B&G is a marine-electronics brand specializing in instrumentation, navigation and autopilot systems for racing and cruising sailboats.
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Overview
B&G is a British marine-electronics brand whose products are designed primarily for sailing yachts, including both performance-oriented racing boats and cruising vessels. The name originated as Brookes & Gatehouse, the partnership formed by Ronald Brookes and Major R. N. Gatehouse. The founders initially worked on a radio direction finder intended for private sailing boats, establishing the company around the practical navigation and communications needs of recreational and competitive sailors. The business was founded in 1956, after the founders had formed their partnership the previous year. During the 1950s, B&G operated from Lymington in southern England and broadened its activities beyond radio direction finding. Its early development work included echo sounders, which helped sailors determine water depth, and the company produced its first speedometer in 1960. These products placed B&G within the emerging market for dedicated onboard instrumentation, where reliable readings of speed, depth and navigational information could improve both safety and sailing performance. Over time, B&G developed a more specialized position in marine electronics. Rather than functioning as a general consumer-electronics label, it became associated with integrated systems for sailing vessels. Its principal areas include yacht instrumentation, navigation equipment and autopilots. Such systems are used to present information to the crew and to support course keeping, route planning and situational awareness. The brand serves different requirements across racing and cruising: racing sailors generally prioritize responsive performance data and tactical information, while cruising sailors place greater emphasis on dependable navigation, clear displays and manageable onboard integration. B&G has changed ownership several times during its history. It is now a brand within Navico, a Norwegian marine-electronics company whose portfolio also includes Simrad Yachting, Lowrance and C-MAP. Within that group structure, B&G remains the sailing-focused brand, while sister brands address other segments of marine electronics and digital charting. The available reference material does not establish a separate current corporate headquarters for B&G, a public listing, a ticker symbol or a standalone financial reporting structure. The brand's historical importance comes from its long specialization in sailing instrumentation. Its development from a radio-direction-finder business into a supplier of integrated sailing electronics reflects the broader evolution of yacht technology, from individual navigation and depth instruments toward connected systems combining displays, sensors, steering assistance and chart information. B&G's current identity therefore rests on technical equipment for sailing rather than on a broad consumer-brand presence.
History
B&G's origins date to the mid-1950s, when Ronald Brookes and Major R. N. Gatehouse formed a partnership to develop and manufacture a radio direction finder for private sailing boats. The partnership was established in 1955, and the company was founded as B&G in 1956. Its initial product direction reflected the practical challenges faced by sailors who needed dependable navigational information away from shore. During the 1950s, the company was based in Lymington, in the south of England. It expanded beyond radio direction finding into other forms of yacht instrumentation, including echo sounders. This broadened the brand's technical scope from radio-based navigation to equipment that could provide information about the vessel's surrounding waters. In 1960, B&G produced its first speedometer, adding another core measurement to its marine-electronics activities. The company's subsequent development was built around the specialized requirements of sailing. B&G became associated with instrumentation, navigation systems and autopilots for racing and cruising yachts. These categories address complementary functions: instrumentation supplies readings and performance data, navigation equipment supports route and position awareness, and autopilots assist with maintaining a selected course. The combination allows marine electronics to be treated as an integrated onboard system rather than as a collection of unrelated instruments. B&G changed ownership several times over the course of its history. The reference material does not specify each transaction or the dates on which ownership changed, so those details cannot be established here without additional sources. The brand is now part of Navico, a Norwegian company operating in the marine-electronics sector. Navico's wider brand portfolio includes Simrad Yachting, Lowrance Electronics and C-MAP. B&G occupies the sailing-oriented position within that portfolio, while the related brands serve other marine-electronics or digital-charting needs. The brand's historical trajectory illustrates the transition of yacht electronics from standalone navigational aids to more comprehensive systems for sailors. Its early radio direction finder, later echo-sounding equipment and first speedometer represent successive stages in the expansion of information available aboard private boats. Its present scope—instrumentation, navigation and autopilot products for racing and cruising yachts—retains the original connection to sailing while reflecting the greater integration expected of contemporary marine equipment. Public reference material does not provide sufficient information to document a detailed sequence of later product generations, marketing campaigns, executive appointments or financial milestones.
- 1960
First speedometer produced
[1]B&G produced its first speedometer, expanding its sailing instrumentation range beyond its earlier radio-navigation and echo-sounding work.
- 1956
B&G is founded
[1]The company was established by Ronald Brookes and Major R. N. Gatehouse to develop and manufacture marine navigation equipment.
- 1955
Brookes and Gatehouse form a partnership
[1]Ronald Brookes and Major R. N. Gatehouse formed the partnership that preceded the B&G company and began developing a radio direction finder for private sailing boats.
Becomes part of Navico
[1]After changing hands several times, B&G became a brand of Navico, a Norwegian marine-electronics company.
Products and positioning
A specialist marine-electronics brand focused on the navigation, instrumentation and steering-assistance needs of racing and cruising sailors.
Sailing electronics
Marine instrumentation
B&G's instrumentation products provide onboard sailing information for racing and cruising yachts. The category developed from the company's early work in navigational aids and measurement equipment and forms the core of its specialist sailing identity. The available reference does not identify specific current model names or technical specifications.
Marine navigation
Navigation systems
B&G develops navigation equipment for sailboats, supporting the crew's understanding of position, route and surrounding conditions. The systems are intended for both racing and cruising applications. Public reference material confirms the category but does not provide a verified list of current products or model launch dates.
Marine steering assistance
Autopilot systems
B&G's autopilot systems assist sailing yachts with course keeping and steering control. They form part of the brand's broader integrated-electronics offering, alongside instruments and navigation equipment. The available source does not establish specific model names, generations or launch years.
Marine instrumentation
Echo sounders
Echo sounders were among the product areas B&G entered during the 1950s. They extended the company's original radio-direction-finder activities into equipment that could provide depth information for sailors. The source does not specify the first product model or its precise launch date.
Marine instrumentation · 1960
Speedometers
B&G produced its first speedometer in 1960. The product represented an expansion of the brand's onboard measurement capabilities and helped establish its broader role in sailing instrumentation.
Recent events
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