Frequently Asked Questions

MeridianRig lists marine electronics, power systems, and safety equipment from established manufacturers. Orders may ship from authorized supplier or fulfillment partner warehouses depending on product availability — see our shipping policy for details.

Product details, availability, and warranty terms vary by brand and model. For questions about a specific product or brand, contact us or see our policies page.

We accept all major credit and debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. We also accept PayPal, Shop Pay, and Apple Pay. Shop Pay Installments allows you to split purchases into 4 interest-free payments or 12-month financing — useful for higher-ticket purchases like complete chartplotter or battery system bundles.

For large or commercial orders, send us a message to discuss payment options.

We collect sales tax where required by law. Tax amounts are calculated and shown at checkout before you complete your order.

Note: your state may require you to self-report use tax on out-of-state purchases. Consult your tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

Contact us as soon as possible via our contact page if you need to cancel or modify an order. Whether a change can be made depends on order status.

See our returns policy for information on returns after an order has shipped.

For multi-unit or commercial orders, contact us with your requirements. We will follow up with available options and pricing.

Submit a message on our contact page.

Yes. Use our contact page to ask product questions, request quotes, or discuss compatibility with your existing equipment.

Shipping and fulfillment timelines are described on our shipping policy.

Charges from MeridianRig may appear on your statement as MERIDIANRIG, MERIDIANRIG MARINE, or meridianrig.com, depending on your card issuer. The amount should match your order confirmation email.

Check your inbox (and spam folder) for an Order Confirmation from support@meridianrig.com with your order number and item details. Save that email as your receipt.

Contact us before disputing with your bank. Most billing questions are resolved within one business day. Email support@meridianrig.com or use our contact page with the charge amount, date, and last four digits of your card.

Common causes: pending authorization holds (temporary), split shipments from one order, or a statement descriptor that does not match our store name exactly. See payment security policy for details.

All orders are screened for fraud. High-value marine electronics orders may be held for 1–2 business days while we verify payment and shipping details. We may call or email you to confirm billing name, shipping address, and order contents before transmitting your order to a fulfillment partner.

This protects legitimate customers and reduces unauthorized purchases. If we cannot complete verification, the order may be cancelled and refunded.

Shipping options, rates, and estimated delivery times are shown at checkout and described on our shipping policy. You will receive tracking information by email when your order ships.

Questions about a shipment in progress? Send us a message with your order number.

Shipping rates depend on order size, weight, destination, and the method you select at checkout. Any promotions or free-shipping offers are shown before you complete payment.

See our shipping policy for general terms, or contact us if you have questions about a specific order.

Inspect all packages before signing with UPS. If the package shows visible damage, note it on the UPS delivery receipt before signing. Then contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos of the damaged packaging and product. We will file the UPS claim and arrange a replacement at no cost to you — you will not be left holding a damaged product.

We may ship to Alaska and Hawaii — rates and transit times are calculated at checkout based on weight and destination. Contact us if you have questions about a specific address.

For addresses outside the contiguous United States, contact us before ordering. Availability and shipping options vary.

Eligible new, complete items in original packaging may be returned within 21 days of delivery with an approved RMA. Non-defective returns may incur a restocking fee of up to 15%. Full details are on our returns policy. Contact us before sending anything back.

You will need your MeridianRig order number and, where applicable, a return authorization from us.

Manufacturer warranties are provided by the product maker, not MeridianRig. Warranty length and coverage vary by brand and model — check the manufacturer's documentation for your product.

Send us a message with your order number and a description of the issue. See our returns & warranty policy for general guidance.

Warranty terms for Battle Born and other battery brands are set by the manufacturer. Refer to the warranty documentation included with your product or on the manufacturer's website.

If you have a warranty question, contact us with your order number. See our policies page for general warranty information.

All three are excellent. The right choice depends on your vessel and use:

• Garmin — broad ecosystem for US coastal and offshore fishing. Strong display and networking options if you want radar, autopilot, and chartplotter from one brand.
• Simrad — common choice for offshore fishing and blue-water sailing. StructureScan 3D is a notable scanning sonar option. A good fit if you already run a Simrad network.
• Raymarine — widely used in the sailing community. Seatalkng integration can help if you are adding to an existing Raymarine installation.

Contact us and we can discuss options based on your vessel, existing equipment, and use case.

NMEA 2000 (N2K) is the marine industry's standard communications backbone — a single cable network that connects all electronic devices on your boat. When everything is on an NMEA 2000 network, your chartplotter can display engine RPM, fuel levels, depth, wind speed, AIS vessel positions, and autopilot status all on one screen.

If you're buying a new chartplotter for any boat over 20ft with multiple electronics, yes, you want NMEA 2000. All modern Garmin, Simrad, and Raymarine units support it. Setting up an N2K backbone requires some wiring work — contact us through our contact page and we can walk you through what you'll need.

Transducer selection depends on three factors: hull type (fiberglass vs aluminum vs wood), boat speed (displacement vs planing), and target depth/use (fishing vs navigation). The most common configurations are:

• GT52HW-TM — best all-around choice for fiberglass planing hulls up to ~50 knots. Includes CHIRP, SideVü, and ClearVü. Transom mount.
• GT54UHD-TM — high-definition version for fishing; produces sharper fish arches and cleaner bottom definition. Best for dedicated fishing boats.
• GT23M-TM — for aluminum hulls or boats that frequently run above 50 knots.

Contact us if you want help choosing a transducer for your hull and application.

Yes, with limitations. Both Garmin and Simrad support NMEA 2000, so basic autopilot functions (engage, disengage, heading commands) can be passed between brands over the N2K network. However, advanced features — like route following from the chartplotter, or full autopilot control from the MFD touchscreen — typically require same-brand integration.

If you want full touchscreen autopilot control from a Garmin chartplotter, pair it with a Garmin GHP Reactor. If you want to keep your existing Simrad autopilot and add a Garmin chartplotter, basic functions will work but you may lose some advanced integration. Contact us and we'll map out your specific system.

In most cases, yes — LiFePO4 batteries are designed as drop-in replacements for Group 24, Group 27, Group 31, and GC2 (golf cart) lead-acid batteries. Battle Born and RELiON batteries match the physical dimensions of common lead-acid sizes.

However, there are compatibility considerations: your battery charger must be lithium-compatible (not all lead-acid chargers are). Some older alternators and shore power chargers use charging profiles that can damage lithium cells. We recommend reviewing your entire charging system before switching. Contact us and we can evaluate your setup and tell you exactly what needs to change.

Both brands offer marine-grade LiFePO4 batteries. Key differences to consider:

• Battle Born — GC2 form factor, heated variants for cold climates, widely used for 12V house banks.
• RELiON — 12V, 24V, and 48V options; InSight BMS for cell-level monitoring data.

Warranty terms and specifications differ by model — check each manufacturer's documentation. Contact us to discuss options for your system voltage, bank size, and use case.

Sizing a lithium house bank requires calculating your daily amp-hour (Ah) draw. A rough guide by boat type:

• Day boats / weekenders (chartplotter, VHF, navigation lights): 50–100Ah typically sufficient
• Coastal cruisers / weekend sailors (add refrigeration, autopilot): 100–200Ah
• Liveaboards / offshore passagemakers (full galley, AC, watermaker, entertainment): 300–600Ah+

With lithium, you can use 80–100% of rated capacity vs only 50% with lead-acid — so a 100Ah lithium bank is equivalent to a 200Ah lead-acid bank in usable capacity. Send us a message with your load list and we'll calculate the right bank size for your situation.

The Victron MultiPlus-II is a combined inverter + battery charger in one unit. It converts your 12V or 24V DC battery bank to 120V AC power (inverter function) and also charges your batteries from shore power or a generator (charger function). The "II" version also includes a transfer switch — it automatically switches between shore power and battery power without interruption.

You need one if: you want 120V AC outlets aboard without running a generator, you want to use shore power to charge your batteries, or you're building a lithium battery + solar system. It's essentially mandatory for liveaboards and bluewater cruisers. For day boats and weekenders, it's optional. Contact us and we'll assess whether your use case warrants one.

A basic flush or bail-mount chartplotter installation (power, ground, NMEA 0183 if applicable) is within reach of an experienced DIYer comfortable with 12V marine wiring. If you're only connecting the unit to power and running it as a standalone device, expect 1–3 hours of work.

However, for NMEA 2000 network integration (connecting to autopilot, radar, engine instruments, AIS), we recommend professional installation if you don't have hands-on network wiring experience. A wiring error on an NMEA 2000 network can cause all connected devices to malfunction. Most marine electronics shops charge $75–$150/hour and a typical integration takes 2–4 hours.

Contact us before you start if you want to discuss what's involved for your specific setup.

Manufacturer warranties for marine electronics (Garmin, Simrad, Raymarine) do not require professional installation to remain valid. DIY installation that follows the manufacturer's installation manual does not void the warranty.

Warranty is voided by: physical damage caused by installation (cracked housing, bent connector pins), water intrusion from improper mounting, connecting the unit to incorrect voltage, or modifications to the unit itself. Following the installation guide carefully and using proper marine-grade wire, connectors, and fusing will keep your warranty fully intact.

USCG regulations do not require recreational boaters to carry an EPIRB within 3 nautical miles of shore. However, Category II EPIRBs are strongly recommended for any vessel operating offshore (beyond 3nm) or out of VHF range of shore.

Commercial vessels operating beyond 3nm on navigable waters are required to carry a 406 MHz EPIRB. For recreational use, it's one of the highest-value safety investments you can make — a 406 MHz EPIRB with GPS can alert rescue services to your position within minutes of activation, dramatically improving survival odds in a sinking or capsize event.

Contact us and we can help you compare EPIRB options for your use case.

Life rafts are classified by the offshore distance and sea state conditions they're designed for:

• Coastal life rafts (e.g. Revere Coastal Commander) — designed for use within 20–50nm of shore. Lighter and lower cost than offshore models. Suitable for coastal cruising, day sailing, and near-shore boating. Not rated for heavy offshore conditions.
• Offshore/ISO life rafts (e.g. Revere Offshore Elite) — designed for open ocean use, storm conditions, and multi-day survival. SOLAS or ISO 9650-1 certified. Heavier canopy, more equipment, longer survival duration. Required for offshore passages and blue water sailing. $2,000–$4,000+.

If you're staying within 20nm of shore, a coastal raft is appropriate. Any offshore passage or blue water sailing warrants an ISO offshore raft. Contact us — this is a purchase where getting the right product matters and we're happy to help you spec correctly.

Most inflatable life rafts require professional service every 1 to 3 years, depending on the manufacturer and raft type. Revere rafts are typically on a 3-year service interval for coastal models. ISO offshore rafts often require annual or biannual service depending on the certifying authority and specific model.

Servicing includes inspection, pressure testing, repacking, and replacing expired equipment. Professional service is required per the manufacturer schedule. Contact us if you need help locating a service center.