Category: Electronics

28/03/2026

New life for the electronics of our boat

Greetings sailors,Today we are going to reuse and modernize all the electronics of our boat thanks to our Rapsberry with Openplotter, interconnecting NMEA 0183 and Seatalk devices to be able to access their data from any device (Tablet, Mobile, Computer, Navionics, OpenCPN) and anywhere. And all thanks to connecting it with our Raspberry Pi with OpenPlotter. A world of possibilities to rejuvenate the electronics of […]

DIY Electronics Technology

20/03/2026

🚤 How to Build a Wireless Autopilot Remote for Simrad for Under $20 (DIY R3000X)

Did you know you can control your autopilot wirelessly without spending over $200? 🤯 In this article, I’ll show you how to build your own wireless remote control compatible with Simrad, B&G and Robertson (R3000X) autopilots for under $20, using cheap and easy-to-find components. 👉 But first, here’s the full video with the complete step-by-step process: 🎥 Full Video ⚓ Why build your own autopilot […]

Electronics Sailing Security Technology

15/03/2026

The cheapest AIS emitter on the market, for your boat

Hello sailors, Today we’re going to test the cheapest AIS transponder I’ve been able to find — and of course, it’s Chinese… very Chinese. Officially it’s marketed as a fishing net locator, specifically the “SOCOTRAN Net Locator”, but we’ll see that in reality it is a perfectly functional AIS transponder. We will be able to program it with our boat’s identification information so that other […]

Electronics Sailing

06/03/2026

Navionics vs OpenCPN vs Orca: Which Is the Best Chartplotter App for Your Boat?

For many years, marine chartplotters have been expensive and fairly closed systems. Dedicated devices that can easily cost $700 to over $2000, and often become obsolete after only a few years. However, the evolution of smartphones and tablets has completely changed this landscape. Today it is possible to turn an Android phone or tablet into a fully capable marine chartplotter, with advanced charts, AIS, weather […]

Comfort on board Electronics

06/02/2026

Artificial Intelligence on Board: Talk to Your Boat and Control It by Voice

Artificial intelligence is no longer something from the future, nor is it reserved for large yachts or expensive marine systems. In this episode of The Low Cost Sailor, we show you how you can talk to your boat and control it by voice, using low-cost WiFi devices, smart home technology, and AI tools like Google Home and Google Gemini. The goal is simple: make your […]

Electronics Technology

12/12/2025

Motorcycle GPS Turned into a Marine Chartplotter: The Cheapest and Toughest Plotter We’ve Ever Built 🚤📍

In this video, we show you how to turn a motorcycle GPS (costing just €60–80) into a fully functional marine chartplotter, resistant to sunlight, rain, and harsh marine conditions. This is probably one of the most powerful and cost-effective projects we’ve ever built on The Low Cost Sailor: a real alternative to expensive, premium-brand marine chartplotters — at a fraction of the price. 🎥 Video: […]