Usb-C charging onboard with PD

The ability to work onboard with a laptop is essential — at least in my line of work. I work for the best travel app in the world, Flightradar24, and more often than not I need to get things done during vacations, weekends, and evenings. In short: whenever I’m on the boat.

At first, I tried a 12-volt cigarette plug charger. It worked okay, but the plug was flimsy disconnecting easily and often. On top of that the original feeder cabling to the outlet felt thin and was also unfused by the previous owner. So I relied on shore power whenever it was available. Still, I needed a proper, energy-efficient alternative while on the move. Once I had upgraded the electric system, I started looking for proper USB-C charger wall outlets.

I eventually found an affordable charger on Amazon with good reviews. At first, I was skeptical that something so small could really deliver 65W of charging power. But with the right PD (Meaning Power Delivery) cables and proper fusing for peace of mind, it has proven rock solid. The outlet has an on/off button, a USB-C port, and a USB-A port. Some people are whining about the blue lightning but I see that as a non issue.

I’ve been running this setup since the 2024 season, and it works like a charm. Power consumption is drastically lower compared to using the inverter and a 220 volt wall charger. To cut down on charging cable clutter, I installed one outlet on each side of the center table in the Maxi Mixer. One otlet was placed by the nav station and the other one under the sofa by the mast on the port side. I’d love to add a portable extra screen as well for the computer — but that’s a future investment.

Since getting proper charging sorted, I even work remotely from the boat from time to time. What a treat!