Getting Started with YachtLINK™
From the box to solid green in about five minutes. This guide takes you through installing the gateway on your boat's NMEA 2000® network and connecting it to the YACHTWAVE® app.
Setup at a Glance
Install
Connect the gateway to a spare tee and mount it.
Connect
Join its Wi-Fi and choose the boat or marina network in the app.
Check the Light
Solid green means data is flowing to your account.
Before You Start
- A working NMEA 2000® backbone with a spare tee — the tee is not in the box.
- An NMEA 2000® drop cable long enough to reach where you will mount the gateway — not in the box.
- The name and password of the boat or marina Wi-Fi the gateway will use (2.4 GHz).
- A YACHTWAVE® subscription on Personal+, Fleet Edition Ultimate or the Operations Edition, with the vessel already added. Compare Editions →
- A phone or tablet with the YACHTWAVE® app, signed in to that account.
Safety first. YachtLINK™ is a fixed installation. Mount it where at least 20 cm (8 in) is kept between the gateway and anyone aboard during normal operation. Connect it only to a standard 12 V NMEA 2000® network supply — never to mains or directly to a battery. Do not open the enclosure: there are no user-serviceable parts inside, and opening it voids the seal and the warranty.
Install the Gateway
Power Down and Connect
With the NMEA 2000® network switched off, run a drop cable from a spare tee on the backbone to the gateway's M12 connector. Hand-tighten the coupling ring — no tools.
Mount It
Fix the gateway on its two-hole flange below deck, within Wi-Fi reach of where you will stand to do the setup. There is no separate power connection: the gateway runs on the backbone.
Power Up
Turn the network back on. The status light blinks white while the gateway starts, then blinks amber: it is in setup mode and waiting for you.
Connect It to Your Boat
Join the Gateway's Wi-Fi
Scan the QR code on the unit label to join automatically, or open your phone's Wi-Fi settings, pick the network named YachtLINK-… and enter the password printed on the label.
Choose a Network in the YACHTWAVE® App
Open the YACHTWAVE® app. It finds the gateway and asks which boat or marina Wi-Fi to use: pick the network, enter its password and connect. The app links the gateway to your vessel.
Wait for Solid Green
When the status light turns solid green, the gateway is online and data is flowing to your YACHTWAVE® account. It keeps its setup Wi-Fi open for about two minutes, then closes it and runs on its own from here on.
That's it. Engine hours, tank levels, position and the rest of what your network broadcasts now reach the app without anyone typing them in. If the boat leaves Wi-Fi range, the gateway keeps capturing and catches up when it is back on the network.
What the Lights Mean
The main status light changes colour to show what the gateway is doing. The power light stays on whenever the gateway has power, and the two NMEA 2000® activity lights flicker as data is received and sent — flickering is normal.
| Status Light | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Blinking white | Starting up. |
| Blinking amber | Setup mode — the gateway's Wi-Fi is on and waiting for you (step 4). |
| Solid amber | Wi-Fi saved, but the gateway cannot reach the internet. Check the boat or marina network. |
| Solid green | Connected and running normally. |
| Blinking green | Uploading data. |
| Green / amber | Online, with the setup Wi-Fi still open (the two minutes after connecting). |
| Slow white blink | Installing a firmware update. Do not remove power. |
| Blinking red | Fault. Contact us (below). |
Keep Your Label
Every YachtLINK™ has its own Wi-Fi password, set at the factory and printed on the unit label with the serial number and QR code. It cannot be changed, and a factory reset keeps it, so the label stays valid for the life of the gateway. Photograph the label before you mount the unit — it may be hard to reach later.
If Something Isn't Right
No Lights at All
The gateway takes its power from the backbone. Check that the network is switched on and powered, and that the drop cable's coupling ring is fully seated on both ends.
Solid Amber
The gateway saved your Wi-Fi but cannot get online. Check that the boat or marina network has internet access and uses 2.4 GHz, and that the password was entered correctly.
The YachtLINK-… Network Has Disappeared
That is normal: the setup Wi-Fi closes two minutes after the gateway connects. To open it again, switch the NMEA 2000® network off and back on.
Still Stuck? Talk to a Person
Write to [email protected] or call +1 (941) 291-0040. Have the serial number from the unit label to hand. Regulatory declarations for your gateway are on the Product Compliance page.
Your Boat Is Reporting In
Open the YACHTWAVE® app to see the readings arrive.