Active captain android app

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GHA

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Just come across this app and thought it was worth sharing..


http://sc-ais.com/Features.html

Not for the ais, others do that better, but it loads all the active captain data. Will be even better if they do an offline maps upgrade.

Anyone else use active captain?

https://activecaptain.com

Quite US centred but Europe seems to be catching up rapidly. Uses flash so no go on Android for most of us until now.


No ties etc.
 
Just tried clicking through to see what it actually does but you seem to need to sign up to an account before it tells you what the point of it is.

Précis?

I think an app called "inactive captain" which promised to do everything for me would get my attention
 
Active captain is sort of like a worldwide crowd sourced almanac/cruising guide. You need an active captain account and a Smart chart ais account, then the app will overlay the active captain data on top of a Google map. Or proper chart if you're in the states where they are free. Most UK marinas seem to be in active captain now along with the more popular anchorages with details of services, Web pages/phone no. etc and some reviews. Handy for loose planning or just dreaming. And free :)
 
For those who have so far resisted the markets siren call to buy a tablet or smart phone, Active Captain crowd sourced data is also available online and through both Windows and Mac applications.

The web access is here, https://activecaptain.com/X.php, however the Windows and Mac applications havent been released from thier beta testing (apparently waiting for Apple to 'bless' the Mac version, see newslink here - https://activecaptain.com/newsletters/2013-09-18.php). I was a beta tester for the Windows application and, apart from some quirks introduced by being NA centric, its a good implementation for capturing and presenting information about marinas, anchorages, businesses, dangers etc but does need to be used in conjunction with the online access as the maps provided are too coarse to easily use offline.

So far as I can see, the business model of ActiveCaptain is to get consumers to buy products that make use of the AC database for which I presume AC get a kickback.
 
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GHA said:
Active captain is sort of like a worldwide crowd sourced almanac/cruising guide.
Click to expand...

Thanks I'll take a look.

I still think I'm onto something with the "inactive captain" app. Maybe something which has a database of excuses for staying put (possibly dynamically querying several weather sites to find the one with the most adverse forecast) and can provide details of the nearest hostelry (based on GPS data). Or a link to Ocado's booze and snack section for the premium version.
 
Garmin's iOS app (free to download, pay for detail charts) has full ActiveCaptain integration - at the moment it's the only way to edit and add pins on a mobile, until AC releases their own apps as RobbieW mentions above.

ActiveCaptain is completely free for users, and I think it's also free to use their data in your own apps - I believe they make money by marinas sponsoring their own pins (to get a higher profile eye-catching pin), or to get your marina automatically mentioned in nearby marinas' pins.

PS love the inactive captain app idea - I'll buy one!
 
RobbieW said:
So far as I can see, the business model of ActiveCaptain is to get consumers to buy products that make use of the AC database for which I presume AC get a kickback.
Click to expand...
Pardon me for jumping in - just want to squash a rumor.

None of the 40 companies who license ActiveCaptain pay anything. This includes Garmin, small basement developers who have a good app idea, or even US NOAA who finalized the agreement just last week. It turns out that the AC hazards are more accurate, up-to-date, and timely than all the other sources NOAA uses (crowd-sourcing works) so AC hazards will now go directly to chart cartographers for evaluation and updates the day there is any change to the hazard info or comments added. They're using it as a way to accept feedback from normal boaters directly to cartography.

ActiveCaptain is commercial though and the better marinas pay us as sponsors. We give sponsors the ability to promote themselves with some new techniques. We never change reviews from any marker and there are negative reviews from sponsor marinas too. We turn down marinas for sponsorship unless they are high quality/service oriented (for real) or have a definite plan to get there. We consider that it's our name on their marker too and want to make sure boaters know which are the better ones.

Thanks for letting me correct the info - I didn't want a developer to see it and worry that they were about to get a bill!
 
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A very natty app for handling reports on harbours and facilities has been developed by the Cruising Association. It works with Apple products and more recent Android versions. Accepts reports, and maps them immediately, planting a pin on the map. All can then be downloaded to be viewed off line - or on line if you have a connection.

Very strong on Europe waters - many hundreds of reports already there after just one season. Of course, you have to be a member to use the App, but it's then free of charge. See [url]http://www.cruising.org.uk/public/captainsmate[/URL]

And if you've been canny enough, you've already had your membership fees re-paid through their discount schemes!
 
jimbaerselman said:
A very natty app for handling reports on harbours and facilities has been developed by the Cruising Association. It works with Apple products and more recent Android versions. Accepts reports, and maps them immediately, planting a pin on the map. All can then be downloaded to be viewed off line - or on line if you have a connection.

Very strong on Europe waters - many hundreds of reports already there after just one season. Of course, you have to be a member to use the App, but it's then free of charge. See http://www.cruising.org.uk/public/captainsmate

And if you've been canny enough, you've already had your membership fees re-paid through their discount schemes!
Click to expand...

Having recently joined the CA, the thing I'm still surprised by is that the office dont seem to know that the data captured by those apps goes into the regular 'Cruising Reports' database and is available to members via a web interface - no tablet or smart device required. Making that clear might help in not putting off potential members who havent joined the iFrenzy - I mostly joined because I get more in savings from Licata than its cost me to join and be a member for a year.
 
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