Ipad chartplotter?

adamf

adamf

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I've seen various mentions of using Ipad as a chartplotter?

What kit / apps are people using to do this? I've got a Imray chart app, but it's very limited in zoom and detail and is only really good for plotting from home.

I've got a pair of 10" lowrance units on the boat so I'm not desperate for a back-up.... But if its an easy / cheapish upgrade, then it like to have something that works as a plotter for longer passages that isn't reliant on the boat's 12v system.

Thanks
 
adamf said:
I've seen various mentions of using Ipad as a chartplotter?

What kit / apps are people using to do this? I've got a Imray chart app, but it's very limited in zoom and detail and is only really good for plotting from home.

I've got a pair of 10" lowrance units on the boat so I'm not desperate for a back-up.... But if its an easy / cheapish upgrade, then it like to have something that works as a plotter for longer passages that isn't reliant on the boat's 12v system.

Thanks
Click to expand...


A 3G ipad as it has built in GPS not reliant on dongle gps unit or wifi positioning. Navionics for ipad £44. navionics is excellent.

You will also want 12 volt USB adaptor to charge the Ipad as I only get about 5 hours use.

Also recommend the Griffin rubber case very rugged and splash proof.
 
Only 3g ipads have gps, so you'll need an external one. And +1 on navionics.

Edit: bozlite beat me to it
 
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I recently brought my new (to me) boat from Dublin to Coleraine. I took along the ipad as a standby plotter as I had little knowledge of he furuno one fitted. Sure enough when I got to Newcastle the chart on e Furuno ended. No problem said I and I inserted the chart I purchased on Ebay. No Chart was announced on the display. Plan c was instigated and the ipad with the Bluetooth GPS receiver was switched on. For about an hour things went well one of my pals drove he boat and I kept a watch on the nav. Much to my surprise the little boat logo had stopped on the chart - no warning symbol no ?? Or anything just a stopped picture of the boat. GPS was lost. Plan D - good old paper charts and a compass. I was using the Garmin blue chart app. it told me how much fuel I was using and before using it in a real live situation I thought it was Towsers. Now I know it was just dangerous but good for passage planing. Cannot wait to get the Raymarine fitted.
 
Thanks for the advice. So I've ordered a Bad Elf GPS, a suction mount and The Navionics App.... So once it all arrives ill have a separate stand alone plotter?

I'll probably rig up a perminant 12v USB supply wired into the dash to keep it all neat, provided it works as it should.

Other than a basic chart plotter what other features does the App have that are useful?
 
Hi have a double Raymarine station and all I use it for is for the position of the boat. For setting my autopilot I use my iPhone with Navionics, because the Raymarine software can't display my course when I zoom out too much!?! Anyway, I'm going iPad only for my next boat. Currently I believe there's only two Apps that are worthwhile, Navionics and iNavX. But all the big guys are on to it I'm sure, I now Garmin already has something out, they better do so if they want to survive. iNavX also has the ability to display any NMEA 2000 feed. Coupled with a multiplexer you can basically feed your iPad with Data coming from transducers, engine and a lot more. If you get a wifi multiplexers then it's all wireless. It's all happening right now, things are a bit complicated at the moment but it will soon become much easier and also much much cheaper then the stuff they've been selling us. BTW, I'm a software engineer and I trust a properly coded App for iOS more then any of the big names stations.

However, if you need ALL the function a dedicated station gives you, you will have to wait for a while until iOS and Android coders catch up.
 
As a side comment iOS apps must meet fairly tight criteria defined by Apple before they can be released to market, whereas Android is a free for all. (eg Apple control freakery helps minimise resource usage, processor and battery consumption, and tighter security enforced on app builders). Not an issue for quality developers of premium apps, but a relevant issue for the 'mondeo' segment.
 
Can I give a heads up here for my new iBook on using the Navionics App for Route PLanning?

I have just finished it to go along with the one released last November on using Marine Imray Charts for tide-stream compensation.
More info on my website for those interested.

I find both apps are excellent for the purpose, with Imray slightly ahead for ease of use and Navionics ahead for tidal stream data presentation.
 
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To re-emphasise - if you are using an iPad anywhere near water - use as a good a waterproof case as possible. Apple must reply on water, and damp, to keep the sales up - no wonder we do not see a weatherproof version.

Jonathan
 
Neeves said:
To re-emphasise - if you are using an iPad anywhere near water - use as a good a waterproof case as possible. Apple must reply on water, and damp, to keep the sales up - no wonder we do not see a weatherproof version.

Jonathan
Click to expand...

There are some good solutions to this problem, but why are they so expensive. £90 odd for a stylish rubber johnny is a bit steep.

My solution is to route plan at home with the iPad, export the waypoint co-ordinates, headings, distances, etc, print an A4 'routelist' and chartlet of the route, laminate it and keep the iPad below on the chart table.

By the way, anyone interested: Route planning with the Imray or Navionics iPad apps is now covered by a couple of interactive iBooks. Visit my website for more info.

Regards Chris Medway
 
. Anyway, I'm going iPad only for my next boat. iNavX also has the ability to display any NMEA 2000 feed
Click to expand...

I'm about to buy a new Suzuki 90hp leanburn, does that mean i can scrap their expensive factory instrument cluster, and display all the outboard info on my iPad?

Would i just need a NMEA 2000 wireless hub or Bluetooth connection for the NMEA ?
 
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