# Marine Electronics Installation Long Beach | NMEA 2000 | Long Beach Marine Electric

> Marine electronics installation in Long Beach: chartplotters, radar, VHF/AIS and autopilots on a clean NMEA 2000 backbone with proper power. Call today.

URL: https://longbeachmarineelectric.com/marine-electronics-installation/

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# Marine Electronics Installation in Long Beach

Chartplotters, radar, VHF/AIS and autopilots, powered correctly and networked on a clean NMEA 2000 backbone, so they talk to each other and stay that way.

[Call (562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233) [Get a Free Estimate](/contact/)

-   NMEA 2000 backbone & terminators
-   Dedicated, fused electronics power
-   VHF/AIS antenna & cable runs
-   Garmin · Raymarine · Simrad · Furuno
-   3% voltage drop on electronics feeds
-   Free estimate within 24 hours

Last updated: October 6, 2026

[Long Beach Marine Electric](/) connects boat owners with licensed, insured marine electricians for marine electronics installation: chartplotters and multifunction displays, radar, VHF and AIS, autopilots, sonar and engine data, wired on a properly built NMEA 2000 network with clean power. Most electronics problems on boats aren't faulty units. They're power and network problems: undersized feeds, a backbone missing a terminator, or a device pulling its power from the wrong place.

## What happens on the first visit

1.  A list of what you have and what you want: new displays, radar, AIS, autopilot or engine data on the plotter.
2.  Check of the existing network: backbone, drop cables, terminators, and how and where the network is powered.
3.  Power feed review. Electronics need dedicated, fused circuits with low voltage drop, or they reboot when the engine cranks.
4.  Mounting and cable-run survey for displays, the radar mast or arch, and antennas.
5.  A written install plan and a fixed price.

## NMEA 2000 done right

NMEA 2000 lets plotters, instruments, autopilots and engines share data over one backbone cable. It's reliable when it's built to spec: one continuous backbone with a terminator at each end, devices connected by short drop cables, network power injected at a sensible point, and total cable length and load within limits. Most network faults come from a missing or extra terminator, a backbone extended with the wrong parts, or water in a connector.

A quick resistance check across the backbone (about 60 ohms with both terminators in place) and a look at the network device list on the plotter find most problems in minutes.

## Power is the hidden half of every install

Displays and radar that reboot or freeze when the engine starts are almost always a power problem: voltage dropping below what the unit needs during cranking. ABYC E-11 calls for no more than 3% voltage drop on critical circuits, and navigation electronics are critical. That means a dedicated feed from the main distribution, sized for the run, with its own breaker, not a splice into the nearest accessory wire.

## Antennas, radar and through-hulls

VHF range depends on antenna height and cable quality more than radio power. Long runs need low-loss coax and sealed connectors. Radar needs a mount clear of people's heads and other antennas. Transducers that go through the hull wait for a haul-out, but most other electronics work, including replacing a plotter with a new one in the same cutout, is done at the slip.

## Insurance, warranty and who pays

Electronics installs are owner-paid. You can supply the equipment or have the electrician source it. Either way, you get a fixed written price for installation before work starts. Display swaps often take a few hours. A full electronics refit with radar, autopilot and a new backbone can take several days.

## What's included

-   Install plan and network layout
-   NMEA 2000 backbone build or repair
-   Dedicated, fused electronics power
-   Display and instrument mounting
-   Radar and antenna installation
-   VHF/AIS setup and MMSI entry help
-   Autopilot install and calibration support
-   Network and power test

## DIY vs cheap fix vs proper electronics install

DIY

Cheap operator

Proper marine work

Power

Spliced into a light circuit

Shared breaker

Dedicated fused feed, ≤3% drop

Network

Extra or missing terminators

Backbone extended ad hoc

Built and measured to NMEA 2000 spec

Connectors

Unsealed

Unsealed

Sealed and strain-relieved

Antennas

Cheap coax

Long lossy runs

Low-loss cable, sealed connections

Result

Random dropouts

Reboots on cranking

Stable, documented network

## Sources

-   [Wiring Harness News: ABYC E-11 voltage-drop limits](https://wiringharnessnews.com/electrical-standards-for-marine-wiring/)

Electronics acting up?

Most faults are power or network. Get it checked at the slip.

[(562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233)

Mon–Sat 7am–6pm · Free estimate within 24 hours

Standards applied

-   NMEA 2000
-   ABYC E-11 (DC systems)
-   3% drop on critical circuits
-   FCC VHF / AIS rules

[Estimate your cost](/tools/marine-electrical-cost-estimator/)

How it works

## How marine electronics installation works

1.  01
    
    ### Tell us the plan
    
    What you have and what you want to add. Call or send the form for a same-day callback.
    
2.  02
    
    ### Survey & design
    
    Network, power and mounting checked; written plan and fixed price.
    
3.  03
    
    ### Install
    
    Units mounted, powered on dedicated circuits, networked to spec.
    
4.  04
    
    ### Commission
    
    Network checked, data sources assigned, and everything shown working together.
    

Get marine electronics installation at your slip today

Same-day callback. Written price before any work.

[Call (562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233) [Get a Free Estimate](/contact/)

Straight answers

## Marine Electronics Installation questions

### Why does my chartplotter reboot when I start the engine?

Voltage dips below the unit's minimum during cranking. The fix is usually a dedicated, properly sized power feed from the main distribution, sometimes from the house bank rather than the start battery.

### Can I mix brands on an NMEA 2000 network?

Yes, that's what the standard is for. Basic data such as depth, position and engine data is shared across brands. Some advanced features stay brand-specific.

### Does installing a new transducer need a haul-out?

Through-hull transducers do. Transom-mount transducers and most other electronics work can be done at the slip.

### Can a new display fit my old cutout?

Sometimes, with an adapter plate. The electrician checks dimensions and connector compatibility before you buy.

### Who does the work, and how do I know they’re qualified?

Long Beach Marine Electric is a free service that connects you with an independent, licensed and insured marine electrician who holds the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) Marine Electrical Certification. Ask your electrician for proof of license and insurance before work starts.

## Related services

[Boat RewiringAging automotive wire replaced with tinned marine cable, new AC/DC panels and labeled circuits, built to ABYC E-11.](/boat-rewiring/) [Sailboat Electrical SystemsMasthead and tricolor lights, wind instruments, mast wiring and cruising energy budgets for sailboats.](/sailboat-electrical/) [Yacht Electrical Systems50A and 100A 240V service, generator transfer switches, isolation transformers and digital switching on 40 ft+ yachts.](/yacht-electrician/)

Get electronics that stay on and talk to each other

[Call (562) 374-7233](tel:+15623747233) [Get a Free Estimate](/contact/)