NoForeignLand and TrawlerForum

[mvweebles]

We've been using NoForeignLand (NFL) App for a couple years. Like ActiveCaptain, it has user ratings for anchorages and facilities which we find useful.

If you're not familiar, here's the website or search NoForeignLand for Apple or Android.

noforeignland – a free, crowd-sourced sailing community

🚀 Keeping sailors connected.

www.noforeignland.com

You can also add your boat and track where you've been and share with others. I realize this may not be for everyone which is understandable.

I've created a group for TrawlerForum members. You can add yourself to the group HERE. This allows people to sort on group members and see if anyone is nearby. A virtual hull-knock in an anchorage.

HERE's my "page " of NFL. Feel free to follow Weebles - we try to add each anchorage we stay.

Will take a while to build a core base of users and might ultimately die of atrophy. But might be kinda fun too..

Peter

 

[KnotYet]

Joined!

 

[Jklotz]

We've been using it for a while. One particularly useful feature for us is that it shows areas good for taking pets to shore. Quite handy when on the hook.

 

[Bob Cofer]

Joined and following.

 

[mvweebles]

I hope others follow Weebles. But more, is encourage anyone to join NoForeignLand and encourage friends. It's great to track movements and discover new anchorages and shore side attractions.

Here's Weebles link if you'd like to follow.

Weebles on noforeignland.com

Bringing sailors together

www.noforeignland.com

If you're new to NFL, here's a link to share and join

Track your boat and share information on places to visit

Bringing sailors together

www.noforeignland.com

If you'd like to join the TF group on NFL, here's a link (you probably need to have an ID already on NFL but not sure).

TrawlerForum

Join the TrawlerForum group on noforeignland.

www.noforeignland.com

Peter

 

[Jklotz]

I missed the trawlerforum group. Just joined it.

 

[mvweebles]

I missed the trawlerforum group. Just joined it.

Is there a decent NFL group formed for the Bahamas? Maybe a WhatsApp group? It takes a couple dozen boats to really get a group engaged. Be patient with TF NFL. It could take a season or two.

To give context and nudge folks to participate in NFL and/or WhatsApp groups, we exchange info daily with fellow cruisers. Some have become friends. Most haven't but having the network is helpful.

Here's an example of how we've communicated in the last day or so:

- borrowed a TDS meter
- received a picture of someone catching a good sized sailfish off their trimaran.
- arranged happy hour for 4 boats at the marinas restaurant (two boats anchored out, two in marina)
- how to check in to Costa Rica without using an agent

We've found the exchanges pleasant even though they are brief - would encourage folks to look at NFL even for local cruising and weekend use. It's fun to track boats you've met.

Peter

 

[NoRain]

Peter, there are dozens of FB groups already doing that; many specific to Cruisers, like Log into Facebook. Not sure why yet another platform would be desirable?

 

[Jklotz]

What I find most useful is that it shows you everything you need when you pull into a new place on a map. Restaurants (with reviews), dingy dock, where I can take my dogs to shore, fuel, marinas, mooring balls, snorkeling and diving sights, anchorages with local knowledge, other boats there, it's all there, right on the map. I carry my phone on the dingy and use it to find the dingy dock. The social stuff is just a bonus for me.

Screen shot of Marsh Harbor. Each icon can be tapped for info:

 

[Ertyqway]

Really cool, Peter. Thanks for pointing this app out! I joined the TF group you set up.

Peter, there are dozens of FB groups already doing that; many specific to Cruisers, like Log into Facebook. Not sure why yet another platform would be desirable?

Lots of people don't have FB accounts (I don't, and never will). And FB doesn't have the map location functionality NFL has.

 

[NoRain]

Really cool, Peter. Thanks for pointing this app out! I joined the TF group you set up.


Lots of people don't have FB accounts (I don't, and never will). And FB doesn't have the map location functionality NFL has.

Actually, I don’t either….and never will. I was speaking parenthetically as it seems many/most people do. I’ve always used Active Captain for the above mentioned info. Back when we were there it was embedded in Garmin Blue Charts which does not exist anymore as a unique app. But Active Captain is now embedded in Navionics and we use it extensively. My weak understanding of NFL is that it’s more oriented to an international perspective. Is it superior to Active Captain/Navionics for North America?

 

[mvweebles]

Actually, I don’t either….and never will. I was speaking parenthetically as it seems many/most people do. I’ve always used Active Captain for the above mentioned info. Back when we were there it was embedded in Garmin Blue Charts which does not exist anymore as a unique app. But Active Captain is now embedded in Navionics and we use it extensively. My weak understanding of NFL is that it’s more oriented to an international perspective. Is it superior to Active Captain/Navionics for North America?

I'm not a FB person either. But I'm obviously a TF person and I can tell you NFL has a good value proposition for me.

I could ask TF for information on the Bahamas and get decent feedback from people who were there last year or the year before. On NFL, I could get real time information. Or ask for parts. Or where the closest grocery is. Or does anyone want to grab happy hour at XYZ bar. Not 10-minutes ago, someone dropped off a large Yellow Tail tuna steak. A local charter caught a large dish and the guests were headed home tomorrow so there was fish to give away.

On the surface, NFL is a lot like ActiveCaptain (though it gives better information on what directions the anchorage has protection). AC is becoming dormant as folks move to NFL. But as @Jklotz notes, the power is in the socal connections to nearby boats. You cannot get that on FB or TF.

It's not for everyone. I'm surprised I like it. But I gotta tell you it's fun to watch the progress people I've met make.

Peter

 

[Jklotz]

For some reason, it is more popular with the sailing community, but I think that is slowly changing. Meaning I'm seeing more and more power boats when I log on.

 

[CaptTom]

I think it's great to see NFL taking off and filling the void left by AC's demise. Yes, I know AC is still technically there, but Garmin has abandoned it in place, and few cruisers feel compelled to contribute their volunteer services to enrich Garmin.

It's been a long wait to see what, if anything, would replace AC. I think we're finally at a point where a winner is starting to emerge. Even in the US, which was slow to take up NFL, I'm seeing a surge in its use. I hope this trend continues. We need something like that.

 

[Serene]

Thanks for the heads up. Just joined and added some local information for things around me right now. Joined the TF group too.

 

[rslifkin]

I just joined and found the TF group as well. Now I'll have to figure out how I want to deal with location updates on the map. Being that it has a field for MMSI, it would be really handy if NFL could get an AIS data feed from Marine Traffic or something and give you the option to auto-update based on received AIS data for your boat (vs having to feed data to NFL yourself).

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Thanks for the heads up. Just downloaded it. It is a good substitute for Active Captain which still works fine on AquaMaps. But, it has a long way to go in the Pacific Northwest judging by how few boats show up. As noted, this will take awhile to mature into a useful app. Again, thanks for calling this out. And like many others on this string, I am not on Facebook. I am better off for it and I assure you, so is everyone else.

 

[hollywood8118]

I knew nothing about noforeighnland until this thread, just another example of all the great information available through Trawler forum, I joined up today and joined the TF group.
Hollywood

 

[PNW]

Thanks mate I joined up. I joined the TF group and have same username so I hope to see you all out there on the floaty stuff.

cheers

 

[mvweebles]

Thanks mate I joined up. I joined the TF group and have same username so I hope to see you all out there on the floaty stuff.

cheers

NFL was incredibly useful in Mexico and Central America. Even in our brief tenure this far in the US ICW, pretty clear NFL will take some time to build its US database. Likewise, will take some time to build a TF group. There are about 20 TF registered vessels on NFL right now.

Here's a link to Weebles.

Track your boat and share information on places to visit

Bringing sailors together

www.noforeignland.com

Peter

 

[ScottC]

I had never heard of NFL before this thread. Looks like a really great idea! Thank you for the suggestion, Peter!
I Just joined and registered my boat.
There seems to be a lot of useful additional information too -- for example, firing ranges, fuel pumps and laundry facilities

 

[MV Moira]

Joined. Cool to find Weebles half a mile from us!

 

[ScottC]

And only 4,181 nm from me.

 

[rslifkin]

As far as the social features go, I set up SignalK the other day, so once the boat is fully powered back up in the spring we should start updating on the map with our current location automatically. Saves me from having to think about it when we go on a trip and are near different stuff.