Best AIS Transceivers for Sailboats: A Buyer's Guide

If you sail in busy shipping lanes, foggy anchorages, or crowded coastal waters, an AIS (Automatic Identification System) transceiver is one of the best safety upgrades you can make. Unlike a receive-only AIS unit, a full transceiver both broadcasts your position to nearby vessels and shows you theirs — giving everyone on the water more warning and more time to react. Below we compare three well-regarded Class B transceivers, from a budget-friendly option to a fully-loaded premium unit, so you can pick the one that matches your boat, your electronics, and your budget.

Quick Comparison

Simrad NAIS-500

Garmin AIS 800 ★

Raymarine AIS700

Our Recommendation

If you're already running a Simrad or B&G chartplotter and want to keep costs down, the Simrad NAIS-500 is a smart choice — it networks natively with NSS, NSO, and GO series displays and Simrad RS VHF radios. Just remember to budget for a separate antenna splitter (like the NSPL-500) if you want to share your existing VHF antenna instead of running a second one.

For most cruising sailors, the Garmin AIS 800 hits the sweet spot: full send-and-receive Class B AIS, a built-in GPS, and — unlike the NAIS-500 — an internal VHF antenna splitter, so there's one less part to buy and mount. It integrates cleanly with any Garmin chartplotter over NMEA 2000, which covers a large share of boats already on the water. This is why it's our top pick for most sailboats.

If you want the newest technology and don't mind paying for it, the Raymarine AIS700 is worth the upgrade. Its SO-TDMA networking gives longer range and faster position updates than older Class B units, the antenna splitter is built in, and its switchable Silent Mode is a nice extra for anyone who wants to control when their position is broadcast. It's the natural fit if you're running a Raymarine multifunction display and want everything talking on SeaTalkng.

Ready to Choose?

Common Questions

Do I need Class B, or should I get Class A AIS?
Class A is required for commercial vessels and broadcasts more frequently at higher power, but it's expensive and overkill for most recreational sailboats. Class B transceivers (like all three above) are designed for leisure boats, cost far less, and satisfy the vast majority of cruisers' safety needs.

Can I share my existing VHF antenna with my AIS transceiver?
Yes, but only if your unit has a built-in antenna splitter (Garmin AIS 800 and Raymarine AIS700 do) or you add a separate splitter (needed with the Simrad NAIS-500). Without one, you'll need to mount a second, dedicated AIS antenna.

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