WiFi For Yachts: The Ultimate Guide

Want to stay connected when you climb aboard your yacht? You’ll need a reliable internet connection. You can’t always rely on your phone signal or weak marina public WiFi when you’re on your boat, so if you want to access maps, watch movies, or even work from your yacht, you’ll need good yacht WiFi. Fortunately, this is becoming more common and accessible. Find out everything you need to know about WiFi for yachts below.

Do you need WiFi for your yacht?

Travelling by boat can be an opportunity to get some distance from your devices. But it’s important to remember that the internet isn’t just a luxury for streaming or video calling your friends. Having an internet connection can give you added safety benefits. You’ll be able to make contact in an emergency, and navigate the waters more safely.

WiFi for yachts can be used for many purposes, including:

• Navigation
• Communication
• Social media
• Marketing (especially if your yacht is available to charter)
• Working
• Streaming music and TV.

Can you get WiFi on a yacht?

Yes. The Maxview Roam 5G is specifically designed to work in moving vehicles like caravans and motorhomes — so they’re the ideal internet solution for boats, too.

The Roam 5G work by detecting 3G/4G/5G signals and amplifying the signal strength to create a fast, reliable connection. They can pick up signals from mobile towers and WiFi hotspots on shore — so all you need is a good data SIM plan and our router kit.

Will the WiFi still work when you’re sailing?

Yes, but there are distance limitations. All our Roams rely on mobile tower signals to work, which are usually based onshore. So if you tend to relax on your yacht in or near the marina, these are a great solution. The Roam can usually detect signals up to 20 miles away, so depending on how close the nearest cell tower is, you should still have plenty of sailing scope.

If you want to sail further afield, there are still options — satellite internet is probably your best bet. Bear in mind that this is usually much more expensive to buy and install than the Roam router, so consider whether it’s necessary to invest in satellite internet.

Does the Roam work in other boats?

Yes. Many of our customers have purchased the Roam 5G to get canal boat or narrowboat WiFi access. If the weather is inclement, having WiFi on your boat can give you plenty of indoor entertainment options.

How do you mount the Roam 5G on a yacht?

The Roam 5G consists of a router, which is usually installed in the interior of the vehicle, and an antenna, which should be mounted outside. The antenna is omnidirectional, so it can pick up signals from all directions. That means you’ll get uninterrupted internet on both your outbound and return journeys (provided you don’t stray too far from the shore).

If you’re not confident installing the system yourself, we would suggest to find a professional installer used to working on yachts.

Can I make my yacht WiFi available to charter guests?

Yes! In fact, if your yacht is available to charter, having WiFi is a big selling point to potential customers who want to share photos and make calls from aboard the boat.

The Roam router works the same way as any other WiFi system. You’ll be issued with a router name and passcode. Anyone who wants to connect to the WiFi can do so using this passcode. The Roam amplifies the signal strength so you’ll have a good footprint around the coastline until you lose connection.

Choose your ideal WiFi system

Our WiFi system selector will help you find the right Roam kit based on your planned usage, vehicle type, and travel plans. You can also browse all our caravan WiFi systems for more information.