From the workbench

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How-to guides, buyer's takes, and the occasional rant. Written by people who actually rig boats.

11 Articles
Xantrex Freedom XC Pro Review: The Workhorse of Liveaboards
BOATELECTRICS · BOATING · BOATLIFE · CRUISINGLIFE · INVERTERCHARGER · LIVEABOARD · MARINEELECTRICAL · MARINEELECTRONICS · MARINEPOWER · MARINETECH · NVNMARINE · NVNMARINEREVIEWS · SAILBOATLIFE · TRAWLERLIFE · XANTREX · AUG 4, 2026 · 13 MIN

Xantrex Freedom XC Pro Review: The Workhorse of Liveaboards

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...
How to Network Marine Electronics with NMEA 2000
BOATBUILDING · BOATLIFE · CENTERCONSOLEBOATS · CHARTPLOTTER · FISHINGBOAT · GARMINMARINE · LOWRANCE · MARINEELECTRONICS · MARINEINSTALL · MARINEWIRING · NMEA2000 · NVNMARINE · RAYMARINE · SAILBOATLIFE · SIMRAD · AUG 3, 2026 · 11 MIN

How to Network Marine Electronics with NMEA 2000

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...
Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Review: Entry-Level Autopilot Done Right
AUTOPILOTS · AUTOPILOTSYSTEM · BOATLIFE · BOATTECH · CENTERCONSOLE · CENTERCONSOLEFISHING · FISHINGBOAT · MARINEAUTOPILOT · MARINEELECTRONICS · NAVIGATIONELECTRONICS · NVNMARINE · OFFSHOREBOAT · OFFSHOREBOATING · RAYMARINEEVOLUTION · SAILBOATLIFE · JUL 31, 2026 · 10 MIN

Raymarine Evolution EV-100 Review: Entry-Level Autopilot Done Right

      By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing,...
How Marine Autopilot Systems Work (And What to Look For)
AUTOPILOTS · BOATING · BOATINGLIFE · BOATLIFE · CENTERCONSOLEBOATS · CHARTPLOTTER · GARMINMARINE · MARINEAUTOPILOT · MARINEELECTRONICS · NMEA2000 · NVNMARINE · OFFSHOREBOAT · RAYMARINE · SIMRAD · JUL 25, 2026 · 12 MIN

How Marine Autopilot Systems Work (And What to Look For)

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...
How to Choose Trolling Motor Thrust: Calculator & Guide
BASS BOATS · BASS FISHING · BASS FISHING NATION · BOAT ELECTRONICS · BOATING · BOATLIFE · CENTER CONSOLE BOATING · COASTAL BOATING · FISH FINDER · FISHINGBOAT · MARINE ELECTRONICS · MINN KOTA · MOTOR GUIDE · NVNMARINE · SALTWATERFISHING · SPOTLOCK · TROLLING MOTOR · TROLLINGMOTOR · JUL 10, 2026 · 12 MIN

How to Choose Trolling Motor Thrust: Calculator & Guide

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...
Raymarine Axiom Pro vs Axiom 2 Pro: Which Should You Buy?
AXIOM · AXIOM 2 PRO · BOAT ELECTRONICS · BOATING · BOATLIFE · CENTER CONSOLE BOATING · CHARTPLOTTER · FISHING · HELMSETUP · MARINE ELECTRONICS · MARINE TECH · NVNMARINE · OFFSHOREBOATING · RAYMARINE · JUL 6, 2026 · 7 MIN

Raymarine Axiom Pro vs Axiom 2 Pro: Which Should You Buy?

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...
Marine Transducer Buyer's Guide: Through-Hull, Transom & In-Hull
BASS BOATS · BOAT ELECTRONICS · BOATING · BOATLIFE · CENTER CONSOLE BOATING · CHIRPSONAR · FISH FINDER · FISHFINDER · FISIHING LIFE · MARINE ELECTRONICS · MARINE TRANSDUCER · NVNMARINE · OFFSHOREBOATING · THROUGHHULL · TRANSDUCER · JUL 2, 2026 · 7 MIN

Marine Transducer Buyer's Guide: Through-Hull, Transom & In-Hull

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...
Best Marine Autopilot Systems of 2026: Buyer's Guide
AUTOPILOTS · B&G · BANDG · BOAT ELECTRONICS · BOATING · BOATLIFE · FISHING · GARMIN · MARINE AUTOPILOTS · MARINE ELECTRONICS · NVNMARINE · OFFSHOREBOATING · RAYMARINE · SAILBOATLIFE · SIMRAD · JUL 1, 2026 · 7 MIN

Best Marine Autopilot Systems of 2026: Buyer's Guide

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...
Best Marine Radar Systems of 2026: Solid State vs Magnetron
BOAT ELECTRONICS · BOATING · BOATLIFE · CENTER CONSOLE BOATING · COASTAL BOATING · GARMIN · MARINE ELECTRONICS · MARINE RADAR · NVNMARINE · OFFSHOREBOATING · RADAR INSTALL · RAYMARINE · SIMRAD · SOLID STATE RADAR · JUN 26, 2026 · 7 MIN

Best Marine Radar Systems of 2026: Solid State vs Magnetron

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...
Best Marine VHF Radios of 2026: Fixed-Mount vs. Handheld — Which One Do You Actually Need?
BOATING · BOATLIFE · BOATSTAGRAM · CENTERCONSOLE · COASTAL BOATING · ICOM · MARINE COMMUNICATIONS · MARINE ELECTRONICS · MARINE SAFETY · NVNMARINE · OFFSHOREBOATING · STANDARD HORIZON · VHF · VHF RADIOS · JUN 25, 2026 · 5 MIN

Best Marine VHF Radios of 2026: Fixed-Mount vs. Handheld — Which One Do You Actually Need?

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...
Best Marine Chartplotters of 2026: Complete Buyer's Guide
B&G · BANDG · BOATLIFE · CENTERCONSOLE · CHARTPLOTTER · FISHINGBOAT · GARMIN · LOWRANCE · MARINEGEAR2026 · MARINENAVIGATION · NMEA2000 · OFFSHOREBOATING · RAYMARINE · SIMRAD · JUN 4, 2026 · 7 MIN

Best Marine Chartplotters of 2026: Complete Buyer's Guide

By the NVN Marine Expert Team — Our team has spent 10+ years on the water installing, testing, and troubleshooting...