Electronics: VeLink from Digital Yacht brings Victron data to the plotter via Bluetooth
Hauke Schmidt
· 18.02.2026
With veLink, Digital Yacht solves a typical integration problem on sailing yachts: Victron battery monitors, solar controllers, chargers and inverters are very popular, but work with proprietary communication protocols such as VE.Direct and VE.Bus. Until now, integration into a maritime NMEA 2000 network required either complex cabling or the costly Cerbo GX energy management system.
The new gateway now provides a much simpler and cheaper alternative for smaller installations where the electrical data only needs to be displayed on the plotter - without an additional app and without cabling on the Victron side.
Bluetooth instead of cable - installed in just a few minutes
The veLink NMEA 2000 Gateway uses Bluetooth to connect Victron devices wirelessly. For installation, the interface is simply connected to a free port in the NMEA 2000 backbone; power is supplied directly via the data network.
Compatible Victron devices can be paired with the connection key from the Victron Connect app via the veLink web interface. According to the manufacturer, the complete setup is done in just a few minutes.
The system supports Victron SmartShunts, BMV-712 battery monitors, MPPT solar charge controllers, Blue Smart chargers and Orion DC/DC converters - as long as they have a Bluetooth interface. Up to eight Victron devices can be connected simultaneously, which means that the gateway covers the vast majority of installations. Each device can be configured with individual instances and customised names so that, for example, "Main battery", "Engine battery" and "Solar panel port" appear separately on the multifunction display.
Current, voltage and charge status on the plotter
The veLink transmits all important electrical data from Victron devices to the NMEA 2000 network. This includes battery voltage and current, state of charge (SOC), remaining runtime, solar yield and performance data from DC converters.
SmartShunt or BMV-712 battery monitors provide accurate amp-hour counts. MPPT solar controllers provide real-time information on panel voltage, current input and daily yield. In installations with Orion DC/DC converters, the Victron gateway also shows what power the alternator is actually delivering to the service battery.
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Via the web interface, the user can specify which NMEA 2000 data is to be transmitted, for example battery status, detailed DC status or charger status.particularly practical: alarms configured in the Victron Connect app are forwarded to the NMEA 2000 network via the veLink and appear as pop-up warnings on compatible plotters from Garmin, Raymarine or B&G. In addition, the gateway triggers its own alarm if a device loses the connection for longer than 30 seconds. Chargers, which are often installed in areas that are difficult to access, can be conveniently monitored from the helm - without having to open a separate app on the smartphone.
Compatibility and range of the veLink from Digital Yacht
The veLink is NMEA 2000-certified and works with all compatible multifunction displays - including Raymarine, Garmin, B&G, Furuno and other Navico brands. The interface is also compatible with Raymarine's SeaTalkNG standard via an adapter. The Bluetooth range is ten to 15 metres, although steel or carbon hulls can significantly attenuate the signal and require more careful positioning.
Configuration is carried out entirely via the veLink web interface, using a smartphone, tablet or laptop. This makes the installation independent of operating systems or manufacturer-specific apps. In contrast to Victron's own veKonvert interface, which only supports VE.Direct devices and requires a cable connection, the new Victron NMEA 2000 Gateway covers all Bluetooth-enabled Victron products and completely eliminates the need for cabling on the Victron side. The price is around 270 euros.
Technical data
- Bluetooth: Low Energy (BLE), range 10-15 m
- NMEA 2000: Certified, self-sufficient via bus
- SeaTalkNG: Compatible (with Raymarine A06045 adapter)
- Supports Victron devices: Battery monitors: SmartShunt, BMV-712; Solar controller: MPPT SmartSolar; Chargers: Blue Smart IP22/IP65; DC converters: Orion DC/DC Smart
- Simultaneous connections: up to 8 devices
- Data selection: Configurable battery status, DC status, charger status
- Device naming: Customised names (e.g. "Main battery", "Solar panel port")
- Alarm forwarding: Victron alarms as NMEA 2000 pop-ups
- Connection monitoring: Alarm on failure >30 seconds
- Transferred data: Battery: voltage, current, SOC, remaining runtime; Solar: panel voltage, yield, daily statistics; Chargers: charging current, status; DC converters: power output
Hauke Schmidt
Test & Technology editor
Hauke Schmidt was born in Hanau, Hesse, in 1974, but moved to the coast at the age of an Opti and grew up sailing dinghies and tall ships. School and semester breaks were used for extensive Baltic Sea cruises. During and after his oceanography studies in Kiel, he took part in various international research trips to tropical and polar regions. The focus was on ocean currents and their influence on climate change. Eventually he was drawn back to his home coast and to YACHT. He completed a traineeship there and has been working as an editor in the Test & Technology department since 2009. His core tasks include equipment and boat testing, as well as practical topics relating to electronics, seamanship and refits. As a passionate DIY enthusiast, he loves to spend his summers on the water with his family and winters working on his boat
