Navionics or Isailor

[Binman]

Both these apps appeal to me,which one do you think is the better one.There is a comprehensive manual that can be down loaded and read with ISailor unlike Navionics which keeps all its info within the app,which isn't very much.
In ISailor it shows your position with a boat, nothing on Navionics. In Navionics you have to download and or pay for additional features. Out the two which do you find more user friendly?

 

[Giblets]

I would vote for (and have a copy of) iSailor over Navionics every time. Chart folios I have are English Channel, French Coast and Irish Sea and have the added subscription based AIS (internet based) and Tides. I know a lot of folks on here swear by (or in some cases at) Navionics but IMHO iSailor is far superior. Can also be tied in with NMEA systems on the boat.

 

[wizard]

I would vote for (and have a copy of) iSailor over Navionics every time. Chart folios I have are English Channel, French Coast and Irish Sea and have the added subscription based AIS (internet based) and Tides. I know a lot of folks on here swear by (or in some cases at) Navionics but IMHO iSailor is far superior. Can also be tied in with NMEA systems on the boat.

Wot he said.

With the tidal streams added its your best friend in your pocket.

 

[FWB]

I have both. I think iSailor is clearer.

 

[FWB]

Navionics..

iSailor..

Memory Map

 

[ionbard]

ISailor. I have both but far prefer iS.

 

[Binman]

Having looked at ISailor prior to posting the tread I had a feeling the vote would be for ISailor, it makes more sense to me, especially with the manual available and the other add ons. Did you down load the manual or did you print it off as well?
For the moment I will download this one and then hopefully use my standard Horizon chart plotter when I've connected it, using I sailor as a back up.

 

[Alex_m]

I have had Navionics for some time, but I purchased iSailor for a recent trip to Croatia due to the seemingly greater functionality of the app. However, in this area at least there are some significant problems with the chart symbols on the iSailor charts. If you compare the images below, you will see that Navionics shows two cardinal marks in the north east and two isolated dangers in the south west. The iSailor charts show one of these with a 'light' symbol in both cases rather than the respective buoy or beacon symbol you would expect.

iSailor also seems to inconsistently use the 'light' symbol for port and starboard lateral marks. Bouy and beacon versions of the PLM and SLM appear elsewhere on the charts so the symbols do exists but don't seem to have been used consistently.

Hence for the time being, my vote goes to Navionics as I have not had any issues with the quality of the charting (as long as user amendments are turned off), although the app has a bit less functionality.

 

[dunedin]

For me from FWB's screenshots above both Navionics and MemoryMap look much clearer than iSailor.

Worth checking out the map costs also - seems to need 4 or so map chunks for UK waters, for a total price much higher than Navionics or MemoryMap (who usually have an offer on full set of UK Admiralty circa £30 for multiple devices)

 

[FWB]

For me from FWB's screenshots above both Navionics and MemoryMap look much clearer than iSailor.

Worth checking out the map costs also - seems to need 4 or so map chunks for UK waters, for a total price much higher than Navionics or MemoryMap (who usually have an offer on full set of UK Admiralty circa £30 for multiple devices)

That's probably due to photobucket..... iSailor is far superior to Navionics for clarity.

 

[Binman]

Additional add ons, one thing I use is imray tide planner they do a series of very helpful and cheap add ons for detailed searches,take a look of what they offer, at some point I feel it would be necessary to come out of either Navionics or ISailor to get information,is that correct.

 

[duncan99210]

I use Navionics, both Europe and UK/Holland. It is so intuitive to use that I've never felt the need for a manual. The route planing bit is effective and simple to use. Pricing is reasonable and covers all the mapping, which is downloaded as you require it (that is, the base map forms part of the app, as you zoom in the app downloads the section you are using, retaining them in memory for future use so as to minimise the memory used on a permanent basis). Tidal information is available within the app, both tide heights and times and current flows.
That said, I've never used any other navigation apps as Navionics does what I require.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've used Navionics on my mobile devices for several years and am quite satisfied. I previously used the same cartography on my lowrance chart plotter so am familiar with it all though the cp didnt have tidal information which the app does. Extremely good value IMH. Just remember to download the areas you need while you're connected to WiFi - I don't think there's any limit to number you can have (except the storage capacity of your device).

 

[Piddy]

Another happy iSailor user, although as a backup to my laptop based Navigator (same charts but PC based). Sadly no financial advantage in having both as they are run as separate companies (I think iSailor was spawned in the US).

 

[ghostlymoron]

From the sound of it, iSailor sounds like it's for iPads. Is that right?

 

[FWB]

Works on iPhones too
Also on android but doesn't work on hudl.

 

[Giblets]

From the sound of it, iSailor sounds like it's for iPads. Is that right?

Yes and Android as well.

 

[Nigelb]

I have both and prefer the Isailor for clarity especially for night time navigation on the iPad, in my experience it has a much better palette for night vision than the Navionics representation. I agree with other posts that the light information is sometimes inadequate and I would like to see the COG and Heading displayed simultaneously when assessing tidal drift.

So another vote for iSailor.

 

[karl.e]

Both these apps appeal to me,which one do you think is the better one.There is a comprehensive manual that can be down loaded and read with ISailor unlike Navionics which keeps all its info within the app,which isn't very much.
In ISailor it shows your position with a boat, nothing on Navionics. In Navionics you have to download and or pay for additional features. Out the two which do you find more user friendly?

So what did you finally end up getting?

 

[Gin]

Both these apps appeal to me,which one do you think is the better one.There is a comprehensive manual that can be down loaded and read with ISailor unlike Navionics which keeps all its info within the app,which isn't very much.
In ISailor it shows your position with a boat, nothing on Navionics. In Navionics you have to download and or pay for additional features. Out the two which do you find more user friendly?

Based in The Medway, like you, I asked both companies how quickly and how often they applied NM's for as you well know the Thames Estuary is a dynamically changing seabed and buoyage area.
iSailor told me 3 or 4 times a year, whereas Navionics assured me that such Notices were usually within a couple of weeks or so of promulgation, which swung it for me, as that is quicker than my monthly paper chart updates