Essential Shipyard University

MFD Installer & NMEA

Prep for the Basic NMEA 2000 Installer and Basic MEI exams (NMEA 0400) and install marine electronics to the ESI standard — Garmin-first, Raymarine & Navico covered. Topology & NMEA 2000 deep-dive, VHF/DSC/AIS & MMSI, transducers/radar/heading, measuring, siting, flush vs trunnion mounting, the wiring finish, brand conversion, and integrating Victron, Egis XD switching & seacocks.

16Chapters

2NMEA exams

1Certificate

Before you start

How this course works

The ESI MFD installer & NMEA course — built to prep both the Basic NMEA 2000 Installer and Basic MEI exams (NMEA 0400) and to install marine electronics to the ESI standard, Garmin-first with Raymarine and Navico covered. Network topology & the NMEA 2000 deep-dive, VHF/DSC/AIS & MMSI, transducers/radar/heading, measuring/siting/mounting an MFD, the wiring finish, brand conversion, and integrating Victron, Egis XD switching and monitored seacocks. ★ Exam prep notes flag the testable facts; a final exam unlocks your certificate.

Garmin, Raymarine, Navico (Simrad/B&G/Lowrance), NMEA, Victron, Egis and other names are trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced here for installation training only. ESI uses brand assets solely as permitted under its dealer agreements and does not reproduce third-party logos.

🎓Two certs

Basic NMEA 2000 Installer + Basic MEI, prepped with exam-flag notes.

🩺Terminate it

Half of N2K faults are the terminators — know ~60Ω cold.

✨Factory finish

See it, route the edges, 316 screws, loom & zip-tie, clean the glass.

Chapter 1

🎓The Certifications & How to Pass

Two NMEA exams, one ESI prep.

What you will be able to do

Know the NMEA certifications and what they cover
Prepare for both exams with this module
Work brand-compliant

NMEA installer certifications run off the NMEA 0400 Installation Standard. Each exam is 50 questions, 80% to pass, valid 3 years, with one free proctored retake. This module preps the two that matter to ESI techs:

Cert	Covers
Basic NMEA 2000 Installer	The network: cables/connectors/specs, planning & documentation, power & voltage-drop, data messages (PGNs), connecting other sources, network setup, troubleshooting.
Basic MEI (Marine Electronics Installer)	Broader: DC wiring & grounds, EMI, load/voltage-drop, displays/black boxes, coax & antennas, VHF/DSC, AIS, radar, transducers, heading sensors, NMEA 0183 & 2000, digital switching.

★ Exam prepBoth exams test voltage-drop math, EMI, grounds, and NMEA 2000 physical rules (terminators, lengths, LEN). This module flags those with ★ Exam prep notes — know them cold.

1Brand compliance

ESI is a dealer for Garmin, Raymarine and Navico (Simrad/B&G/Lowrance) — we install all three and prefer Garmin. We use brand names and link the makers' manuals for installation guidance only; we do not reproduce third-party logos, and we use brand assets strictly as permitted under our dealer agreements.

ESI rulePass both: Basic NMEA 2000 Installer + Basic MEI (NMEA 0400). Renew every 3 years. Install Garmin-first; stay brand-compliant on logos and assets.

NMEANMEA training / certs ↗Basic NMEA 2000 Installer ↗Basic MEI ↗

NMEA 0400 Installation Standard; Basic NMEA 2000 Installer & Basic MEI syllabi (nmea.org); 50 questions, 80% pass, 3-year validity.

✓Quick check

Chapter 2

🗺️Network Topology Overview

See the whole map before you touch a cable.

What you will be able to do

Read a marine electronics topology
Place the backbone, drops and bridges
Plan power and termination

Modern boat electronics are two layers: a low-speed NMEA 2000 (N2K) bus for sensors/instruments, and a high-speed proprietary Ethernet (Garmin Marine Network/BlueNet, Raymarine RayNet, Navico Ethernet) for radar/sonar/charts between MFDs.

1The map

N2K backbone runs the length of the boat; sensors, the VHF/AIS, engine gateways, the autopilot and the GX hang off it on short drops.
Ethernet ties MFD-to-MFD and the heavy sources (radar, sonar black boxes, cameras) — brand-specific cabling, switches/hubs.
Bridges: the MFD bridges N2K↔Ethernet; the Victron Cerbo GX bridges the power system onto N2K; SeaTalkng adapters bridge Raymarine to standard N2K.
One power tap near the middle of the N2K backbone; terminators at both ends.

Why it mattersDraw the topology for the actual boat first — backbone, every drop, the Ethernet runs, the power tap and the two terminators. Most field faults are a topology/termination mistake, not a dead device.

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Photo to addESI topology sketch: N2K backbone with drops + two terminators + centre power; Ethernet MFD-to-radar/sonar.

✓Quick check

Chapter 3

🔗NMEA 2000 — Cables, Connectors & Lengths

The physical rules the exam lives on.

What you will be able to do

Build a compliant backbone
Use the right cable, T's and terminators
Stay within the length limits

NMEA 2000 is a single shielded backbone (trunk) with T-connectors and short drop (spur) cables to each device.

Rule	Value
Connector / cable	Micro-C (5-pin) is standard; Mid/Mini (heavy) for long trunks.
Backbone length	≤ 100 m (Micro) / up to 200 m (heavy cable).
Each drop	≤ 6 m.
Total of all drops	≤ 78 m cumulative.
Max devices	50 physical nodes.
Termination	One 120Ω terminator at EACH end of the backbone (network reads ~60Ω across the data pair when correct).

★ Exam prepMemorize: backbone ≤100 m (micro), drop ≤6 m, total drops ≤78 m, max 50 devices, two 120Ω terminators. These are classic exam questions.

ESI ruleNever terminate in the middle, never run a device on a drop >6 m, never leave an end open. A terminator at each end, T's on the backbone, drops to devices.

NMEA 2000 / NMEA 0400 physical layer; Garmin/Maretron/Actisense network guides.

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Photo to addESI photo: a Micro-C backbone, T-connectors, a drop cable, and a 120Ω terminator at the end.

✓Quick check

Chapter 4

🔋NMEA 2000 — Power, LEN & Voltage Drop

Feed the bus right or it drops out.

What you will be able to do

Budget the network's load (LEN)
Place the power tap correctly
Run the voltage-drop calculation

The N2K backbone carries 12 V power as well as data. Get the power wrong and devices brown out.

1LEN — the load budget

1 LEN = 50 mA (round each device up to the nearest 50 mA). A standard Micro network is limited to 3 A total → 60 LEN. Add up every device's LEN; if you exceed it, add a second power insertion (and isolate the power between segments).

2Power tap & voltage drop

Feed the backbone from a fused 12 V source, near the middle, with a proper N2K power tee. 12 V only — 24 V damages N2K gear.
Keep the voltage drop ≤ 1.5 V from the power tap to the farthest device, or data errors start.
Quick check: V-drop ≈ cable-resistance × distance × total-LEN × 0.1.

★ Exam prepKnow: 1 LEN = 50 mA; Micro max 3 A / 60 LEN; ≤1.5 V drop; 12 V only; power near the centre. These are guaranteed exam questions.

ESI ruleSum the LENs, fuse and feed the backbone at the centre on 12 V, keep drop under 1.5 V; split power if you pass 60 LEN.

NMEA 2000 LEN (1 LEN = 50 mA), 3 A/60 LEN Micro limit, ≤1.5 V drop, centre-fed 12 V power; Digital Yacht / Actisense.

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Photo to addESI photo: fused N2K power tee at the backbone centre; a LEN tally on the job sheet.

✓Quick check

Chapter 5

🔢NMEA 2000 — Data, PGNs & Setup

What's actually on the wire.

What you will be able to do

Explain PGNs and instances
Set device & data instances to avoid clashes
Document the network

Data travels as PGNs (Parameter Group Numbers) — standardized messages (position, depth, wind, engine, battery, tank…). Any certified device that sends a PGN can be read by any device that listens for it — that's how cross-brand works.
Instances: when you have two of something (two engines, three tanks, two batteries), set unique device/data instances so the MFD can tell them apart. Duplicate instances are a common “why are both gauges the same?” fault.
Setup: name and instance every device in the MFD's N2K device list; confirm each PGN appears; build the MFD data pages.
Document the network — a diagram with every device, drop, LEN and instance. The exam (and the next tech) expects it.

★ Exam prepExam: data = PGNs; duplicates fixed with instances; always document the network (a planning/documentation topic on the N2K exam).

NMEA 2000 PGNs & instancing; network setup & documentation per the Basic NMEA 2000 syllabus.

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Photo to addESI photo: MFD N2K device list with named devices and set instances.

✓Quick check

Chapter 6

🩺NMEA 2000 — Troubleshooting

Half the calls are the same fault.

What you will be able to do

Diagnose a sick N2K network fast
Find termination & power faults first
Use the right checks

In the field, about half of N2K problems are termination — a missing, doubled, or wrong terminator, or a bad/loose connector. Start there.

1Work it in order

Terminators: exactly two 120Ω, one at each end. Power off, meter across the data pair at a tee — you should read about 60Ω (two 120Ω in parallel). 120Ω = one missing; 40Ω = one too many; open = both missing/broken.
Power: 12 V present at the backbone, fused, centre-fed; voltage drop within 1.5 V; LEN within budget.
Connectors: every T and drop fully seated and dry; corrosion is a classic intermittent.
LEN overload / a chatty device: pull devices one at a time to find the offender; check for duplicate instances.

ESI ruleFirst move on any N2K fault: check the terminators (two 120Ω, ~60Ω across the pair). It's the single most common cause — missing or wrong terminated ends.

★ Exam prepExam & field both: ~60Ω across the data pair = correctly terminated. Know what 120Ω / 40Ω / open each mean.

NMEA 2000 troubleshooting: termination resistance (~60Ω), power, connectors, LEN; field-failure data (termination is the leading cause).

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Photo to addESI photo: meter reading ~60Ω across the N2K data pair at a tee.

✓Quick check

Chapter 7

🔁NMEA 0183, SeaTalkng & Cross-Brand

Make Raymarine talk to everyone — and the old 0183 too.

What you will be able to do

Interface legacy NMEA 0183
Convert Raymarine SeaTalkng to N2K
Mix brands on one network

Not everything is N2K. You'll still meet NMEA 0183 and Raymarine's SeaTalkng.

1NMEA 0183

Older serial data — talkers and listeners, one talker to many listeners. Baud is 4800 for standard data, 38400 (high speed) for AIS. Use a gateway/multiplexer (or the MFD's 0183 port) to bring 0183 data onto N2K and vice-versa.

2Raymarine SeaTalkng ↔ NMEA 2000

SeaTalkng is electrically NMEA 2000 — just Raymarine's own connectors. To mix Raymarine with Garmin/Simrad/engine gateways, use Raymarine's SeaTalkng-to-DeviceNet (N2K) spur and backbone adapter cables. Any certified N2K device then works on a SeaTalkng backbone, and Raymarine works on a standard N2K backbone. SeaTalkng also carries an extra wire for legacy SeaTalk1 devices.

ESI rule0183: 4800 baud (38400 for AIS), talker→listeners, gateway to N2K. Raymarine: SeaTalkng = N2K with adapter cables — carry the SeaTalkng↔DeviceNet adapters.

Raymarine SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 adapter cables (spur & backbone, raymarine.com); NMEA 0183 baud 4800/38400.

ReferencesRaymarine SeaTalkng & NMEA 2000 ↗

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Photo to addESI photo: a SeaTalkng-to-DeviceNet adapter joining a Raymarine backbone to a Garmin N2K device.

✓Quick check

Chapter 8

📡VHF, DSC, AIS & the MMSI

Identity, distress and traffic on the water.

What you will be able to do

Install VHF/AIS antennas & coax right
Set up DSC and AIS
Get the customer's MMSI programmed

The VHF, its DSC distress function, and AIS all hinge on the boat's MMSI.

1Antennas & coax

Run quality coax (RG-8X for typical runs, RG-213 for long), PL-259 connectors soldered/crimped right — a bad PL-259 can cut transmit power tenfold.
Seal above-deck connections (dielectric grease + self-amalgamating tape) — coax wicks water by capillary action and corrodes.
AIS: separate masthead/antenna or a VHF/AIS splitter off one antenna; short jumper to the AIS uses LMR-195/RG-316.
Smooth bends, no sharp 90s, grommets through bulkheads.

2DSC, AIS & the MMSI

A DSC VHF needs a GPS position (internal or fed from N2K/0183) to send a located distress call.
The customer obtains the MMSI, not us: free/low-cost from BoatUS (or US Power Squadrons) for US, domestic use (into the USCG database); via an FCC Ship Station License ($220/10 yr) if they travel to foreign ports (into the international ITU database).
We program the MMSI into the DSC VHF and the AIS — usually a one-time entry (many radios lock after 1–2 tries; only the dealer/maker can reset). Get the number confirmed in writing first.

Safety — non-negotiableEnter the MMSI carefully — it's typically a one-shot, lockable field. A wrong MMSI can mean a dealer reset or a bricked DSC. Confirm the digits with the owner before you key them in.

ESI ruleCustomer gets the MMSI (BoatUS domestic / FCC if international); we program it once into the DSC VHF and AIS after confirming the digits. Feed GPS to the DSC radio.

MMSI sources: BoatUS (free/$25, domestic) vs FCC Ship Station License ($220/10 yr, international) per USCG NavCen; one-time lockable entry; VHF/AIS coax & splitter practice.

MMSIBoatUS MMSI ↗USCG — MMSI for recreational vessels ↗

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Photo to addESI photo: VHF/AIS splitter, a soldered PL-259, and the DSC radio MMSI screen at programming.

✓Quick check

Chapter 9

🐟Transducers, Radar & Heading Sensors

The sensors that feed the picture.

What you will be able to do

Site and install transducers
Mount radar & a heading sensor
Test an old transducer with the ESI tester

Three sensor families feed the MFD; each has siting rules.

1Transducers

Thru-hull (best performance; match the deadrise with a fairing block so the face is level), in-hull (shoots through a solid glass hull, no hole, slight loss), or transom (small boats). Keep away from the prop wash and other transducers.
Match the transducer to the sounder (frequency/CHIRP, connector/brand).
Test old transducers with the ESI transducer tester before reusing or condemning — it checks the ceramic element so you know if a no-sonar fault is the transducer or the wiring/sounder.

2Radar & heading

Mount the radar high, level, clear of obstructions and people (RF), away from other antennas to limit EMI.
A heading sensor (fluxgate/satellite compass) feeds radar overlay, MARPA/target tracking and the autopilot — site it away from magnetic/iron interference, calibrate it.

ESI ruleTransducer level to the deadrise, clear of prop wash; radar high/level/clear; heading sensor calibrated away from iron. Tester-check any reused transducer.

★ Exam prepMEI exam covers transducer types/siting, radar mounting & EMI, and heading sensors for overlay/autopilot.

Transducer siting (thru-hull/in-hull/transom, deadrise, fairing, CHIRP) & the ESI transducer tester; radar/heading-sensor mounting & EMI (MEI syllabus, Airmar/maker guides).

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Photo to addESI photo: a fairing-blocked thru-hull, the transducer tester on an old element, a radar on its mount.

✓Quick check

Chapter 10

📏Sizing & Siting the MFD

Measure twice; you only cut the helm once.

What you will be able to do

Measure the unit and the space
Pick a location you can actually see
Confirm depth and access behind

Before any cutting, measure the unit and the boat.

1Measure the unit

Use the maker's cutout template for the flush opening, plus the bezel footprint for surface mounts.
Depth behind: the unit body plus the cable bend radius and connectors — confirm there's clearance (often 2–4″+) and the unit can be removed later.

2Site it where it can be SEEN

The helm has to see the screen from the steering position — not blocked by the wheel, a binnacle, or hardware. Sit at the helm and check sightlines before you commit.
Reachable for touch; minimize sun glare; allow ventilation; keep it clear of compass (deviation) and away from heavy EMI.
Confirm structure behind — no tanks, wiring looms or stringers in the cut.

Safety — non-negotiableThe number-one MFD complaint is a screen you can't see — behind the wheel, washed out, or angled wrong. Verify the sightline from the actual helm seat before cutting.

ESI ruleTemplate + depth + removability + a clear sightline from the helm (not behind the wheel). Measure and mock it up before the hole saw.

MFD install manuals (Garmin/Raymarine/Simrad) — cutout templates, depth clearance, removal access; helm visibility best practice.

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Photo to addESI photo: template taped on the dash, depth checked behind, sightline from the helm seat with the wheel in place.

✓Quick check

Chapter 11

🪚Mounting — Flush/Faceplate vs Surface/Trunnion

A finished helm, not a hacked dash.

What you will be able to do

Choose the mounting method
Cut and finish the panel cleanly
Bed and fasten for weather

Three ways to mount, plus the finish details that make it look factory.

1The methods

Method	When
Flush / faceplate	The clean, modern look — screen level with the panel, bezel/gasket trim. Cut to the template; best on a flat, accessible-from-behind dash.
Surface mount	Bezel sits proud of the panel; simpler cut; good where rear access is tight.
Trunnion / bracket	A bracket (often supplied) — adjustable angle, quick removal; good for retrofit, overhead, or where you cannot cut a clean flush hole. Pods (NavPod/PowerPod) for pedestals & rails.

2Cut & finish

Drill the corners, jig-saw to the template line, deburr.
On a fabricated panel of King StarBoard or wood, round/chamfer the edges with a router (round-over bit) as a finished detail — no raw saw edges on a customer's helm.
Bed the bezel/gasket; on an exposed/weather face use 316 stainless screws (never plated steel) and seal the fasteners.
Leave the screen film on until the end; protect the dash while you work.

ESI ruleFlush/faceplate for the finished look, trunnion for retrofit/adjust. Router the edges of StarBoard/wood, 316 stainless fasteners where weather-exposed, bed and seal. Make it look factory.

MFD mounting (flush/surface/trunnion) per maker install manuals; King StarBoard fabrication (router edges); 316 stainless fasteners for exposed marine mounting.

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Photo to addESI photo: a flush-mounted MFD in a routed StarBoard panel with 316 screws; a trunnion alternative.

✓Quick check

Chapter 12

🧶Helm Power, Networks & Wiring Finish

Wire it clean; leave it better than you found it.

What you will be able to do

Power and network the MFD
Finish the wiring to ESI standard
Leave a tidy panel behind

Behind the dash is where pros are made. Power, network, and finish.

1Power & network

Power: a fused, switched 12 V feed sized for the run (use the ESI Wire Calculator); sealed Wirefy crimps; a drip loop at the connector.
N2K: a single drop off the backbone (≤6 m) to the MFD.
Ethernet: Garmin Marine Network / BlueNet (the MFD acts as a network switch / add a GMS or BlueNet gateway for more ports; a BlueNet 30 gateway to bridge legacy Marine Network); Raymarine RayNet; Navico Ethernet (NEP) — one brand's Ethernet per MFD chain.

2The finish

Bundle and zip-tie the harness neatly; support every run; loom (split conduit) anywhere it may be visible.
Leave the back of the panel better than you found it — re-dress the existing rat's nest while you're in there.
Label the new runs; drip loops; nothing chafing or hanging.

ESI ruleFused/switched power (sized by the calc), one N2K drop, the right brand Ethernet, sealed crimps + drip loops, bundled & zip-tied, loomed where visible, and the panel left tidier than we found it.

ToolESI Wire Calculator (ABYC) ↗

Garmin Marine Network / BlueNet (GMS, BlueNet 30 gateway); Raymarine RayNet; Navico Ethernet; ESI wiring-finish standard (Electrical Tech 2).

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Photo to addESI photo: a bundled, zip-tied, loomed helm harness with drip loops — and the cleaned-up panel behind.

✓Quick check

Chapter 13

🔌Brand Networks & Conversion

Garmin first; make the others fit.

What you will be able to do

Build a Garmin network
Integrate Raymarine & Navico
Convert between them

ESI installs all three and prefers Garmin; you must still integrate the others.

Brand	Sensor bus	Hi-speed
Garmin (primary)	NMEA 2000 (Garmin connectors are standard N2K)	Garmin Marine Network / BlueNet (RJ-style; MFD is a switch; GMS / BlueNet gateway to expand)
Raymarine	SeaTalkng (= N2K via adapters)	RayNet (Ethernet)
Navico (Simrad/B&G/Lowrance)	NMEA 2000 (Micro-C)	Ethernet (yellow / NEP network ports)

Cross-brand: the NMEA 2000 layer is shared — all three put position, depth, AIS, engine, battery etc. on N2K, so any MFD reads the others' sensors. The Ethernet layer is NOT shared — you can't put a Garmin radar on a Raymarine MFD. One brand per Ethernet chain; bridge the sensor data on N2K. Use Raymarine SeaTalkng adapters to join its backbone to standard N2K.

ESI ruleGarmin-first; share sensors on the common N2K bus across brands; keep radar/sonar/charts on the matching brand's Ethernet. Carry SeaTalkng↔N2K adapters for Raymarine jobs.

Garmin Marine Network/BlueNet (GMS/BlueNet 30); Raymarine SeaTalkng/RayNet; Navico Ethernet/N2K — maker manuals.

Maker manualsGarmin marine networking ↗Raymarine SeaTalkng/N2K ↗

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Photo to addESI photo: a Garmin MFD network with a Raymarine sensor bridged on N2K via an adapter.

✓Quick check

Chapter 14

🧩Integrating the Boat Systems

The MFD as the boat's dashboard and switch panel.

What you will be able to do

Bridge Victron power to the MFD
Wire Egis XD digital switching
Bring seacocks & sensors onto the MFD

The MFD becomes the single screen for power, switching and monitoring.

1Victron / Cerbo GX

Connect the Cerbo GX to the N2K backbone with the Victron VE.Can→NMEA 2000 cable and enable NMEA 2000-out — battery SOC, AC/DC and tanks then show on the MFD (Electrical Tech 2). The Cerbo's relays / digital outputs on the backbone can drive on/off functions too.

2Egis XD digital switching

The Egis XD series is N2K-controlled digital switching — the MFD's switching page turns circuits on/off over the network. Wire it per the Egis XD manual: the XD module on the N2K backbone (drop, within LEN budget), high-current loads on its outputs (fused per circuit), and bind the channels to the MFD's digital-switching screen. Fewer helm wires, switchable from the chartplotter (ties back to Marine Electrical 1).

3Seacocks, tanks & bilge

Bring monitored items to the MFD via N2K sensors: monitored/actuated seacocks (position sensors or powered valves with feedback), tank levels, bilge high-water, temps. Each reports a PGN; instance them and build an MFD alarm/monitor page. Discuss the options with the owner — from simple level senders to full digital-switching with valve feedback.

ESI ruleBridge Victron via the Cerbo (NMEA 2000-out); wire Egis XD per its manual onto N2K and bind to the MFD switching page; bring seacocks/tanks/bilge on as instanced N2K sensors with MFD alarms.

Victron Cerbo GX NMEA 2000-out; Egis XD series digital switching (wire per Egis XD manual); N2K tank/level/monitoring PGNs.

ReferencesVictron NMEA 2000 integration ↗ESI Marine Electrical 1 ↗ESI Electrical Tech 2 ↗

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Photo to addESI photo: MFD digital-switching page driving Egis XD; Victron SOC + tanks alongside.

✓Quick check

Chapter 15

🧪Interface Setup & Basic Testing

Configure it and prove every source works.

What you will be able to do

Update and configure the MFD
Set data sources, instances & pages
Test every sensor and function

Power up & update: bring the MFD up, run the latest software update (SD/online); update networked devices.
Data sources: in the N2K/Network menu, confirm every device appears; set instances; pick the preferred source for GPS/heading/depth where there are several.
Pages: build the chart/sonar/radar/engine/switching pages the owner wants.
Test each function: GPS fix; depth/sonar (with the transducer — tester-confirm if reused); radar transmit & heading overlay; AIS targets in/out; VHF DSC test call and confirm the MMSI; engine data; the Egis switching channels; Victron SOC/tanks.
Sea trial where needed (speed/heading/sonar at way).

ESI ruleUpdate first, set sources & instances, build the pages, then prove every sensor and function (GPS, sonar, radar, AIS, DSC/MMSI, switching, Victron) before handover.

★ Exam prepInterface setup & basic testing is a graded MEI skill — know the source/instance selection and the function checks.

MFD commissioning per maker manuals; interface setup, source/instance selection, function testing.

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Photo to addESI photo: MFD network device list configured; AIS targets and Victron SOC live on the pages.

✓Quick check

Chapter 16

✨Finish, Clean & Handover

The last 10% the customer actually sees.

What you will be able to do

Finish and clean the install
Hand over with documentation
Leave it better than we found it

Clean the glass. Peel the screen film and clean the glass screens with the maker-approved method (microfibre + approved cleaner — no ammonia on coated screens). Wipe down the new bezel and dash.
Tidy: confirm the harness is bundled, zip-tied, loomed where visible, labeled; the panel behind is better than we found it.
Document: a network diagram (devices, drops, LEN, instances), the MMSI registration confirmation, software versions, and the settings.
Hand over: walk the owner through the pages, the DSC/MMSI, AIS, switching, and how to update. Photos for the job file.
Pre-delivery inspection by the lead — nothing leaves uninspected (the ESI standard).

ESI ruleClean the screens, finish and label the wiring, document the network + MMSI, train the owner, lead PDI. Every helm leaves cleaner and clearer than we found it.

Maker screen-cleaning guidance; ESI finish/PDI standard (Production Tech 1).

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Photo to addESI photo: the finished helm — clean glass, tidy bezel, documented network — at handover.

✓Quick check

Field reference

🛠️Common Problems & Fixes

Field-tested: the symptom, the usual cause, and the fix. Always diagnose before you replace parts.

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
No data anywhere on the network	Missing or extra terminator, or no backbone power	Confirm exactly two 120Ω terminators (≈60Ω reading) and one power tap
One device won’t appear	Drop cable too long (>6 m), bad tee, or LEN over budget	Shorten the drop, replace the tee, add a second power insertion
Intermittent dropouts	Loose or corroded connector, or water in a tee	Reseat connectors, apply dielectric grease, dry and seal wet tees
Heading or AIS not displayed	Instance/PGN conflict, or the source not selected	Set unique instances and select the data source on the MFD
GPS won’t hold a fix	Poor antenna siting / blocked sky view	Relocate the antenna with a clear view, away from radar and transmitters
MFD won’t power up	Blown fuse, tripped breaker, or low voltage	Check the fuse/breaker and confirm voltage at the display
AIS/DSC has no MMSI	MMSI never programmed (one-time, lockable)	Program the MMSI once via the radio — confirm it before locking
Glare or condensation behind the glass	Heat build-up in the pod, or mounted behind the wheel	Ventilate the helm pod; avoid siting behind the wheel or reflective glass

Final certification

🎓Final exam

A short check ran at the end of each chapter. Pass this final at 80% to unlock your certificate.

🎓MFD Installer & NMEA — Final Exam

ESSENTIAL SHIPYARD UNIVERSITY

Certificate of Completion

This certifies that

has successfully completed MFD Installer & NMEA — marine electronics installation — and passed the final examination to the ESI standard.

President

Essential Shipyard Industries

★CERTIFIED

Date Issued

Essential Shipyard University