Recommendations for iPad navigation please?

[Medskipper]

I'm told there are a number of Apps about these days for iPads?
Do you use one? Can you recommend it?
What features are good or bad etc?
Im sure I'm not the only person with an interest so please if you've got one tell us why it's so good or not as the case maybe!
Do you find it better than a chartplotter, what are the downsides etc. I'm not looking for a free App, im quite happy to pay a reasonabke price! One other thing, once you have the App do you have to buy separate charts?

many thanks for all info

 

[LittleShip]

Plan2Nav

I use it as a back up and also for browsing.

Tom.

 

[Cardo]

Navionics.
Just like using our Raymarine plotter, but more responsive.

 

[prv]

I prefer to use an installed plotter, so I don't really use a phone or tablet under way. However, the Imray chart app is very handy when sitting in a pub and discussing plans for the next day, and similar things. Because it mimics the printed charts I find it better for overview / planning type use, but the navigation type tools for use under way are a bit limited.

I do also have Navionics installed, having snapped it up when they reduced it to £1 for 24 hours. It's been useful a couple of times, in particular when an electrical fault meant I had to shut off all power, losing everything right down to the light in the compass. I asked my mate to keep us away from the (unlit) shore and in deep water while I tried to fix the problem - with no position, depth, or compass he replied "errm - how?". Fortunately I was able to pass him my phone with Navionics running. I've also been known to use it while in my bunk or in the heads, to keep an eye on where the crew are taking us

Pete

 

[tomcourtney]

you need a steady hand, flat seas and a cloudy day...

 

[U4]

Navionics.
Just like using our Raymarine plotter, but more responsive.

We use Navionics as well. Can't fault it, it's really very good.

 

[kennyh]

To answer your last question, the answer is generally "Yes".

Some apps are sold as "Free" but you then need to buy/download the charts, other apps are "Paid For" apps, which come with base maps.

Either way, unless you want US maps (which are provided free by the US Gov) then you have to pay for the App/Map combination.

I myself have Navionics as the charts match my main chartplotter.

 

[Alpha22]

Navionics..... Can't fault it....The extra navigation module is well worth the in app purchase. I can't afford a plotter so it is used for primary navigation with paper + Yeoman backup, but we only do limited coastal navigation.

 

[franksingleton]

I have used iNavX plus a Digital Yachts Class B AIS for two years now. I have a charger that plugs into the 12 VDC supply.

My verdict is pretty good. A little clunky software. I do use it down below on the chart table. Having some macular degeneration, I find it extremely convenient. I can hold it where I want it. For about $120 I got charts for all the UK, Low countries, France, Spain and Portugal Including many inland waters. Far too many for my us.

Having seen iSailor, I liked the clarity of the charts a little better and now have that as well. The software looks rather more sophisticated but I have not tried it on the boat yet. Charts are more expensive than the iNavX (Navionics) but you can get smaller folios. I got England S and E coast, Northern France, Spain and Portugal for about £50.

 

[Tradewinds]

Having seen iSailor, I liked the clarity of the charts a little better and now have that as well. The software looks rather more sophisticated but I have not tried it on the boat yet. Charts are more expensive than the iNavX (Navionics) but you can get smaller folios. I got England S and E coast, Northern France, Spain and Portugal for about £50.

I have Navionics & iSailor.

Prefer some features on Navionics (tidal streams & route planning) but much prefer iSailors charts. I usually switch between the two according to my needs.

 

[chartnavigator]

I'm told there are a number of Apps about these days for iPads?
Do you use one? Can you recommend it?
many thanks for all info

Visit routelist.co.uk you can get screen shots of all the decent iPad nav apps and download free sample chapters of each of my books before committing yourself to any particular app. My recommendation, having used them all, would be a choice between iSailor, Navionics and Marine Imray. Perhaps even buy two of the three.

Have a good look round my website, and see the different apps in use. I don't say anything 'negative' about any of them but some are clearly better than others, as passage planners. Those that are 'useless' for passage planning are not even included on my website.

 

[chartnavigator]

Visit routelist.co.uk you can get screen shots of all the decent iPad nav apps and download free sample chapters of each of my books before committing yourself to any particular app. My recommendation, having used them all, would be a choice between iSailor, Navionics and Marine Imray.

I am currently working on a book in the series using 'MaxSea'. I would definitely add that to my list of good iPad apps for tidal waters route planning. It is easy to use and has a very accurate distance ruler. It does not have built in tide and current data though, like Navionics or Marine Imray Charts.

 

[stuartwineberg]

+1 for Navionics. Please note though that for the ipad you need Navionics HD - the standard Navionics is for iphone and is IMHO too small for ipad. I get speed, distance run, duration of journey, track, tides, currents, photos of ports, touch to zoom etc so a really nice package and the charts are continuously updated. For the more advanced user and others on the forum are definitely these, it has limitations in terms of integrating with other equipment via Bluetooth or wifi which limitations other packages don't have but for Solent pottering it is more than sufficient.

 

[franksingleton]

I have used iNavX plus a Digital Yachts Class B AIS for two years now. I have a charger that plugs into the 12 VDC supply.

My verdict is pretty good. A little clunky software. I do use it down below on the chart table. Having some macular degeneration, I find it extremely convenient. I can hold it where I want it. For about $120 I got charts for all the UK, Low countries, France, Spain and Portugal Including many inland waters. Far too many for my us.

Having seen iSailor, I liked the clarity of the charts a little better and now have that as well. The software looks rather more sophisticated but I have not tried it on the boat yet. Charts are more expensive than the iNavX (Navionics) but you can get smaller folios. I got England S and E coast, Northern France, Spain and Portugal for about £50.

Having now been using iSailor, I prefer it to iNavX. The construct new route is very easy to use. Amending routes on passage eg to allow for putting in tacks is straightforward. On the whole it is less clumsy than iNavX. It is produced by Transas. a commercial shipping service. More forgiving and more robust than iNavX

The instruction “manual” looks a little daunting at first sight. I read the basics and then referred to the manual as I got more confidence and experience with it.

 

[Bertramdriver]

For planning and browsing I use my iPad with the imray charts. Also invaluable is Google maps which gives me a detailed overview of the destination ports and shallow water hazards and wiki which gives images of what the port is like.
Underway the pad is useless as it is invisible in strong sun, constantly loses signal and rattles around, so the raymarine wins
For route planning I have an old chart plotter at home which allows me to download my waypoints onto a cmap card and load onto the raymarine when I get out here.
On balance pads are nice to have but they supplement, not replace, chart plotters.

 

[chartnavigator]

Having now been using iSailor, I prefer it to iNavX. The construct new route is very easy to use. Amending routes on passage eg to allow for putting in tacks is straightforward. On the whole it is less clumsy than iNavX. It is produced by Transas. a commercial shipping service. More forgiving and more robust than iNavX

The instruction “manual” looks a little daunting at first sight. I read the basics and then referred to the manual as I got more confidence and experience with it.

I found the iSailor App well designed and intuitively easy to use. I wish other apps had its circular distance ruler. It's the only nav app which can measure distance from a position to two separate points simultaneously. This is very useful when working out streams compensation in tidal waters.

 

[franksingleton]

For planning and browsing I use my iPad with the imray charts. Also invaluable is Google maps which gives me a detailed overview of the destination ports and shallow water hazards and wiki which gives images of what the port is like.
Underway the pad is useless as it is invisible in strong sun, constantly loses signal and rattles around, so the raymarine wins
For route planning I have an old chart plotter at home which allows me to download my waypoints onto a cmap card and load onto the raymarine when I get out here.
On balance pads are nice to have but they supplement, not replace, chart plotters.

Both iSailor and iNavX work well with the Digital Yachts Class B AIS GPS signal. I have the aerial mounted just below the deck. I navigate from the nav table. You are correct about iPads being useless in the open air.

 

[chartnavigator]

Both iSailor and iNavX work well with the Digital Yachts Class B AIS GPS signal. I have the aerial mounted just below the deck. I navigate from the nav table. You are correct about iPads being useless in the open air.

Ideally, I think it's best to produce a 'routelist' and plan the trip well in advance. That way you can have the streams and headings all worked out before hand and use a good old fashioned paper chart on the chart table, with an A4 laminated list of way-points, headings, relative tide-times, positions etc along with one of the iPhone versions of a Nav App, such as Navionics, iSailor, NavLink, Marine Imray Charts etc. The chart table is definitely the best place to do navigating, (but stomach churning if the weather cuts up rough), then it's better having done the bulk of it at home on a winters evening, in front of the fire, with your iPad to make a printed routelist.

 

[Rocksteadee]

Navionics for ipad around £36 for uk and holland
Make sure you get an ipad with the SIM card facility as it is only this version which contains the GPS function
I didn't Doh
I also have a raymarine e7 with wifi so the ipad doubles as a repeater

 

[Sdpaddler50]

In the U.S., the majority vote is also Navionics for a hand held. I mounted an iPad to the side of the helm, and love the app, in addition to the other things I can reference on the pad.

In regards to apps, the Active Captain app is getting popular here.