For years, getting reliable internet on a boat was a mix of cellular juggling, expensive satellite plans, and good old-fashioned frustration. Then Starlink came along and flipped the script. Suddenly, liveaboard sailors could stream, work remotely, and stay connected like never before.
We installed Starlink on our boat in early 2023 and have been using non-stop every since. From our experience, here's my review on using Starlink aboard a boat.
Starlink recently launched a referral program so if you use this link to sign up for a Residential or Roam plan, you get 1 month free and so do we!
What is Starlink for boats?
Starting with the basics, Starlink is a satellite internet system from SpaceX that uses the company's low-orbit satellite array to provide high speed internet. Customers choose a Starlink dish to receive signal, and a service monthly plan with options for Residential, Roam and Boats.
Which hardware and plan is right for you depends on your circumstances, and to help I have a whole write up on it for boats, which includes information about the cost. Personally we have a High Performance dish installed on our Leopard Catamaran and opted for the Roam plan. The plans do change every year or so, so it's worth keeping on top of the latest offering.
Starlink coverage for sailors
Starlink coverage is something that varies depending on your plan and location, but functionally it can work worldwide.
To find out which countries currently allow service, you can check the Starlink coverage map. At the moment, anecdotal reports are that the Roam plan works in countries where it's technically not available for around 2 months before service is cut off. Countries where it is available have no problems.
Offshore and in international waters, Starlink works if you have a plan that allows it. There have been yachties using it in the middle of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans without a hitch.
How well does Starlink work on a boat?
Starting with coastal performance, we've found that Starlink works as well on land as it does on the water. Right now we're sitting in a bay off the coast of Saint Martin and our Starlink is achieving speeds of 121 Mbps download, 22 Mbps upload and 56ms of latency.
At sea, which anecdotally is usually more than 10 NM offshore, Starlink only works if you have priority data enabled. When it is, the performance is unaffected. We recently sailed from Trinidad to St Martin, and were able to check the weather, download emails and even stream video content with no noticeable different in speed or performance. We did this by turning the Priority Data toggle "on", a feature that's currently still available for Roam account users.
Impact of weather on Starlink
Like many users we've found that heavy tropical rainstorms can cause temporary disruptions, although the service typically recovers as soon as the rain stops or lightens up.
Installation and setup on a boat
Installing Starlink on a moving vessel is a little different than setting it up in a backyard, with proper mounting and power management making all the difference.
We used the OEM wedge mount for the High Performance dish and installed it on the roof towards the front of the boat. We've had no issues with obstructions there, although you can tell where the mast is.
Starlink units come with a 100-240V (50-60 Hz) power connection as standard which is what ours is currently plugged in to. According to the Starlink app we draw around 80-90W on average. We're in the process of getting the parts to change it to DC power which should improve the power consumption, a conversion we'll share when done.
How much does Starlink for boats cost?
This is something I've delved into in detail in my break down of the plans, dishes and what it costs, but in essence what it costs depends on your service address and the plan and dish you choose.
Starlink hardware is a one off cost, with the High Performance dishes being significantly more expensive than the Standard or Mini dishes. Despite that, we chose the High Performance dish with the thought that it would help future proof our purchase, especially if SpaceX chose to limit marine plans to in-motion approved dishes. So far that hasn't happened, which is good news for everyone!
Subscription fees for US based service addresses start at around $165 USD and can run into the thousands of dollars. That said, when compared to much slower satellite internet plans like Iridium it can represent good value.
There is some variation in the cost of plans between countries. To take advantage of this, some cruisers transfer their service address to a cheaper location by "selling" the dish to themselves.
Pros and cons of Starlink on boats
Thinking back on our experience and conversations with other cruisers, here's my take on the positives and negatives of having Starlink on a boat.
Pros of Starlink | Cons of Starlink |
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Is Starlink the best internet for liveaboard sailors?
Starlink has completely changed how cruisers access the internet and for us it is the best option available right now. Between 3 people we use around 500 Gb per month and there's no other service than comes close to being able to provide that to us as international liveaboard cruisers.
Best For: Sailors who need high-speed internet for work, streaming, and staying connected, especially near shore and when travelling internationally.
Not Ideal If: You have strict power or budget limitations.
Final Verdict: If you cruise primarily along coasts or hop between islands with the occasional offshore passages then Starlink is hard to beat.
Have you tried Starlink on your boat? Share your experience in the comments!
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