Production Builders

• Catalina Yachts — Largo, FL — Closed October 2025 after 56 years. The most popular American production sailboat ever built. For parts, service, and support see Catalina Direct — the go-to OEM and aftermarket parts supplier for all Catalina models; still fully operational. Read more →
• Island Packet Yachts — Largo, FL — blue-water cruising sailboats; founded 1979; current models IPY 349, 439, 42 MS
• Tartan Yachts — Painesville, OH — premium US-built cruising sailboats since 1961. Acquired by Seattle Yachts (2024), then Michael Reardon / Daedalus (Sept 2025), then Great Lakes Rigging & Supply / Jon Duer (Jan 2026). Currently active — producing 8–12 boats/year under new ownership.
• Beneteau USA — Marion, SC — French brand, US-assembled
• Jeanneau USA — Marion, SC — French brand, US-assembled
• MacGregor Sailors — owner community for MacGregor 26 trailerable sailboats (manufacturer closed 2013; 36,000+ boats still sailing)

Small / Trailerable Builders

• American Sail Inc. — founded 1976; 25,000+ boats built; American 14.6, American 18 daysailer, Aqua Cat catamaran (12.5 & 14); family daysailers riggable in under 20 minutes; trailerable
• Hobie Cat — Oceanside, CA — catamarans & day sailors
• Precision Boat Works — trailerable daysailers (built 1978–2018; parts still available)
• RS Sailing — world's largest small sailboat manufacturer; dinghies & one-designs | US Dealer
• Lightning Class — one-design, US-built options

Research Any Boat

• SailboatData.com — specs, sail area, displacement, ballast ratio, and owner reviews for virtually every production sailboat ever built; essential before buying any used boat

Popular Used American Boats (still supported)

• Catalina 22, 25, 27, 30, 36, 42
• Hunter 25, 27, 30, 33, 40
• O'Day 23, 25, 28, 35
• Pearson 26, 28, 303, 32, 36
• Ericson 25, 27, 32, 38
• Columbia 26, 28, 8.7m (28'7"), 34
• Cal 20, 25, 2-27, 40
• Islander 30, 36
• Island Packet 27, 31, 35, 38, 40, 44
• Sabre 28, 30, 34, 38
• Tartan 27, 30, 34, 37
• Cape Dory 22, 25, 28, 36
• Morgan 24, 30, 38
• C&C 29, 33, 35, 40

Engine Guides

• ⚙️ Marine Diesel Engines — Model Guide — Yanmar 1GM10 through 3JH40, Volvo Penta MD/D1/D2 series, Universal M-15 through M-35, Beta Marine 10–38 HP, Perkins — every common sailboat diesel under 40HP with direct spec links
• 🔧 Diesel Maintenance — Checklists & Parts — service intervals, brand-specific parts for Yanmar / Universal / Perkins / Beta / Volvo, onboard spares kit, and HP sizing by displacement

Engine Brands

• Yanmar Marine — most common inboard diesel in US sailboats
• Westerbeke / Universal Marine — very common on 1970s–2000s US production boats
• Volvo Penta — standard on Beneteau, Jeanneau, and European imports
• Beta Marine — modern Kubota-based; popular repower choice

Electric & Outboard

• Torqeedo — leading electric outboards and pod drives
• Electric Yacht — US-based e-propulsion conversions
• OceanVolt — saildrive electric systems
• Honda Marine — BF2.3–BF6; most reliable small outboards
• Tohatsu — lightweight; popular on Pacific Northwest sailboats
• Suzuki Marine — fuel-injected 4-stroke outboards

Parts & Suppliers

• Marine Diesel Direct — best US diesel parts source
• Fisheries Supply — Seattle; excellent diesel parts
• Defender — impellers, zincs, filters
• Cruisers Forum — Engines

US Sailmakers

• North Sails — largest, offices nationwide
• Ullman Sails — performance & cruising
• Halsey Lidgard Sails
• Mack Sails — Florida, great for cruisers
• Doyle Sails — custom cruising sails
• Schurr Sails — Pacific Northwest
• Bacon Sails & Marine — used sails, great value
• Layline — used sails & gear

Sail Repair & DIY

• SRSailrite — #1 source for sail repair fabric, tools, machines, how-to videos
• DDefender — Sails

Canvas & Covers

• SRSailrite — Sunbrella Fabric — DIY dodgers, biminis, covers
• Rocky Woods — marine canvas fabrics
• The Marine Canvas — patterns & kits
• WMWest Marine — Canvas

Furling Systems

• Profurl
• HHarken — roller furling & blocks
• LLewmar — furlers, hatches, winches
• Schaefer Marine — made in USA

Standing Rigging — Wire & Rod

• Rig Rite — custom wire rigging, swaged fittings
• Navtec — rod rigging, turnbuckles
• Suncor Stainless — SS wire, fittings, rigging hardware
• Norseman / Gibb — mechanical wire terminals (DIY swage alternative)
• Hayn Marine — swage fittings, made in USA
• Rigging Only — custom orders
• Portsmouth Rigging

Dyneema / Synthetic Standing Rigging

• Colligo Marine — Dyneema rigging, US-based
• Southern Ropes — high-tech rope
• Samson Rope — US manufacturer, Dyneema products

Running Rigging — Rope

• Samson Rope — made in USA, full line of running rigging
• New England Ropes — Fall River, MA — halyards, sheets
• Marlow Ropes
• Defender — line by the foot

Blocks, Clutches & Winches

• Harken — Pewaukee, WI — blocks & winches
• Lewmar — winches, clutches
• Ronstan — blocks & shackles
• Schaefer Marine — Wareham, MA, made in USA
• Spinlock — rope clutches & jammers

Mast & Spar Makers

• Sparcraft
• Kenyon Marine — aluminum spars
• Dwyer Mast & Rigging

Gelcoat Repair

• TotalBoat Gelcoat — excellent DIY gelcoat products
• Interlux — bottom paint & topside finishes
• Pettit Paint — bottom paint
• Seahawk Paints — antifouling
• Jamestown Distributors — Gelcoat — good prices
• System Three Resins — epoxy & gelcoat primers

Fiberglass Repair

• West System Epoxy — the standard for structural fiberglass repair
• TotalBoat — epoxy, fillers, fairing compounds
• System Three — epoxies & adhesives
• Jamestown Distributors — fiberglass cloth, mat, supplies
• US Composites — bulk epoxy & fiberglass at good prices
• Fibre Glast — carbon fiber & fiberglass supplies

Resin Comparison — Polyester vs. Vinylester vs. Epoxy

Choosing the wrong resin is the most common fiberglass repair mistake. Here is the practical guide.

• Polyester Resin — lowest cost (~$30–$50/gal); used to build most production sailboats originally. Good for cosmetic repairs and non-structural laminate work where you plan to apply gelcoat on top. Bonds well to existing polyester. Shrinks slightly during cure; prone to micro-cracking over time; absorbs more moisture than the other two. Air-inhibited — the surface stays tacky until sealed with wax or PVA. Use for: small cosmetic repairs, gelcoat work, matching original layup on non-structural areas.
• Vinylester Resin — mid-range cost (~$50–$80/gal); essentially a styrene-modified epoxy. Significantly better water resistance than polyester — the go-to for hull blister repair and any below-waterline structural work. Stronger bond than polyester, less brittle, better at resisting osmotic blistering. Compatible with polyester and gelcoat topcoats. Use for: hull blisters, underwater structural repairs, barrier coat layups, keel-to-hull joints, any repair that will be below the waterline.
• Epoxy Resin — highest cost (~$80–$150/gal); the strongest and most water-resistant of the three. Minimal moisture absorption; excellent adhesion to fiberglass, wood, metal, and foam core. Does not shrink. Tolerates thin-film cures. 3–4× the tensile elongation of polyester — far more resistant to cracking under load. Critical rule: polyester and vinylester will NOT bond reliably over cured epoxy. If you use epoxy for a structural repair and plan to apply gelcoat, you must barrier-coat first or use a polyester-compatible primer. Use for: all structural repairs, core repairs, keel bolts, compression posts, tabbing, deck-to-hull joints, any repair where strength matters more than cost.

• West System — Epoxy vs. Polyester (Epoxyworks) — technical comparison from the epoxy manufacturer
• BoatCraft — Full Resin Comparison with Cost Analysis
• LBI Fiberglass — Which Resin to Use?
• Practical Sailor — Epoxy vs. Polyester for Repair

Teak & Deck Work

• Semco Teak Sealer
• Star Brite — teak cleaners, marine polish
• TotalBoat Teak Products
• King StarBoard — HDPE plastic teak replacement

Caulking & Sealants

• 3M Marine — 4200, 5200 sealants (5200 is near-permanent)
• BoatLIFE — Life-Calk polysulfide sealant
• Sikaflex — 291, 292 marine adhesive sealants

Antifouling & Bottom Paint

• Interlux Antifouling
• Pettit Antifouling
• TotalBoat Bottom Paint

Stainless Steel Suppliers

• Suncor Stainless — Canton, MA — 316 SS hardware, swage fittings, chain
• Marine Grade Metals — stainless bar, sheet, tube
• McMaster-Carr — enormous selection of 316 SS fasteners & stock
• Bolt Depot — stainless screws, bolts, nuts by the bag or box
• Online Metals — stainless, aluminum, bronze bar & plate cut to size
• Metal Supermarkets — walk-in, nationwide locations

Marine Hardware

• Wichard — shackles, snap shackles, hooks
• Ronstan — deck hardware, shackles
• HHarken — cleats, cars, blocks
• Schaefer Marine — made in USA, quality hardware
• Navarre Marine — fasteners & hardware
• Jamestown Distributors — wide hardware selection

Bronze & Seacocks

• GROCO — Annapolis, MD — bronze seacocks, through-hulls, made in USA
• Perko — Miami, FL — marine hardware since 1895
• Beckson — ports, hatches, pumps
• Forespar Marelon — glass-reinforced polymer seacocks (no electrolysis)

General Marine Suppliers

• DDefender — Waterbury, CT — one-stop shop, good prices
• WMWest Marine — nationwide, convenient but pricey
• Fisheries Supply — Seattle, WA — excellent stock, fair prices
• Jamestown Distributors — Bristol, RI — tools, supplies, great tutorials
• TBTotalBoat — epoxy, gelcoat, bottom paint, fillers — excellent direct-to-consumer prices
• Bolt Depot — 316 stainless fasteners by the bag or box, very fair pricing
• Blue Sea Systems — Bellingham, WA — marine electrical panels, breakers, bus bars, made in USA
• Catalina Direct — OEM and aftermarket parts specifically for Catalina sailboats; if you own a Catalina, bookmark this

Brand-Specific OEM Parts

• Catalina Direct — Catalina 22, 25, 27, 30, 36, 42 and more
• Hunter Owners Parts Store — OEM and aftermarket parts for Hunter models by hull number
• ODay Owners Parts Store — canvas, rigging, hardware for O'Day models
• D&R Marine — 35+ years supplying original replacement parts for Pearson and O'Day sailboats
• Pearson Yachts Parts Resources — official parts supplier list by model; includes PDF parts catalogs
• Sailboat Parts (sailboatparts.com) — model-specific parts for Ericson, Cape Dory, Tartan, Sabre, Islander, Morgan, Cal, and more
• Mass Marine Parts — masts, booms, and major components for Hunter, Pearson, O'Day, and others
• Ericson Yachts Owner Exchange — community resource and parts leads for Ericson owners

Specialty Used Marine Stores

• Longship Marine — Poulsbo, WA — consignment store on the waterfront, accessible by boat; winches, blocks, anchors, engine parts, vintage hardware; inventory online
• Sailors Exchange — St. Augustine, FL — large buy/sell bazaar of new & used boat parts, walk to the marina
• Anchors & Oars — veteran-owned marine salvage; rescues quality parts from scrapped boats; strong on 1970s–80s hardware, bronze portlights, Edson pedestals
• Bacon Sails & Marine — Annapolis, MD — used sails and large parts warehouse
• Salvage Marine Network — new, used, and NOS (new old stock) parts; large eBay presence

Online Marketplaces

• eBay — Sailing Hardware — huge selection; search by brand (Harken, Lewmar, Schaefer)
• eBay — Sailboat Parts Used store — dedicated used parts seller
• Facebook Marketplace — search "sailboat" locally; great for large items you can pick up
• Craigslist — Boat Parts — check your local city under "boats" and "boat parts"

Forums With Active Classifieds

• Sailing Anarchy Classifieds — active, knowledgeable sellers
• Cruisers Forum — Classifieds — worldwide, large volume
• Sailboat Owners Classifieds
• Reddit r/sailing — For Sale posts

Tips for Buying Used Gear

• Harken, Lewmar, Schaefer, and Ronstan hardware lasts decades — buy used without hesitation
• Inspect used winches: spin the drum, check pawls click, look for cracked pawl springs
• Wire standing rigging: never buy used. Rope running rigging: inspect for UV damage and sheath wear — often fine
• Used sails: check seams, UV cover on furling sails, batten pockets. Dacron lasts longer than people think
• Used anchors: fine if not bent or cracked. Chain: check for stretch and wear at every link
• Diesel engines / outboards: buy with compression test results and a sea trial whenever possible

Chartplotters & VHF

• Garmin Marine — chartplotters, AIS, VHF, autopilot
• Simrad — chartplotters, autopilots
• B&G — sailing-specific instruments & autopilots
• Standard Horizon — VHF radios
• Icom — VHF & SSB
• Raymarine — chartplotters & instruments

Autopilots

• Garmin Autopilots
• B&G Zeus / H5000
• Raymarine Evolution
• Tiller Pilot — small boat tiller autopilots

Electrical & 12V Systems

• Victron Energy — inverters, chargers, battery monitors — the standard for liveaboards
• Battle Born Batteries — LiFePO4, made in USA (Reno, NV)
• Mastervolt — marine electrical systems
• BEPC Marine — battery chargers
• Blue Sea Systems — Bellingham, WA — marine electrical panels, breakers, bus bars
• Ancor Marine — tinned marine wire, terminals

AIS & Safety Electronics

• Vesper Marine — AIS transponders
• ACR Electronics — EPIRBs, PLBs, flares — made in USA
• ACR / Artex — ELTs & EPIRBs

Anchors & Ground Tackle

• Spade Anchor — top-rated holding power
• Rocna — popular cruising anchor
• Mantus — made in USA, folding design
• Fortress Anchor — aluminum, lightweight, excellent for sand
• Defender — Anchoring
• Lewmar — windlasses & anchor rollers
• Maxwell — windlasses

Safety Gear

• ACR Electronics — EPIRBs, PLBs — Hollywood, FL
• Mustang Survival — inflatable PFDs
• Stearns / SOSPenders — PFDs & inflatables
• LifeSling — MOB rescue system
• Givens Marine Survival — life rafts, made in USA
• Winslow Life Raft — Rockledge, FL, made in USA

Bilge Pumps

• Rule Industries — Gloucester, MA — bilge pumps, made in USA
• SHURflo — pumps & pressure systems
• Jabsco — flexible impeller & bilge pumps

Boat Repair & Restoration

• Fitzee's Fabrications — serious fiberglass & gelcoat repair tutorials
• Boatworks Today — fiberglass, painting, gelcoat, very technical
• The Boat Zone — engine & general boat work
• Sampson Boat Co — epic wooden boat restoration (Leo)
• Fish Bump TV — Captain Joe, 2nd generation boat builder; fiberglass repair, laminate work, boat building from scratch — one of the most practical and technically deep fiberglass channels on YouTube
• The Duracell Project — Matt & Janneke refit a legendary Mike Plant Open 60 race boat into a cruising home; outstanding fiberglass & epoxy work
• Stephanie & Sailing — female solo sailor doing her own work
• Project Boat Help — practical repair tutorials
• Marine How To — electrical systems, rigging

Liveaboard & Cruising on a Budget

• SV Delos — Brian, Karin & crew; long-running classic of the genre, warm & practical
• Sailing Magic Carpet — Maya & Aladino; she got a boat for $1, he bought a shipwreck off a crane — both got fixed and sailed
• Living for Sail — Jon's complete refit & restoration of Liberty 458, ex-corporate world turned liveaboard
• Sailing Doodles — Catalina 42, relatable couple
• Fresh Breeze Sailing — budget cruising
• Gone with the Wynns — practical liveaboard life
• Sailing Uma — bought a wreck, fixed it, sailed it
• Two Shanties — bought a cheap boat, fixing it up

Catalina 30 Channels

• Sailing Angel — Angelique & family, 1988 Catalina 30, Long Island & beyond
• Sailing Solé — coastal cruising on a Catalina 30 out of Long Beach, CA
• Sailing Decision — Canadian couple, Catalina sailboat, documenting life on an old boat
• Lady K Sailing — Great Lakes sailing, Catalina 30 walkthroughs & budget refit episodes

Sailing Content (Instructional)

• Sailing Zingaro — Be the Captain — James Evenson; offshore seamanship, heavy weather, watch-keeping — author of Be the Captain
• Sailing Illustrated — instructional sailing
• NauticEd — sailing education
• Clinton Lors Sailing — seamanship & technique
• GlobeSailor
• Quantum Sails — Sail Trim — free sail trim tutorials

Rigging & Technical

• Rig Rite — rigging how-to videos
• Sailrite — best DIY sail & canvas tutorials on the internet
• West System Epoxy — fiberglass & epoxy repair tutorials
• Compass Marine — marine electrical deep dives

Racing & Performance

• Ocean Racing TV
• PredictWind — weather routing for sailors
• We Sail

General Sailing Forums

• Cruisers Forum — largest active sailing forum online
• Sailing Anarchy — more opinionated, very active
• The Hull Truth — Sailing
• SailNet Forums — older but deep archive
• Reddit — r/sailing
• Reddit — r/liveaboard

Catalina Class Associations

• Catalina 22 National Association — largest Catalina class, active racing & cruising fleet
• Catalina 25/250 & Capri 25 International Association
• International Catalina 30/309 Association — one of the most successful American production boats ever built
• All Catalina Associations — full list from Catalina Yachts, all models

Other Brand Owner Associations

• Pearson Yachts Portal — original documentation, manuals, forums, parts lists; the definitive Pearson owner resource
• Ericson Yachts Information Exchange — 23+ year community; maintenance, rigging, buying & selling by model
• Cape Dory Sailboat Owners Association — national org for Cape Dory, Intrepid, and Robinhood owners
• Cape Dory Board — active forum for Cape Dory owners
• O'Day Owners — parts, forum, and owner resources
• Hunter Owners — owner modifications, manuals, photos, boats for sale, active since 1997
• Cal 20 National Class Association — active racing fleets in CA, OR, WA, HI, and BC
• Tartan Yachts — new ownership (Jan 2026, CEO Jon Duer / Great Lakes Rigging); still building; owner resources and community at tartanyachts.com
• Sabre Yachts Owner Resources — owner associations and resources from Sabre
• C&C 27 Association — history, maintenance, active forum for C&C 27 owners

Technical & DIY Communities

• Cruisers Forum — Construction/Repair
• Cruisers Forum — Engines
• Cruisers Forum — Electrical
• Reddit — r/boatrepair
• Reddit — r/fiberglass

Local & Regional

• US Sailing — Find a Club
• Cruising Club of America
• Seven Seas Cruising Association — offshore focus
• Boat US
• Boat US — membership, insurance, towing
• Sea Tow — towing membership

Boat Maintenance & Repair

• Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual — the bible for DIY sailors
• This Old Boat by Don Casey — 2nd edition; restoring an older fiberglass sailboat
• Inspecting the Aging Sailboat by Don Casey
• Sailboat Hull & Deck Repair by Don Casey
• Boat Mechanical Systems Handbook by Dave Gerr
• Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual — 4th edition; essential reference
• The Boatowner's Guide to Corrosion by Everett Collier
• Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance by Paul Petrick (West System)

Seamanship & Sailing

• The Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousmaniere — 4th edition; comprehensive seamanship
• Chapman Piloting, Seamanship & Small Boat Handling — 70th edition
• Heavy Weather Sailing by Peter Bruce — 8th edition
• Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobson
• The Complete Sailor by David Seidman
• Be the Captain: A Field Manual for Offshore Sailing by James Evenson — 85,000 nm of real-world experience; story-driven and actionable
• The Northern Voyage by Maya Rovegno (Sailing Magic Carpet)

Navigation

• Coastal Navigation — NauticEd online course — USCG-recognized; available at nauticed.org
• Dutton's Nautical Navigation
• Celestial Navigation for the GFW (GPS-Free World)

Where to Buy

• Amazon — use our links to support this site at no extra cost to you
• The Library of Sailing — specialty nautical books
• Paradise Cay Publications — nautical books

Signal K — The Open Marine Data Standard

• SignalK.org — the hub of everything; free, open data platform that connects all your boat's instruments, sensors, and devices over WiFi using standard web technologies (JSON over WebSocket)
• Signal K Server (GitHub) — runs on a Raspberry Pi; aggregates NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000, and Seatalk data into one universal feed accessible by any device on your boat's network
• Support Signal K — volunteer-run project; donations keep it alive

Signal K is the backbone — everything else in this section connects to it. Think of it as the USB hub for your boat's data.

WilhelmSK — iOS Dashboard App for Signal K

• WilhelmSK — iPhone / iPad (App Store) — highly customizable boat instrument dashboard that reads live data from your Signal K server over WiFi; displays speed, depth, wind, engine data, AIS, and more on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch
• WilhelmSK — Mac (App Store) — same app available for MacOS; turn your Mac or MacBook into a full instrument display
• WilhelmSK Setup Guide (GitHub) — step-by-step setup instructions for connecting WilhelmSK to your Signal K server
• Developed by Scott Bender — 25+ year software professional who built WilhelmSK to connect his own boat's Raymarine and NMEA 2000 electronics to Signal K; now used by sailors worldwide
• Fully integrates with iOS Shortcuts for automated workflows — "Drop the anchor," "Cockpit lights on," "Fusion audio" and more; Apple Watch support included

WilhelmSK is the bridge between your Signal K server and your iPhone/iPad — install Signal K on a Raspberry Pi, connect WilhelmSK, and every instrument on your boat appears on your phone screen over WiFi. No dedicated chartplotter display required.

OpenCPN — Free Chartplotter Software

• OpenCPN.org — free, open source chartplotter and navigation software; runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Raspberry Pi
• OpenCPN on GitHub — source code, issue tracking, active development
• About OpenCPN — GPS/GNSS position, BSB raster charts, S-57 vector ENCs, AIS decoding, waypoint navigation, anchor alarm, autopilot output, GRIB weather, tide/current prediction, 45+ plugins
• OpenCPN NMEA Tools — connecting instruments and sensors

OpenPlotter — Marine OS for Raspberry Pi

• OpenMarine / OpenPlotter — a complete marine-optimized Linux OS for Raspberry Pi; pre-installs OpenCPN, Signal K, PyPilot, MAIANA AIS, and WiFi access point in one ready-to-flash image
• OpenPlotter Documentation — full setup guides, hardware compatibility, app configuration
• A $35–$80 Raspberry Pi running OpenPlotter replaces a dedicated chartplotter, AIS receiver, instrument hub, weather display, and anchor alarm simultaneously

Bareboat Necessities (BBN Marine OS)

• Bareboat Necessities — alternative open source marine Linux for Raspberry Pi; Signal K, PyPilot, OpenCPN, and AvNav preconfigured and integrated in one image; excellent documentation
• Aimed at offshore sailors who want a complete, reliable, maintainable system without vendor lock-in

PyPilot — Open Source Autopilot

• PyPilot.org — free, open source autopilot software and hardware by Sean D'Epagnier; Raspberry Pi-based; works with tiller and wheel steering on boats up to ~40 ft
• PyPilot on GitHub — source code and hardware designs
• Features: automatic sensor calibration, compass/GPS/wind steering modes, Signal K and NMEA 0183 integration, OpenCPN plugin, very low power draw
• The TinyPilot is a WiFi-enabled mini controller (Raspberry Pi Zero) with a 9-axis IMU — a complete autopilot computer smaller than a deck of cards
• OpenMarine Shop — buy pre-assembled PyPilot hardware and MAIANA kits if you don't want to source components yourself

MAIANA — Open Source AIS Transponder

• MAIANA on GitHub — the first fully open source Class B AIS transponder; hardware designs, firmware, and manuals all free
• Self-contained unit with AIS and GNSS circuits in the antenna housing; outputs 2W (+33dBm); verified 20+ nm range from masthead, 10+ nm from pushpit
• Runs on 12V; outputs NMEA 0183 continuously; integrates directly with OpenPlotter and Signal K
• A commercial Class B AIS transponder costs $350–$600. A MAIANA kit costs a fraction of that.

NMEA Tools & Utilities

• CANboat — open source NMEA 2000 PGN decoder and utilities; reads and writes N2K messages; essential for troubleshooting NMEA 2000 networks
• kplex — open source NMEA 0183 multiplexer for Linux/Mac; routes data between serial, TCP, and UDP sources; sentence filtering and failover
• OpenSkipper — display and process NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000, and AIS data; Windows-based instrument display
• vYacht — open source wireless boat network hardware and software; WiFi NMEA bridge

Hardware & Community Resources

• Open Boat Projects — curated catalog of open source marine hardware and software projects; great starting point for what's available
• Copperhill Tech — RPi Marine Hub Guide — step-by-step guide to building a Raspberry Pi marine hub with OpenPlotter and Signal K; also sells the PICAN-M HAT (NMEA 0183 + NMEA 2000 interface board for RPi)
• Sailing Anarchy — Open Source Marine Linux thread — real-world sailor experiences with RPi builds
• Reddit r/sailing — Signal K discussions
• SeaBits — NMEA 2000 powered Raspberry Pi; wiring guides and real boat builds
• Hackaday — Marine Projects — open hardware marine builds from the maker community

What You Can Build for Under $200

• Full chartplotter with AIS overlay and weather routing (Raspberry Pi 4 + OpenPlotter + OpenCPN)
• Boat-wide instrument network accessible from phone or tablet via WiFi (Signal K server)
• Tiller autopilot with wind vane and GPS steering modes (PyPilot)
• Class B AIS transponder — transmit and receive (MAIANA)
• NMEA 0183 / NMEA 2000 bridge connecting old and new instruments (CANboat + kplex)

Recommended Hardware Shopping List

Everything below is a real part with a confirmed supplier. Prices approximate as of 2026 — verify before ordering.

The Brain

• Raspberry Pi 4 Model B — 4GB RAM (~$55) — the sweet spot for OpenPlotter; handles chartplotter, Signal K, AIS, and autopilot simultaneously without breaking a sweat. Buy from CanaKit, Adafruit, or PiShop.us
• Raspberry Pi 5 — 4GB or 8GB (~$60–$80) — faster, supports NVMe SSD instead of microSD (more reliable long-term); recommended if you plan to add an SSD. Best for OpenPlotter 4.x

Marine Interface HATs (pick one)

• PICAN-M HAT (~$99) by Copperhill Technologies — NMEA 0183 (RS-422 screw terminal) + NMEA 2000 (Micro-C connector) + 3A onboard power supply to run the Pi directly from 12V ship power. Plug-and-play with OpenPlotter and Signal K
• MacArthur HAT by OpenMarine/Wegmatt — more modular; NMEA 2000, 2x NMEA 0183 inputs, 2x outputs, smart power management, Seatalk1, Qwiic sensor connector. Buy modules only for what you need. Also available at Wegmatt

Storage

• microSD Card — 32GB or 64GB, Class 10 / A2 rated (~$10–$15) — Samsung Endurance Pro or SanDisk Endurance series recommended; standard cards wear out faster from the constant writes a marine server generates. Buy on Amazon
• NVMe SSD (Pi 5 only) — with the official Raspberry Pi NVMe Base, a 256GB SSD (~$35) replaces the microSD entirely; much longer lifespan on a boat

GPS

• GlobalSat BU-353-N USB GPS Receiver (~$40) — waterproof, 75-channel, uBlox chipset, 6 ft cable, magnetic mount; plug into the Pi's USB port. Works out of the box with OpenCPN and Signal K
• Budget option: VK-172 USB GPS dongle (~$10 on Amazon) — works fine for testing and fair-weather use; not waterproof

Display

• Any HDMI monitor or touchscreen — a cheap 10" HDMI touchscreen (~$60–$80) on Amazon mounts well at a nav station. Search "Raspberry Pi 10 inch HDMI touchscreen"
• Existing laptop or tablet — Signal K serves a web dashboard to any device on your WiFi network; you may not need a dedicated screen at all
• Bareboat Necessities tablet builds — BBN OS works well on a dedicated Android tablet as a helm display

Power & Enclosure

• 12V to 5V DC-DC converter (~$12–$20) — if not using a HAT with onboard power regulation; search "12V 5V 3A DC-DC marine converter USB-C"; look for ones with reverse polarity and overvoltage protection
• Below-deck installation — the Pi does not need to be waterproof if mounted below deck in a dry locker. A simple plastic project box with cable glands is sufficient for most installs
• Topside/exposed install — use an IP65-rated enclosure with PG7 waterproof cable glands. Search "IP65 project box Raspberry Pi" on Amazon (~$15–$25)
• Blue Sea fuse block — fuse the Pi's power feed at 3A; never run it unfused off ship's power

Total Estimated Build Cost

• Minimal build (Pi 4 + PICAN-M + GPS + microSD): ~$165–$185
• Full build (Pi 5 + MacArthur HAT + SSD + GPS + touchscreen + enclosure): ~$275–$350
• Either replaces $800–$2,500 worth of proprietary chartplotter + AIS + instrument hub hardware

YouTube — Open Source Marine Tech Channels

• Après Sail — best multi-part series on building a complete DIY marine electronics system: OpenPlotter, Raspberry Pi, Signal K, and OpenCPN from scratch on a real boat; highly recommended starting point
• raspberry4sailing — tutorials specifically for Raspberry Pi marine projects: Node-RED, sensors, instrument displays, Signal K integrations on a sailboat
• The Low Cost Sailor (English) — DIY marine electronics, OpenPlotter builds, low-budget chartplotter builds, practical how-to videos

Key Tutorial Articles & Guides

• Copperhill Tech — Comprehensive OpenPlotter & Signal K Guide — written walkthrough from hardware selection through full installation
• Copperhill Tech — RPi Marine Hub Step-by-Step — includes PICAN-M HAT wiring for NMEA 2000
• The Low Cost Sailor — Budget Chartplotter Build — full parts list and setup guide
• OpenPlotter Official Docs — Getting Started — download, flash, first boot
• SeaBits — NMEA 2000 Powered RPi — power the Pi directly from your NMEA 2000 backbone; clean wiring guide
• Understanding OpenPlotter / OpenCPN / Signal K — clear conceptual explanation of how the three systems relate to each other before you start building