iPad not fit for navigation purposes

[Jamie Dundee]

I do remember hearing about someone who went accross the atlantic to america with just a USA road atlas. He just went ashore and asked where he was when he got there.

There was a guy in North Wales a few years ago who I think was eventually blackballed by the coastguard after 7+ call outs navigating by AA roadmap. Who’d a‘ thought the AA would fail to update sandbank movements

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Why would it be? Owning and maintaining a boat is expensive. Why would you skimp on equipment you may rely on to save your life? God knows electronics these days are a fraction of the comparative price of 20 odd years ago, if people choose to rely on Google Maps and Twitter to navigate good luck to them. I won’t be one of them.

If it's of no interest why are you having a public debate about something you don't use. A very naive public debate i may add.

I can assure you my iPad is just as serviceable and considerably more powerful than a grossly overpriced chart plotter of similar screen size.
Of course where the fun really starts is if we start looking at failure cases.
My iPad has it's own battery and so when the boat has an electrical problem it keeps on working. I even have a portable solar panel and battery so I can charge it up. Which means when the boat has a buoyancy problem I can take it with me into the life raft which means I'll have plenty to read whilst I'm waiting to be rescued ;-)

I'll also take my paper charts and log book as they along with my other 2 independent GPS receivers, compass and sextant all make up my navigation system.

Oh and it refreshes twice as fast as a standard chart plotter. Is completely waterproof and very shockproof in it's "life-proof" case. Is portable so has several velcro spots around the boat and also doubles as an entertainment and communication system when I'm anchored or moored.

Far from skimping on equipment an iPad is a much more flexible tool than a fixed chart plotter which will be at the helm when you want it at the chart table or at the chart table when you want it at the helm.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

I'll also take my paper charts and log book as they along with my other 2 independent GPS receivers, compass and sextant all make up my navigation system.

THAT is the failsafe, regardless of toys.

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Everyone knows that all tablets and phones (computers) will shutdown when too hot in order to protect themselves.

Normally they won't get hot enough unless they catch direct sunlight. Even in 33c ambient, my devices only get too hot if in the sun.

 

[RupertW]

It happened to my iPad in my first season using it as sole chartplotter and it’s never happened again because I noticed and changed my use. So far 7 seasons with different iPads from Thessaloniki to our current base in Tenerife and just perfect. I have never needed to have a screen in my cockpit so never missed an expensive and inflexible chartplotter but each to their own.

 

[Pete7]

I can assure you my iPad is just as serviceable and considerably more powerful than a grossly overpriced chart plotter of similar screen size.

I can assure you my Raymarine chartplotter won't throw a hissy fit because the sun shined for a few days in England.

Are you taking dividers in the liferaft to use with those paper charts? Will there be room on the floor to lay them out properly?

 

[Birdseye]

My Sony tablet shuts down if left in direct sunlight and it gets above 40 degrees C-ish.

Once one is aware of the issue, it is easily avoided.

Richard

My Garmin Satnav does exactly the same thing.

 

[oldgit]

I am just pleased we have had couple days this year when it got hot enough to shut down

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I can assure you my Raymarine chartplotter won't throw a hissy fit because the sun shined for a few days in England.

Are you taking dividers in the liferaft to use with those paper charts? Will there be room on the floor to lay them out properly?

Dividers? lol. there is a straight edge long enough for any purpose on two sides and a shorter one on the other two.
Never used a map in the field?

 

[[178529]]

I do remember hearing about someone who went accross the atlantic to america with just a USA road atlas. He just went ashore and asked where he was when he got there.

I think Christopher Columbus did that and then shot the helpful inhabitant.

 

[Stemar]

I think Christopher Columbus did that and then shot the helpful inhabitant.

These days, it seems more likely the helpful inhabitant would shoot him

 

[johnalison]

I met a Swede who'd sailed from home to Boulogne with only a road atlas. Road maps shouldn't be discounted, though. A friend we were sailing with found the gap in the wall outside Honfleur on his road map that didn't appear on the Admiralty chart. It gives a usable short cut to the west .

 

[fredrussell]

The best thing about my IPad with Navionics is the air of mystery it lends things when the sunlight makes the screen unviewable!

 

[Just_sayin']

Ridiculous design flaw. Too thin. No fans. Sensitive electronics. Large flat screen to soak up the heat. Shuts down when it gets too hot.

Apple should have just designed them to melt the circuitry. Bet no one would complain about that ?

 

[Zing]

Keep it in the shade, or if you can’t then a fan cooled case may fix it:

 

[Deleted member 36384]

.... Apple should have just designed them to melt the circuitry. Bet no one would complain about that ?

It's a consumer product based on media and entertainment. Apple did not design it as an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). I recently was involved on the periphery of a project to use Apple devices in hazardous areas where explosive atmospheres could exist. We asked Apple if they could have one of their devices approved for use in a a hazardous atmosphere (they nearly meet the criteria). Apples response was a firm no, and their reason was that it is a consumer product. We currently have a device going through testing to see how it fails and thus produces an ignition source to see if that can be improved upon but Apple are not interested, so it is moot exercise. Enclosures that provide explosion proof characteristics have other limitations. Why, because App functionality on a platform like the iPad, delivers significant productivity improvements at the work site, which in my case is oil and gas facilities. However, Apple make money out of consumers and brand loyalty and will not compromise that business model.

As an aside, worrying about an iPad working in hot weather or bright sunlight is no different than having a chart on the deck in the wind and rain, we manage to control those risks easily enough, so just manage the iPad limitations with the same mindset.

 

[coopec]

The best thing about my IPad with Navionics is the air of mystery it lends things when the sunlight makes the screen unviewable!

Well I don't have to worry about not being able to read the screen because I got myself a refurbished Panasonic Toughbook for $A300 (Brand New $A5500+)

The computer screen is daylight readable, the computer splash-proof (and dust proof) and can be dropped from two meters.

 

[Just_sayin']

Well done.

 

[steve yates]

Sat in the garden, too windy ? to get out. Mrs JD has just gone back in the house as iPad shut down due to overheating.
Would I use an MFD to read The Times in the garden - no. Would I use an iPad to navigate- no. Horses/courses etc etc.

No need to use an ipad if you dont wish to, it doesnt change the fact that they are usful navigational instruments, their downsides are just different ones from chart and pencil or chart plotter. I've used an ipad and an iphone from one end of the uk to the other to navigate, and found them a real boon.

In tricky spots, like the loch moidart entrance last week in choppy seas and winds gusting 5 and 6, I know i'd MUCH rather be doing it with my ipad than a pencil and a chart! Just makes life simpler.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

[

No need to use an ipad if you dont wish to, it doesnt change the fact that they are usful navigational instruments, their downsides are just different ones from chart and pencil or chart plotter. I've used an ipad and an iphone from one end of the uk to the other to navigate, and found them a real boon.

In tricky spots, like the loch moidart entrance last week in choppy seas and winds gusting 5 and 6, I know i'd MUCH rather be doing it with my ipad than a pencil and a chart! Just makes life simpler.

i occasionally use an iPad to mirror chart/sonar on wifi when out the back fishing, otherwise I prefer my fixed gear.