A Bloody Brilliant Look Inside a 180′ Yacht’s Automation and Audio Video Systems

It’s not every day you get a personal tour of a 180-foot luxury yacht — especially one led by the Chief Officer himself, a sharp and witty Brit with a love for technology and a voice that could narrate a documentary.

As someone who’s spent years designing automation, audio video, and networking systems for high-end homes and commercial spaces, I was eager to see how it all comes together at sea. What I found was nothing short of remarkable — a floating masterpiece of engineering and integration.

“A Total Game Changer — Bloody Brilliant!”

The first thing the Chief Officer pointed out was their Starlink system. With a grin, he tapped the modem cabinet and said, “This thing’s a total game changer… bloody brilliant, really. Before Starlink, we might as well have been sending emails by carrier pigeon.”

Out on the open water, consistent connectivity used to be a fantasy. Now, thanks to Starlink, the yacht enjoys high-speed internet anywhere in the world. The signal runs through a series of UniFi switches and access points, blanketing the yacht in seamless Wi-Fi from bow to stern. “We’ve even got Wi-Fi in the engine room now,” he laughed, “though I can’t say the engineers are thrilled about that.”

The Backbone: Miles of Cat6 Cabling

A few years ago, the crew tackled what he described as “a right pain in the backside, but absolutely essential” — running Cat6 cabling to every network, audio video, and camera location throughout the vessel. On a ship that spans nearly 200 feet, that’s no small feat.

“Every bulkhead, every compartment — we had to fish cables through like threading a needle in a hurricane,” he said. But that foresight paid off. Today, those lines are the backbone of the yacht’s automation and network infrastructure, ensuring flawless communication between every device onboard.

Luxury Audio Video: Where Simplicity Meets Sophistication

In the guest staterooms, the Chief Officer proudly showed off the Samsung TVs paired with Apple TVs. “Keep it simple for the guests,” he said. “The trick is letting them feel like it’s just like home — only with a better view.”

But in the main salon and the master suite, things got far more impressive. TVs silently rose from furniture lifts while Denon receivers powered in-ceiling speakers with pristine sound. I couldn’t help but comment on the clarity — and he nodded, “Aye, she sounds as good as any high-end London flat. You’d never guess you’re floating on the ocean.”

Control and Automation with Style

All of this technology is tied together through Sonos for multi-room audio and Control4 for system automation. With one elegant remote or touchscreen, every light, speaker, and TV across the ship can be managed effortlessly.

Eyes Everywhere: IP Surveillance at Sea

The ship’s video surveillance is a fully IP-based system running on an NVR server. From the bridge, he demonstrated live feeds from the engine room, decks, and even the tender bay.

When Power Becomes the Enemy

Of all the challenges, the biggest headache came when docking internationally. Many foreign ports supply 220 volts, while the U.S. system runs on 110 volts. That mismatch wreaked havoc on their electronics. “It’s a nightmare, mate,” he said, shaking his head. “Half our surge protectors went up like fireworks in Monaco. Had to swap the lot."

A Floating Masterclass in Integration

As the tour wrapped up, I couldn’t help but admire the craftsmanship — and the humor — that keeps this vessel operating flawlessly. From Starlink connectivity to Control4 automation and world-class audio video design, every detail reflected foresight, precision, and pride.

Walking back down the dock, his parting words stuck with me: “You know, Chris, it’s funny — everything’s automated now, but it still takes a good crew to make it all sing. Tech’s brilliant, but people make it art.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.