iPad Charting Recommendations Please

Goldie

Goldie

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Firstly, I put my hands up to being an IT numpty so please bear this in mind - I need ‘plug ‘n’ play’!

I’m looking please, for recommendations for chart plotting App to install on a recent, GPS equipped iPad. On my old iPad I was using Transas (now Wärtsilä) iSailor which I started using long before it was taken over, free updates ‘for life’ was removed and all the prices went up. It’s ok, but I suspect there are better options.

Navionics used to be recommended, but recent feedback on the App Store and from friends (since the Garmin takeover) is putting me off.

The App chosen needs to have access to charting for U.K., W. Europe, Baltic and Med’ areas and I’m not hung up on any particular chart presentation - Vector, Raster or colour palettes (providing they’re not outlandish).

My onboard nav’ system uses the (excellent) TimeZero product and I see that there is an iPad option - anyone used it?

What other options are there? I’ve heard of AngelNav but know little about it.

Whatever’s chosen will be a back up to my onboard system and I do carry a comprehensive paper chart folio.

Thanks in anticipation.
 
Goldie said:
Firstly, I put my hands up to being an IT numpty so please bear this in mind - I need ‘plug ‘n’ play’!

I’m looking please, for recommendations for chart plotting App to install on a recent, GPS equipped iPad. On my old iPad I was using Transas (now Wärtsilä) iSailor which I started using long before it was taken over, free updates ‘for life’ was removed and all the prices went up. It’s ok, but I suspect there are better options.

Navionics used to be recommended, but recent feedback on the App Store and from friends (since the Garmin takeover) is putting me off.

The App chosen needs to have access to charting for U.K., W. Europe, Baltic and Med’ areas and I’m not hung up on any particular chart presentation - Vector, Raster or colour palettes (providing they’re not outlandish).

My onboard nav’ system uses the (excellent) TimeZero product and I see that there is an iPad option - anyone used it?

What other options are there? I’ve heard of AngelNav but know little about it.

Whatever’s chosen will be a back up to my onboard system and I do carry a comprehensive paper chart folio.

Thanks in anticipation.
Click to expand...
Have a good look at Orca. It’s also “free” but what you get is very good.
And if you have internet access will also overlay AIS targets.
 
I use MemoryMap which is a raster chart app, £25 odd for an annual licence for use on 5 devices, phone, iPad, PC etc..

You can also get the full OS set of maps which work seamlessly.
 
ctva said:
I use MemoryMap which is a raster chart app, £25 odd for an annual licence for use on 5 devices, phone, iPad, PC etc..

You can also get the full OS set of maps which work seamlessly.
Click to expand...
I also use MemoryMap for the UK, but don’t think it has the geographic coverage the OP needs. Ditto AngelNav.

As the OP also says he likes simple “plug and play”, it is still hard to beat Navionics for its ease of use and global charting coverage. Yes Garmin may be a bit annoying in some ways, but Navionics is the market leader for a reason. It works.
 
Navionics would still be my choice for the coverage you want. On a current iPad operating system, with a new Navionics subscription, you should not have any issues.

I use an iPad with Navionics (as well as Memory Map) as my back up to a plotter. The iPad would not be my primary choice as it is power hungry which seriously shortens duration on battery power. They get very hot when used in sunlight with the brightness turned up. Also, even with full brightness daylight viewing is difficult. Just be aware so you can manage because leaving on, at full brightness, can cause shut down and, or, USB charging unable to keep up.

A recent comprehensive review of Orca made some significant criticisms of its chart package and navigation user interface functionality. The reports, in four parts, can be found at www.morganscloud.com. Unfortunately it is a subscription service, but worth at least 1 years subscription, in my opinion. No association et cetera.

Time Zero Navigation gets great reviews but I have no experience of it. It can be used on an iPad. You should at least review the App to see if it meets your needs.

TIMEZERO | Marine Navigation Software
 
RunAgroundHard said:
Navionics would still be my choice for the coverage you want. On a current iPad operating system, with a new Navionics subscription, you should not have any issues.

I use an iPad with Navionics (as well as Memory Map) as my back up to a plotter. The iPad would not be my primary choice as it is power hungry which seriously shortens duration on battery power. They get very hot when used in sunlight with the brightness turned up. Also, even with full brightness daylight viewing is difficult. Just be aware so you can manage because leaving on, at full brightness, can cause shut down and, or, USB charging unable to keep up.

A recent comprehensive review of Orca made some significant criticisms of its chart package and navigation user interface functionality. The reports, in four parts, can be found at www.morganscloud.com. Unfortunately it is a subscription service, but worth at least 1 years subscription, in my opinion. No association et cetera.

Time Zero Navigation gets great reviews but I have no experience of it. It can be used on an iPad. You should at least review the App to see if it meets your needs.

TIMEZERO | Marine Navigation Software
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input and the links. I appreciate the iPad limitations as I have been using an old iPad with ‘iSailor’ (as per #1) for the last few years including 4 years in the Med’.

I’ll be looking further at TimeZero as it’s brilliant on my main nav system.
 
Goldie said:
Thanks for the input and the links. I appreciate the iPad limitations as I have been using an old iPad with ‘iSailor’ (as per #1) for the last few years including 4 years in the Med’.

I’ll be looking further at TimeZero as it’s brilliant on my main nav system.
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Your call, but to my mind for a backup navigation device I want something that is specifically different from the main system.
Hence why have raster charts on MemoryMap on iPad (and phone) as backup for Navionics on Raymarine.
Just occasionally there are differences in the mapping availability and/or accuracy, and in tricky places I tend to use both simultaneously (plus GoogleEarth satellite images if charting uncertain).
 
NV charts might be worth a look
NV Charts App Mobile Digital Navigation For Boating
They do a package with paper charts and digital chart together which I liked. I used it extensively in the Caribbean when I was there and now have them for the Dutch coast.

I still use Navionics but do find that it has gone downhill since the Garmin takeover - they seem to assume that you will have internet access at all times amongst other things
 
dansaskip said:
NV charts might be worth a look
NV Charts App Mobile Digital Navigation For Boating
They do a package with paper charts and digital chart together which I liked. I used it extensively in the Caribbean when I was there and now have them for the Dutch coast.

I still use Navionics but do find that it has gone downhill since the Garmin takeover - they seem to assume that you will have internet access at all times amongst other things
Click to expand...
We used NV for the Baltic, the paper and electronic combo you refer to.
But again restricted geographic coverage.
The OP wants UK, but NV only cover the South coast / Channel, none for the other 90% of the UK coastline.
 
dunedin said:
Your call, but to my mind for a backup navigation device I want something that is specifically different from the main system.
Hence why have raster charts on MemoryMap on iPad (and phone) as backup for Navionics on Raymarine.
Just occasionally there are differences in the mapping availability and/or accuracy, and in tricky places I tend to use both simultaneously (plus GoogleEarth satellite images if charting uncertain).
Click to expand...
Fair point, thanks 👍
 
My Navionics is used on board without any internet connection, with no issues at all. Sure when the iPad is at home I fire up Navionics from time to time, connected to internet, and usually it tells me that my charts need updating. I have never experienced the shit Navionics service reported in here. Subscribed for over 5 years now.
 
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