Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-26-2012, 07:57 PM   #1
Guru
 
Fotoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
iPad app for navigation

Any good navigation app for the iPad? I've been using Navionics for a few weeks now but I find it very limited compared to a real gps (very few functions apart from showing you where you are on the map and your speed). I was wondering if there was something better out there?
Fotoman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2012, 08:29 PM   #2
Guru
 
Nomad Willy's Avatar
 
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
I have Navimatics. An app from Apple. $25. Marin turned me on to that. I bought it as a substitute for a great pile of charts. Always had that problem going up or down the coast. The number of charts for a 1000 mile trip on the PNW coast is staggering. The Navimatics lacks some detail but is very easy to use on the boat and a great way to make conversation about where you've been or where you're going. I use it mostly underway. I leave the plotter on where I need it like zoomed in close going around a point w some rocks out front while I keep track of the big picture w the I-pad on Navimatics. I can even leave it plugged into the DC 12V charger while I'm underway using it. Frequently I surf for possible anchorages ahead or alternative routes. For me it's the best $25 I've ever spent on Internet stuff. One needs to remember it's an app so you can use it without Wi-fi anywhere you are. I'm posting this on my I-pad but I need to have Wi-fi to do it. Once it's downloaded it's independent.
Nomad Willy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2012, 05:51 AM   #3
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
I second the Navionics, purchased the Polar view and downloaded charts but it is just too complicated and customer support is a joke.

DT
dirtytom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2012, 11:47 AM   #4
Guru
 
Fotoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
Thanks guy. I've seen Navimatics on the iStore but it looks even more bare than Navionics (unless the screenshots and their website don't do justice to their product). I'm looking for something that would include all the usual features of a real gps. Maybe there is just no such thing for the iPad.
Fotoman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2012, 01:15 PM   #5
Guru
 
Nomad Willy's Avatar
 
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
Mr Fotoman the $25 Navimatics I have shows too few names. Citys and towns are often called "built up area" and names of channels, inlets, bays and coves are missing but as Marin says to zoom in close often revals the names. The more important stuff like shallow water, rocks and shores are there in full detail. For the way I use it it's fine and I'd pay way more than $25 if I had to.
Nomad Willy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2012, 01:39 PM   #6
Boat Bum
 
Alfton's Avatar
 
City: Kemah, Texas
Vessel Name: Traveling Star
Vessel Model: Pilgrim 40
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 164
Is the Navionics the one that cost $49? I have a buddy that uses that one along with some type of satalite bluetooth puck that allows him to navigate without wifi or cell service.
__________________
John Allison
Pilgrim 40 Hull #18
Kemah, Texas
Alfton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2012, 02:18 PM   #7
Guru
 
Fotoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfton View Post
Is the Navionics the one that cost $49? I have a buddy that uses that one along with some type of satalite bluetooth puck that allows him to navigate without wifi or cell service.
Yes it is and for the price you get all the charts for US and Canada. You can't beat that. One paper chart costs more than that. The level of details is great and the app gets updated very often. I just wish I could do more with it, like creating and saving routes.
Fotoman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2012, 03:35 PM   #8
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
We can create a route but cannot save it?

DT
dirtytom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2012, 03:53 PM   #9
Guru
 
Fotoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
Quote:
Originally Posted by dirtytom View Post
We can create a route but cannot save it?

DT
Well, the route will be saved, yes. Until you create another one. Then it will be replaced.
Fotoman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2012, 09:11 PM   #10
Guru
 
Ocean Breeze NL's Avatar
 
City: Springdale, NL
Vessel Name: Ocean Breeze
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 85OA38
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 526
I really like Navionics so I have it loaded on my iPad, iPhone and Lowrance HDS10 Gen2. Yes, one can save a route that is planned and a whole lot more and several routes can be saved. I presently have 8 saved on the iPad.

Here is a trip done sitting on the deck with a friend using the iPad.


I can figure out just how far an island, rock or buoy is away from my route.



I can find out some info concerning what is close to me.


It can figure out my consumption etc.


It can tell the winds and tides.


And some other interesting things about the day or tomorrow.


Elwin
__________________
Elwin
Ocean Breeze NL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2012, 09:26 PM   #11
Guru
 
Fotoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
Ok, that is pretty cool. Didn't know I could do that (or didn't figure it out). I'llplay with it more to figure out how to save different routes.
Fotoman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2012, 11:35 PM   #12
Scraping Paint
 
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fotoman View Post
Thanks guy. I've seen Navimatics on the iStore but it looks even more bare than Navionics (unless the screenshots and their website don't do justice to their product). I'm looking for something that would include all the usual features of a real gps. Maybe there is just no such thing for the iPad.
Navimatics is NOT a navigation system. It's just an impressive collection of charts that can take the place of a big pile of paper charts or chartbooks. You can zoom in and out with a couple of finger swipes and as a planning tool, enroute or before departure, it is terrific. It interfaces with Active Captain so you can find anchorages or marinas and then get the info and reviews of them right on the chart screen from Active Captain.

Navimatics will lay a track behind your boat as you cruise along if you turn on the tracking feature. You do not have to be online to do this but you must have an iPad with internal GPS (only the 3/4G models have this built-in I believe, the wifi only models don't), and you can put a waypoint on the screen and navigate to it (in a straight line). But you CAN NOT create routes with multiple waypoints and all the other functions you have on a regular plotter.

As a planning tool, an enroute chart-checking tool, an Active Captain interface, and a "big picture" tool to zoom in and out quickly and scan the area around you (like with paper charts), Navimatics is outstanding in our opinion. As a navigational tool, it's not one.
Marin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2012, 05:44 AM   #13
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Where did you find a manual? I love ours but have not figured out all the good stuff?

DT
dirtytom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2012, 01:22 PM   #14
Scraping Paint
 
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
Quote:
Originally Posted by dirtytom View Post
Where did you find a manual? I love ours but have not figured out all the good stuff?

DT

Which post and which manual does your question relate to?
Marin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2012, 06:49 PM   #15
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Manual for the Navionics?

DT
dirtytom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2012, 07:42 PM   #16
Guru
 
Ocean Breeze NL's Avatar
 
City: Springdale, NL
Vessel Name: Ocean Breeze
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 85OA38
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 526
Quote:
Originally Posted by dirtytom
Manual for the Navionics?

DT
I believe a CD came with mine, but check online there maybe a PDF you can download. I just played around with it and never looked at the DVD and can't seem to locate it now to be for sure.

Elwin
__________________
Elwin
Ocean Breeze NL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2012, 01:00 PM   #17
Veteran Member
 
DonnyP's Avatar
 
City: Newburyport, MA
Vessel Name: Kairos
Vessel Model: Island Pilot 395
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 61
Take a look at iNavX. I tried Navionics first but really didn't like the fact that it only has a North Up orientation. iNavX is really a great app, and has a lot of functionality that I have not even tapped, such as integration with auto-pilot and more. It was a little clunky to buy, but has become my primary underway tool, leaving the older Raymarine chart plotter as the backup.

If you have a 3G enabled iPad, it has GPS built in and will work when out of GPS/wifi range. If you have a wifi only iPad, it does not have GPS and you will need a bluetooth gps "puck".
DonnyP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2012, 01:20 PM   #18
Guru
 
refugio's Avatar
 
City: Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club
Vessel Name: Lulu (Refugio sold)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,284
Quote:
Originally Posted by DonnyP View Post
If you have a wifi only iPad, it does not have GPS and you will need a bluetooth gps "puck".
Bluetooth GPS for iPad used to require jail-breaking (not sure about the latest iOS) and were problematic.

I use a BadElf on mine and am quite satisfied with it.
refugio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2012, 09:50 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Gulfstar 36's Avatar
 
City: Kent Island
Vessel Name: Sundowner
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36 MrkII
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 234
I use the Navionics on my cell and iPad. I have open CPN on my laptop with a GPS puck. A word of caution on the iPAD, keep it out of the sun. They tend to dislike getting hot.
Gulfstar 36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2012, 10:20 PM   #20
Guru
 
refugio's Avatar
 
City: Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club
Vessel Name: Lulu (Refugio sold)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,284
Quote:
Originally Posted by xuandong
Asian Star Anchor Chain which is the anchor chain factory is a specialized manufacturer of anchor chains and offshore mooring chains. All of the china anchor chain we offered are high-quality anchor chain.
Good to know if I ever wanted to to deep six my iPad! Crossing Asian Star off my shopping list ...
__________________
Keith
refugio is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012