GLEN JUSTICE

Maretron's focus on NMEA 2000 marine electronics components and systems is well known — and it's N2K Builder software probably will be, too.

N2K Builder is free downloadable software that allows boaters, whether they are pros or do-it-yourself installers, to scope out a NMEA 2000 system. The software will list components, track wire runs and do many other complicated tasks, creating visual schematics of the system and lists of parts.

Maretron's N2K Builder works with both Maretron and gear by other manufacturers. It can also store multiple schemes, so you can create and save more than one system. And on Panbo, the marine electronics blog, some users are even sharing N2K Builder files to show off their networks.

We haven't tested it (full disclosure: Maretron is an advertiser on Mad Mariner), but it looks like handy, public-spirited stuff. Maretron's N2K Builder won an Honorable Mention at the IBEX Innovation Awards in the Boatbuilding Methods & Materials category.

And hey — the price is right.