Do You Have Wi-Fi on a Sailboat? How We Stay Connected at Sea

Short answer? Yes. Yes, we do.

But it wasn't always like that. We started out in the days when finding local SIM cards and buying data was the only option. Now, though, something has rocked the sailing world. It's made things easier, made them safer, but also changed the reality of sailing.

Wanna know how Wi-Fi works on our sailboat?

How It Was: Staying Connected Before Starlink

Here's just a little bit of history to show how far we've come, why we should appreciate how things are today, and where we're headed.

Up until the 1800s, there were a couple of ways sailors would communicate:

• They'd leave letters with port authorities whenever they stopped, making the most of any opportunity they could.
• Any time they passed another ship, both parties would deploy small boats and exchange letters, hoping the other ship was heading towards home.
• They'd write several copies of the same letter, number them, and then hand them off to as many people, other boats and authorities as they could, in the hope that at least one of them wouldn't shipwreck or get lost.

After that stage, in the early 20th century, communication moved to Morse code and similar ways. This was very expensive and restricted, but better than hoping a letter would make it!

Later in the 20th century, they had HAM radios as well as military radio systems. Still limited, but getting better.

Oh, they also liked to mail voice recordings back and forth, which is kinda cool... Still, can you imagine telling them that in a few years you could be in the middle of the Pacific and talking in real time, like it's nothing?!

And then, in 2019, we set sail. We had our phones and an Iridium GO! for safety. And that was it. As soon as we were out of range of land, we were relying on satellite connectivity to download weather forecasts and send position updates.

Satellite calls were so expensive that we didn't make them, and communication was limited to short messages to family.

Of course, back then, we didn't know any different and were doing the best with what we had. Now, all that seems to have changed a lot for whoever can afford a little something called...

Starlink: How We Get Wi-Fi on Our Sailboat

As you likely already guessed, Starlink is what keeps us connected while at sea and while at anchor. We no longer have to depend on SIM cards or mobile data. Wherever the boat is, we have access to unlimited Wi-Fi.

Now, it may be unlimited, but it is kind of (very) expensive.

That said, pretty much every cruiser out here now has it. Yep, everyone wants to be connected, able to text and watch shows in the middle of the ocean.

This is something I find very interesting.

The Negatives of Having Wi-Fi at Sea

Let's talk about why I find this interesting.

What is the draw to sailing for a lot of people? Freedom, peace, silence, and feeling the wind and waves?

A lot of the time, this is the reason we do passages (other than to get to places, of course). It's to experience that feeling of being so far from anyone and anything that you're truly alone.

So, what happens when your phone buzzes and you get a text from a work colleague?

You're going to look at it, aren't you?!

You're going to pick up your phone, read and reply to that text, and then probably get so distracted that you suddenly find yourself scrolling and looking at some random person talking to you through a screen, when what you REALLY want to be doing is just looking at the waves!

Does that make sense at all?

Maybe not, but for me, it makes things tricky when we go to sea. I want to embrace change, but I also want to be connected to the ocean and experience it.

It's a struggle and something I feel like is worth hanging on to. Otherwise, we're going to lose what sailing originally was: exploration and adventure.

For me, this is pretty much one of the only negatives I've got when it comes to having Wi-Fi at sea.

The Positives of Having Wi-Fi at Sea

There are SO many positives!

Safety

We can look at the weather whenever we want, keep track of every forecast update, and email our forecaster whenever needed.

In the case of an emergency, we can send out messages and make calls to alert as many people as possible. With Starlink and Wi-Fi, that's a lot more people than it used to be!

Communicating with other boats is also huge.

On both of our Pacific crossings, boats had issues. Someone's mast came down, another boat had a medical issue, and we lost our rudder.

Because of Starlink, riggers could suggest ways to keep moving for the guy who lost his mast, friends and doctors could suggest what medicine to take for the medical issue, and we could order a new rudder to be made before we arrived.

Pretty incredible when you think about it!

Staying Connected with Family and Friends

Chatting to grandparents and uncles and telling them about the fish they caught is one of the kids' highlights of the day. Being able to still be in the loop is amazing.

Online work is also another MASSIVE thing. This is probably what's changed the most with having Starlink. Now you can be on day 5 at sea and still get to a meeting. Doesn't that blow your mind just a little bit?

Posting videos and episodes is also great. We couldn't do that a few years ago! You had to go and find a library or cafe with free Wi-Fi and wait for ages for things to upload.

...and the list goes on and on.

So, Do You Need Wi-Fi on a Sailboat?

So there you have it: we do have Wi-Fi on a sailboat. It is a thing!

It's made the lifestyle so much easier, and yet so different from what it used to be.

Sometimes you just have to take a moment and think about how lucky we are to be able to send a text and be so much safer at sea.

And say thanks to the old sailors who risked their lives in the name of exploration and adventure. So inspiring.

Would you be able to survive without Wi-Fi? What do you think the most important thing we use it for is? How much more do you think we'll progress in just our lifetime?

I can't wait to hear your thoughts! Catch you in the comments.

Q&A

Do sailboats have Wi-Fi?

Yes, many modern cruising sailboats have Wi-Fi through satellite internet systems such as Starlink, although availability and costs depend on the equipment, plan and location.

Can you get internet in the middle of the ocean?

Yes! Satellite internet makes it possible to access the internet far beyond the reach of mobile phone networks.

Does Starlink work while sailing?

Starlink offers services and hardware designed for maritime use, although connectivity depends on the service plan, equipment, location and operating conditions.

How do sailors get internet without Starlink?

Sailors can use local SIM cards, mobile hotspots near shore, satellite communication systems and other satellite internet providers.

Is internet expensive on a sailboat?

It can be! Satellite internet generally costs more than a standard home internet connection, particularly when using maritime services.