powered equipment increases the daily energy allowance. Two identical antennas do not automatically eliminate shared obstructions, electrical faults, or service limitations. Document the failure you want to address, then evaluate whether the proposed alternative has a reasonably independent path. This keeps resilience planning focused on a clear operational need.

Review mounting and service before ordering

Take photographs of the proposed antenna location and nearby structures. Include alternate views showing masts, hardtops, existing communications equipment, and the route toward the equipment cabinet. A location that looks clear from the dock may be constrained by the vessel's layout or by installation access. The final placement should follow the current instructions for the exact kit and mount.

Hardware selection and service eligibility are separate checks. Confirm the intended cruising area, use while moving, offshore operation, account ownership, activation provider, and the terms applicable to the proposed service. Plan names and inclusions can change, so the guide deliberately avoids quoting a recurring price. Ask for a dated proposal identifying both equipment and service responsibilities before treating a configuration as ready to order.

Check the assumptions after installation

A planning estimate should become more specific once the system is operating. Record the normal equipment configuration and compare consumption during representative periods. Note whether the measurement includes the router and inverter, and whether the vessel is using shore power, a generator, or battery supply. Consistent measurement boundaries make the figures useful; readings taken at different points cannot always be compared directly.

Keep operational observations beside the electrical measurements. Record where people were using Wi-Fi, which applications were active, and whether a backup connection was involved. If the system is comfortable electrically but frustrating in a particular cabin, that points toward a different investigation from a battery allowance that is exceeded every night. A single daily total cannot explain both problems.

Review the schedule as well as the equipment. Guests may use more devices than expected, or remote work may extend the hours the network must stay available. Update the planner when those patterns change. The resulting brief helps establish whether the next improvement should address energy, coverage, traffic management, or service arrangements, before another hardware purchase is made.

Build a useful brief for Concord Marine Electronics

Save the configuration that most closely resembles normal use, then prepare a second version for the most demanding expected day. Include vessel details, existing network equipment, electrical-system voltage, daily operating hours, and any measurements already available. Explain the difference between those two scenarios. This gives the design discussion an operating context rather than a collection of disconnected specifications.

Use Concord's Starlink collection to review relevant equipment and the marine electronics installation page to start the integration discussion. Ask for confirmation of the exact kit, mounts, cable requirements, power arrangements, and network scope. The planner's value is the quality of that starting brief. Final equipment selection should follow a coordinated review of the vessel, the proposed service, and the installation details.

Frequently asked questions