Ipad or Toughbook for Navionics

[Oldfellah]

I am planning to buy my first boat later this year but in the meantime would like to do some electronic chart navigating whilst I am sailing in my brothers boat. I will leave him to use all his electronics and charts but would like to get some experience using Navionics so would like your suggestions as to the best hardware for the job. I hasten to add that I am studying for the RYA day skipper at the moment and realise the importance of paper charts but would like to get used to route planning on an ipad or similar. I am looking at either an ipad or a Toughbook but am open to suggestions.
Thanks, Jim.

 

[dunedin]

iPad has a lot more uses - so probably a better investment IMHO. Plus a decent case

Sent from my iPad sitting in the cockpit

 

[The_man_from_ABBA]

Toughbook would be somewhat cumbersome in the cockpit - and battery life is nothing to write home about.
I would opt for a tablet.

FWIW: chuffed with the performance of my Sony Xperia tablet (on Android).
Waterproof to boot.

 

[Oldfellah]

Thanks gentlemen, an ipad is is then.

 

[laika]

Really depends what we're talking about. The "proper" fully ruggedised toughbooks are insanely expensive. If you buy one of these second hand deals with pre-installed OpenCPN you're getting a rather old and (by today's standards) under spec-ed laptop. Having said that they're fantastic bits of kit. My first one saw several hundred thousand miles of travel in pretty extreme conditions and still boots today (albeit with a really old version of RedHat because it's only got 40MB RAM). If I was as well off as I used to be I'd have one. Sadly I'm not, so I don't.

If you have a load of cash and fancy a tablet but something more robust than an iPad there's always the toughpads:
http://business.panasonic.co.uk/computer-product/products-and-accessories/introducing-the-full-toughbook-range/toughpad

 

[lampshuk]

Very happy with my iPad 2 and Navionics. Make sure you get the 3G version if you want maximum convenience (no external GPS). I can recommend the Lifecase (I think that's what it's called?) if you want to fix it to a clamp as a pseudo-static plotter, or otherwise spend £10 on a decent waterproof wallet with neck lanyard ( off ebay). Make sure you test it for waterproofness before putting your tablet in it. You don't need a bleedin-edge ipad to run Navionics.

Having said all that: I also have the charts from Visit My Harbour running on my Android phone. Also great. I give Navionics the edge for ease-of-use and its excellent tracking function - which allows you to forward tracks to your friends via email as a souvenir, and Navionics webapp is a great pilotage planning tool.

 

[Giblets]

I realise that the OP in favouring Navionics but I would suggest a having a look at iSailor if going down the iPad route. IMHO a very good app that does everything it's asked to.

 

[Oldfellah]

Thanks for all your advice gentlemen. Have now opted for an ipad and will check out Navionics as well as iSailor.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Don't dismiss an android tablet. I have a Samsung tab2 10.1 which is excellent, much cheaper than an iPad, runs Navionics HD, in an Otterbox case with RAM mounting system. Not 100% waterproof but always used under the sprayhood, can keep powercord connected if on a long trip. Used in preference to plotter as much bigger screen although it can't do all the tricks plotters can. Sony do a waterprrof version.

 

[Corky]

Is it viewable in sunlight? I use my laptop as a plotter but it's useless in sunlight or even bright daylight. I'm trying to find a sunlight viewable tablet as the detail a large screen gives is invaluable.

 

[FWB]

I have both NavionicsHD and Memorymap charts on my iPad.
Personal choice but I prefer the Memorymap raster charts to NavionicsHD.

 

[wully1]

If you go for an iPad then a 'Lifeproof' waterproof case is a good investment...

 

[GHA]

Is it viewable in sunlight? I use my laptop as a plotter but it's useless in sunlight or even bright daylight. I'm trying to find a sunlight viewable tablet as the detail a large screen gives is invaluable.

I'm happy enough with a sony xperia under the sprayhood. Bright enough for me in sunshine and waterproof.

 

[siwhi]

I have a Raymarine plotter on the boat with Navionics (which wifi's to a ipad / tablet / phone), but I mainly use a tesco hudl (acquired with points) with the Memory Maps app (free) loaded with Admiralty raster charts (£25), supplemented with Antares charts (c. £15). Works brilliantly and I use it now more than the boat plotter. Helpful as you can use it off the boat for planning as well as on it. There are also loads of data settings you can use, and the tracks are logged. The only disadvantage is that it only logs the track / position when it's awake (so sometimes the track appears to pass over land if you round a headland as it goes to sleep for example), whereas the Raymarine being 12v wired in, is always awake and logging the track accurately. An ipad or cheap tablet is far more portable, can be used in the cockpit (and hung from the sprayhood in a cover), at home or in the pub, and is cheaper. I also now prefer the Admiralty charts to the Navionics vector ones.

 

[JTulls]

Thanks for all your advice gentlemen. Have now opted for an ipad and will check out Navionics as well as iSailor.

You can try out Navionics for free to learn some of the ins and outs, but I think the paid upgrade is definitely worth it if you choose to go with Navionics. You'll get a few more map options and satellite overlay which is nice when you're in unfamiliar areas. The upgraded version also now has the auto-routing feature which is pretty cool to help route plan.

 

[SeamanStaines]

Use inavx instead of the Navionics app, its much better and still uses navionics charts. Just be aware that the charts are not interchangeable between the Navionics app and iNavx.

Also be aware that the IPad screen is not daylight viewable in the same was as a chart potter (but then does not use as much power)