Page 1
Page 1
Started By
Message

Starlink on a boat

Posted on 11/13/24 at 5:36 am
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
13184 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 5:36 am
Anyone used Starlink on a boat? My wife and I are thinking of semi-retiring in the next year and doing the great loop. We would both continue to do some consulting and that seems problematic in some of the more remote ICW areas as far as connectivity is concerned. I am sure it is probably hit or miss underway but is it reliable at anchor or moored? We had it on our motorhome once and it was not at all reliable moving or sitting still but I am told it has vastly improved.

It also looks like it is available anywhere in the lower 48 now? Is that so?
Posted by Da Hammer
Folsom
Member since May 2008
5960 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 5:48 am to
I can't speak for while moving but while sitting still it's absolutely fantastic. I have two units one fixed at my hunting camp which has no internet and limited cellular access. Then I have a mobile one to use as a back up at my office and when I travel and they both work very very well.

I want to say I have seen a few on bigger boats down in Venice but not sure how they perform but if it was bad I don't think they would be on them.
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
13184 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 6:02 am to
quote:

I can't speak for while moving but while sitting still it's absolutely fantastic. I have two units one fixed at my hunting camp which has no internet and limited cellular access. Then I have a mobile one to use as a back up at my office and when I travel and they both work very very well.

I want to say I have seen a few on bigger boats down in Venice but not sure how they perform but if it was bad I don't think they would be on them.


Everyone says it is as reliable as any internet provider now. When we had it on our motorhome it wasn't much better if any than cell service and of course it only worked when stationary. Everyone I talk to and everything I read suggests it is much improved.

We have an InMotion Dish Receiver on our motorhome and it is very reliable when sitting still but still hit or miss while traveling....thats what I am basing the Starlink on while moving. That said considering the number of people cruising the Bahamas there has to be some sort of a solution for internet under way.
Posted by THE HUNT
On a boat
Member since Nov 2012
100 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 7:08 am to
Works great for the whole boat I work and we only travel the Mississippi River.
Posted by GrandIsle12
Member since Jun 2022
35 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 7:45 am to
I know many of the sportfishing boats on the Gulf Coast and beyond have had them installed and seems very reliable. Keeps them up to date on weather and water conditions when fishing the big marlin tournaments.

Seems like a cool retirement plan. What kind of boat will you be in?
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
5351 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 8:21 am to
Airlines are about to start installing them in their planes from what I've read.

I'll bet Major League Fishing will jump on this pretty quickly.
Posted by Timmayy
Houston
Member since Mar 2016
1660 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 8:22 am to
Use it a good bit on a sportfisher. Very reliable. Only downside is the marine plans are expensive for high use. So we make sure to limit who has acces when at the marina so that people just use their cellular. Only offshore for a few days at a time so it’s tough to burn through enough gigs to matter too much.

Worked well for the month they used it down in the Bahamas. Think their bill was about 1500 that month because of their usage and they didn’t have the unlimited plan.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
70886 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 8:28 am to
I've been on a few boats that have it over the past year. Seems fine to me. I was doing teams meetings while under way
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
13184 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 8:41 am to
quote:


I know many of the sportfishing boats on the Gulf Coast and beyond have had them installed and seems very reliable. Keeps them up to date on weather and water conditions when fishing the big marlin tournaments.

Seems like a cool retirement plan. What kind of boat will you be in?


Looking at mid 30-foot trawlers. Used, not new LOL. One of my hobbies is working on boats so I am not overly intimidated by making some major repairs myself. Some of the Tugs are also interesting but they seem very pricey. Aft Cabin MYs aren't out of the question but they are planing hulls and fuel costs are not budget friendly. Displacement hulled trawlers seem to be the "ideal" compromise between some comfort, sea worthiness and fuel costs. Somewhere in the $40-$70K range. Not going to be a boat without issues at that price but I never ran across a boat that did not have issues LOL.
Posted by OU812ME2
Earth
Member since Jun 2021
1328 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 8:41 am to
I may be mistaken, but I think the portable version actually tracks the sats in real time. Like you drop it and it moves automatically. I would think a trawler at 8 or so knots would be slow enough for it to keep track.

In the back of my mind, my ideal life for retirement would be a live aboard with at least one great loop (the full one) trip. But I don't think that is anywhere near my wife's retirement idea. So for now I just dream. Good luck.
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
13184 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 8:48 am to
quote:

I've been on a few boats that have it over the past year. Seems fine to me. I was doing teams meetings while under way


That and sending emails with attachments would be the extent of what we'd need. Sounds like it'd mostly work and when it did not we could wait until it did....after all, we'd be retired!
Posted by slacker130
Your mom
Member since Jul 2010
8921 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 9:19 am to
Envious. The Great Loop is my retirement plan as well. I've also decided a displacement trawler is my target vessel, maybe 42' -48'.

Hoping 10 years, maybe.
Posted by Bucktown Tiger
New Orleans, Louisiana
Member since Jan 2005
137 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 9:23 am to
Outstanding and reliable. I have it on my center console that I fish out of Venice. Amazing speed and clarity even when going 50+ mph. We have streamed LSU and Saints games at the floaters (when not pirating the signal from floaters). I pay $250/mo
Posted by CP3
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2009
7547 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 9:55 am to
I put Starlink on a 42 Freeman. It works great.
Posted by THE HUNT
On a boat
Member since Nov 2012
100 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 10:33 am to
Get an older grandbanks , fiberglass not wood.
Posted by Kjnstkmn
Vermilion Parish
Member since Aug 2020
18489 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 12:35 pm to
Posted by Sparetime
Lookin down at LA
Member since Sep 2014
972 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 12:37 pm to
quote:

I pay $250/mo


I would budget around 2500 for good mount and router if you want it to work correctly. This plan is what most Gulf guys go with to update charts and watch a few football games a month. Let everyone check emails every 24 hours.

Good luck on the boat search and the Loop. Congrats!
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
13184 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 1:47 pm to
quote:


Envious. The Great Loop is my retirement plan as well. I've also decided a displacement trawler is my target vessel, maybe 42' -48'.

Hoping 10 years, maybe.



We used to dream about selling everything and buying a sailboat and sailing around the world. I took up sailing and realized its waaaayyyyy more work than I want to be involved in. Between that and life happening we changed our minds but life is about to change again and its offering a chance to do a shorter and tamer version of circumnavigating the globe LOL. If the loop is enjoyable we may venture to the Bahamas and the Caribbean for a while but going to take some baby steps. With some luck we have 2-1/2 - 3 years to get prepared.
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
13184 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 2:05 pm to
quote:


Get an older grandbanks , fiberglass not wood.


Actually at the top of the list. Love the lines and by all accounts very well built and reliable. Found a very nice wood version well under what we think our budget is. Boat is immaculate on the surface, brightwork like a mirror. At the price it seems something is amiss that isn't apparent. No matter what we buy we will have a survey done but certainly more interested in a fiberglass version.
Posted by CHEDBALLZ
South Central LA
Member since Dec 2009
23051 posts
Posted on 11/13/24 at 2:50 pm to
My son installs Starlink on offshore boats, he says its the best as far as on water mobile internet. The price has been going up considerably though.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram