£21.11 for a Handheld Chartplotter

bluedragon said:
I honestly can't see a smart phone playing any other role than an emergency back-up...same comments for an iPad or similar. Now tell me why I'm wrong :)
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You're not wrong, but you're not altogether right either :)

I don't think they are a replacement for a traditional chart plotter, but I also don't think they are just for emergencies either.

As a crew on a number of different boats it's good for me to know the area where we're sailing either for my own knowledge or just to know how much longer we can safely sail in one direction before we have to tack. I also like to know I'm safe as I go out on boats with skippers of ranging abilities and I like to know I'm safe. As the skipper it's good to know the detail of a harbour entrance from the helm, while keeping the ships plotter zoomed out. With navionics it's great having a "local" tide table in your pocket (but check it's right before you depend on it). It's also good to know where we are before I go up on watch, see whether we're ahead or behind of where we shold be, whether we're being set down by the tide mo, or if our speed has dropped. With the NMEA wifi I can also see the wind strength and direction from my bunk, so I know whether we should really be reefing. So even mid watch I can still make informed decisions without getting out of bed!

What none of the charting apps does is to give you the information that my chart plotter does at a glance, and putting a route in is far simpler with my Garmin than it is with any of the charting apps I tested. And I can see that in the sunshine;)
 
I have it running on a Nexus One, Samsung Apollo and a Samsung Galaxy Tab with no problems.
Took a bit of fiddling to get it on all three without buying it 3 times but it can be done. :D Once set up all 3 update without any problems.
 
snooks said:
You're not wrong, but you're not altogether right either :)

I don't think they are a replacement for a traditional chart plotter, but I also don't think they are just for emergencies either.

As a crew on a number of different boats it's good for me to know the area where we're sailing either for my own knowledge or just to know how much longer we can safely sail in one direction before we have to tack. I also like to know I'm safe as I go out on boats with skippers of ranging abilities and I like to know I'm safe. As the skipper it's good to know the detail of a harbour entrance from the helm, while keeping the ships plotter zoomed out. With navionics it's great having a "local" tide table in your pocket (but check it's right before you depend on it). It's also good to know where we are before I go up on watch, see whether we're ahead or behind of where we shold be, whether we're being set down by the tide mo, or if our speed has dropped. With the NMEA wifi I can also see the wind strength and direction from my bunk, so I know whether we should really be reefing. So even mid watch I can still make informed decisions without getting out of bed!

What none of the charting apps does is to give you the information that my chart plotter does at a glance, and putting a route in is far simpler with my Garmin than it is with any of the charting apps I tested. And I can see that in the sunshine;)
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Actually Snooks I agree with you. And I use my handheld plotter in exactly the way you describe. I should have said backup or secondary rather than emergency. But I think the OP suggested it might be the only thing we'd need?
 
I think its time I upgraded my Nokia e72 to one of these android phones so I can have the App. What does the panel recommend for about £200 sim free, that's reasonably rugged?
 
jonic said:
I think its time I upgraded my Nokia e72 to one of these android phones so I can have the App. What does the panel recommend for about £200 sim free, that's reasonably rugged?
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Ive just had an HTC Desire S, WOW is all I can say. Free off Orange with a £12.50 a month tariff (plus i have free Orange broadband at the house, a grandfather rights thing)
Stu
 
snooks said:
With navionics it's great having a "local" tide table in your pocket (but check it's right before you depend on it).
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Hey Snooks

So, is this data a bit iffy? I have to say I've not cross checked it and used it on a few occasions......

The tidal / stream info is one of my favorite features... Does anyone know where the tidal data comes from (especially heights)? Is it a simple oscillatory model?


Ta

Gruff

Edit: Used in conjunction with BC Racer (VMG and shift tracking) and SailDroid (basic GPS : lat/long compass log etc) - I love my Nexus S!
 
bluedragon said:
Actually Snooks I agree with you. And I use my handheld plotter in exactly the way you describe. I should have said backup or secondary rather than emergency. But I think the OP suggested it might be the only thing we'd need?
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Actually the OP said that it was all he would normally need!

I have GPS and charts down below, and I wouldn't be without them (or the backup handheld GPS), but the handheld chartplotter capability of this cheap package obviates my need to use any of those unless I either want the GPS to drive the autopilot, or the phone fails.
 
On the waterproofing side of things a quick google showed a number of the Aquapaq style bags (not really a case) eg: HERE

They seem to claim full use of the touch screen through the bag. I have noticed my iPhones do not react to "non skin" gestures, ie it is not a touch in the sense of a physical depression but needs a bit of moisture from the skin.

How do these cases work if they are waterproof and are the various Android devices similarly equipped in terms of touch screen?

mjcp
 
I use an iPad in a aqua pac with no problems.

You do need to hold on to it unless you can hang it up

Whilst racing the other week it was invaluable in working our way round a course in strong wind and rain where visibility was poor the ability to have the screen in hand whilst looking for the next mark was very useful.

Was it essential no we have a plotter directly in front of the wheel but simpler to put the courses in before we started choose the course from start boat and away you go job well done
 
I use an orange san francisco (99 notes) which does the trick.
The mytracks app (free) is pretty handy if sailing within mobile range.
 
jonic said:
I think its time I upgraded my Nokia e72 to one of these android phones so I can have the App. What does the panel recommend for about £200 sim free, that's reasonably rugged?
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Orange San Francisco is available for a ton if you look. Not sim free but it can be made so f.o.c. without any probs. I've got one and it's great but I haven't tried this Navionics app yet so must only presume it works.

Hth,

Boo2

Doh ! Repeat : I must read to the end of the thread before posting. I must...

Boo2
 
Well, as the OP I took this Navionics Android sw out on the water today, just to move my saily boat from Douglas to Port St. Mary. V. impressive. Displays SOG on the chart while you're moving, and a projected track, so whilst no XTE or autopilot hook-up, I could just glance at the screen and tweek the bearing on the tiller pilot without going below, or looking at the paper chart etc. Very convenient.
 
I'm totally confused with all this.

Last time out I went from where I started to where I wanted to go and back without anything electronic, what did I do wrong?
 
Whiskey Bravo said:
I'm totally confused with all this.

Last time out I went from where I started to where I wanted to go and back without anything electronic, what did I do wrong?
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Ah. But what would you have done if you had forgotten where you were going too or come from whilst mid passage eh?!
 
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