Starlink Mini Review - Honest Feedback Liveaboard Boaters
- Telicia
- Jan 8
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 hours ago
Fast, reliable internet aboard has become a must-have for many liveaboard sailors and boaters, including us. We've had Starlink since 2023, and in April 2025 switched to the Starlink Mini.
We were curious to see how the smaller sized satellite dish and lower power draw would hold up in the real world of boat life, especially with three people living aboard who rely on high-speed internet for entertainment, troubleshooting, boat management, and online work. After 9+ months of daily use, here’s my honest Starlink Mini review.
CONTENTS
Introducing the Starlink Mini
The Starlink Mini was released to the public in mid-2024, marketed as a compact, travel-friendly version of the standard dish. It was created with portability and efficiency in mind, making it perfect for liveaboard cruisers like us, as well as off-grid setups, van lifers, RV's, and boaters.
Spec wise, here’s how the Mini kit stacks up against the Standard dish:
Features | Starlink Mini | Standard Dish |
Dish dimensions | Length: 298.5 mm (11.75 in) Width: 259 mm (10.2 in) Depth: 38.5 mm (1.45 in) | Length: 594 mm (23.4 in) Width: 383 mm (15.07 in) Depth: 39.7 mm (1.5 in) |
Dish weight | 1.10 kg (2.43 lb) | 2.9 kg (6.4 lb) |
Environmental rating | IP67 Type 4 with DC Power Cable and Starlink Plug/Cable installed | IP67 Type 4 |
Operational wind speed | 96 kph+ (60 mph+) | 96 kph+ (60 mph+) |
Average power consumption | Â 25-40W | 75 - 100 W |
Field of view | 110° | 110° |
We originally had the High Performance Flat Dish, which served us well offshore but came with some downsides. It guzzled power, often pulling 80W or more even when idle, and exclusively ran on AC, with the power/data cable combo making it difficult to convert without risking the dish. The setup didn’t really make sense with our energy-conscious liveaboard lifestyle, so we decided to give the Mini a try.
Cost of Starlink Mini for boats
The cost of having a Starlink Mini is made up of two components;
Hardware cost
Monthly Starlink plan
Hardware cost
Generally, the Starlink Mini is less expensive than the Standard dish, and much cheaper than the High Performance dish. You can get up-to-date pricing on the Starlink website, but for a general ideas here's what they cost in these regions.
Country | Price |
St Martin (French) | 399 EUR = 466 USD |
Philippines | 33,500 PHP = 590 USD |
Australia | 599 AUD = 390 USD |
United States | 499 USD |
France | 225 EUR = 265 USD |
Panama | 200 USD |
When we purchased our Mini we looked at the countries we would be in over the next few months, and chose the place that had the cheapest hardware/plan costs. You can also check if any of the authorized sellers like West Marine are having a sale.
Data plans
The monthly cost to run a Starlink Mini varies depending on which service plan you chose, and what your service address is. For example Roam Unlimited costs $165 USD a month for US service addresses, and just $100 USD a month for Panamanian addresses.
Choosing the right Starlink data plan depends on where and how you'll be using your Mini. Aboard our catamaran we use Roam Unlimited, toggling Ocean Data mode on and off as needed through the Starlink app.
Starlink has a referral program so if you use this link to sign up for a Residential or Roam plan, you could get 1 month free and so would we!
What’s in the Starlink Mini box
The Starlink Mini kit is more comprehensive than I'd realized when I ordered it, so there wasn't much extra we needed to buy for the install. Here's a full breakdown of what's in it:
Starlink Mini dish
Kickstand
Pipe adaptor and flat mount
DC power cable (15 m / 49.92 ft)
AC power supply plug
Starlink plug
Unless you want a different mounting solution, the kit has everything you need to hook-it-up to a power source and get online. The only thing we added was a watertight cable gland and Victron Orion-Tr DC to DC converter, which were used as part of our permanent, on-deck installation.
You'll noticed there's no router on the list; that's because the Starlink Mini router is inbuilt.
Installing Starlink Mini on a yacht
We mounted our Starlink Mini on the roof of our catamaran, forward of the boom and mast, and away from where the genoa and sheet lines could conflict with it. Just like with the previous High Performance dish you can see the mast in the obstruction test, but it doesn't seem to impact performance speeds.
The power supply passes through the roof using a cable gland to seal it. The gland originally sat under the High Performance dish, which we've since removed, but the position was also guided by the internal structure of the roof.
From there, we ran the power cable directly back to our 48V DC system using a Victron Orion-Tr DC to DC converter, a choice we made for maximum efficiency. The dish has a power input rating of 12-48VDC, 60W, making it compatible with boat electrical systems.
Performance review of Starlink Mini on a boat
After 9+ months of daily use, we can confidently say the Starlink Mini holds up. Here are some of our observations, including how it compares to our original High Performance dish.
There's been very little drop in speed compared to our original dish. The Mini easily handles 3 adults aboard running multiple devices, streaming and uploading large video files. It seems a slight bit slower down in the cabins, which are multiple layers of fiberglass and a greater distance away from the dish than anywhere else aboard.
The power draw is usually around 25W, which is a 60–75% power saving over the old dish. It’s changed our daily energy use noticeably to the point where we run the generator less often.
Native DC power is a game-changer for people like us, who want to run the system off DC instead of AC. With our previous High Performance dish, the data/power combination cable made this conversion extremely technical.
There was no difference in the performance offshore when priority "Ocean Data" was turned on. It was toggled on and off a few times as we sailed between Caribbean islands, and we were able to use the internet as if we were sitting on land.
The dish does seem to cut out or slowdown more frequently when very, very heavy tropical rains hit, in comparison to the High Performance dish. This didn't surprise us, given the Mini has less than half the surface area, and with the infrequency of these types of rains it doesn't really matter.
An idea...
An idea we're in the process of working out is powering the Starlink Mini using a portable battery. We have a conversion device for a M18 Milwaukee battery, which we plan to try. If that works, it means we can power a Starlink from a portable tool battery and take it anywhere we want.
Should you get Starlink Mini for your boat?
The Starlink Mini has been a great addition to our liveaboard setup. We’re so happy with the performance, we’ve actually purchased a second Mini dish as a backup for remote cruising. That way, if something goes wrong with the first one, it
If you’re a boater trying to balance connectivity and power draw, I'd recommend that you seriously consider the Starlink Mini.
Starlink has a referral program so if you use this link to sign up for a Residential or Roam plan, you could get 1 month free and so would we!
