Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. MeridianRig sources all products through authorized marine distributors — primarily Win-Tron Electronics (Manasquan, NJ, est. 1974) and CED Marine (Central Florida, est. 1971). These are fully authorized distributors for Garmin, Simrad, Raymarine, Furuno, Humminbird, Lowrance, Victron Energy, Icom, and hundreds of other marine brands.

Every product we ship is new, factory sealed, in original manufacturer packaging, with the manufacturer's full warranty intact. We are not a gray market reseller and do not sell used, open-box, or unauthorized product.

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 fleet orders, commercial accounts, or purchases over $5,000, we can discuss net-30 terms or wire transfer arrangements. Contact us at (440) 555-0190.

We collect sales tax on orders shipped to Ohio, as required by Ohio state law. Orders shipped to all other US states are currently not subject to sales tax from MeridianRig, which can represent a meaningful savings on high-ticket marine electronics purchases.

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.

Orders can typically be cancelled or modified within 1 hour of placement, before they are submitted to our distributor for fulfillment. Call us immediately at (440) 555-0190 if you need to make a change — do not email, as phone is the only way to catch an order in time.

Once an order has been submitted to our distributor for fulfillment (which happens multiple times per day), it cannot be cancelled or modified. In that case, your order will ship and you may return it under our 30-day return policy once received.

Yes. For charter operators, marine contractors, commercial fishing fleets, or any multi-unit buyer, we offer fleet pricing on quantities of 2 or more identical units. We also accommodate multi-vessel outfitting projects — for example, equipping an entire charter fleet with matching chartplotter and radio setups.

Contact us at (440) 555-0190 or submit a quote request on our contact page with your requirements. We'll respond with custom pricing within 4 business hours.

Absolutely. Many of our customers — especially for high-ticket systems above $3,000 — prefer to discuss their purchase over the phone before committing. Call us at (440) 555-0190 and we can take your order by phone, answer technical questions, verify compatibility with your existing electronics, and process payment securely.

Phone orders placed before 3pm EST are processed and shipped same day, the same as online orders.

In-stock orders placed before 3pm EST Monday–Friday ship same day. You'll receive a UPS tracking number by email within 1 hour of dispatch. UPS Ground delivers most US destinations in 3–5 business days, with East Coast locations often arriving in 2–3 days.

We ship from distributor warehouses in New Jersey (Win-Tron) and Central Florida (CED Marine). The warehouse closest to your destination will fulfill your order automatically to minimize transit time.

Yes — free UPS Ground shipping on orders of $499 or more, shipping to the contiguous 48 states. No fine print exclusions on standard marine electronics. The only exceptions are oversized freight items (some generators and life rafts over 70 lbs) which may require a freight surcharge — this is disclosed clearly at checkout before you complete payment.

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 at (440) 555-0190 or support@meridianrig.com 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.

Yes, we ship to Alaska and Hawaii via UPS, though transit times are longer (typically 5–8 business days) and shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on weight and destination. The free shipping threshold does not apply to AK and HI.

For international orders (Canada, Caribbean, Europe), contact us directly at (440) 555-0190 to discuss shipping options, costs, and any import duties that may apply in your country. We handle international orders on a case-by-case basis.

We accept returns on new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery. Items must be in original manufacturer packaging with all accessories included. Contact us first to get a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number — do not ship items back without one or we cannot process your return.

If the return is due to our error (wrong item shipped, arrived damaged), return shipping is free. For other returns, return shipping is at your cost. Refunds are issued to your original payment method within 5–10 business days of us receiving and inspecting the return.

Call us first at (440) 555-0190. We handle Garmin warranty claims on your behalf — you don't need to navigate Garmin's support line yourself. We'll diagnose the issue over the phone, open the warranty case with Garmin, and arrange the return and replacement.

Garmin's standard marine electronics warranty is 2 years from date of purchase for manufacturer defects. Warranty does not cover physical damage, water damage beyond IPX7 rating, or improper installation. Keep your MeridianRig order confirmation email — it serves as your proof of purchase date for warranty claims.

Battle Born (Dragonfly Energy) backs all their LiFePO4 batteries with a 10-year warranty — the most comprehensive warranty in the marine battery industry. This covers manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship for 10 years from the purchase date.

As an authorized Battle Born dealer, we manage warranty claims for you. If your battery has a problem within 10 years, call us and we'll handle the claim process, including coordinating replacement shipping from Battle Born's Reno, NV facility.

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

• Garmin — best overall ecosystem for US coastal and offshore fishing. SolarMAX display leads the industry in sunlight readability. Most popular choice for center consoles and express boats. Best if you want a complete Garmin network (radar + autopilot + chartplotter all from one brand).
• Simrad — preferred by offshore fishing and blue water sailors. StructureScan 3D is arguably the best scanning sonar in its class. Strong sailor-oriented features in the B&G sister brand. Go Simrad if you're upgrading from an existing Simrad network.
• Raymarine — trusted by the sailing community, particularly British and European blue water sailors. Solid integration with Seatalkng legacy networks. Best if you're adding to an existing Raymarine installation.

Call us at (440) 555-0190 and we'll help you choose based on your specific vessel, existing equipment, and use case. This is a free service we offer to every customer.

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 — call us 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.

Call us at (440) 555-0190 and we'll spec the correct transducer for your exact hull and application. This is a free service — incorrect transducer selection is the #1 avoidable mistake in chartplotter installation.

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. Call 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. Call us — we can evaluate your setup and tell you exactly what needs to change.

Both are excellent marine-grade LiFePO4 batteries from authorized US brands. The key differences:

• Battle Born — industry-leading 10-year warranty. Heated GC2 version for cold-climate boating (Great Lakes, PNW, Northeast). Slightly higher upfront cost, slightly lower cycle count claim. Best for: recreational boaters wanting maximum warranty coverage.
• RELiON — strong 3-year warranty, broader voltage range (12V, 24V, 48V native options). InSight BMS provides detailed cell-level data. Competitively priced. Best for: sailors and liveaboards with 24V or 48V systems, or those wanting deep BMS diagnostics.

For a typical 12V house bank replacement on a powerboat or sailboat, Battle Born's 10-year warranty is hard to beat. For a custom 24V or 48V system, RELiON may offer better native options. Call us and we'll help you choose based on 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. Call us 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. Call 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.

Call us before you start — we'll walk you through what's involved for your specific setup at no charge.

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.

The ACR GlobalFix Pro ($549) is the most popular choice for recreational offshore use. Call us and we'll help you choose the right safety equipment 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, lower cost ($1,100–$1,800). 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. Call 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 of the raft fabric and seams, pressure testing the inflation system, repacking the raft container, and replacing expired equipment (flares, water rations, etc.). Only manufacturer-authorized service stations can perform this work. We can recommend service centers near you for any raft we sell — call us at (440) 555-0190.