Recommendations for iPad navigation please?

[Giblets]

Having had a copy of iSailor on the iPad for a while but never used it in anger I chose to do just that on our trip back from Dartmouth to The Solent on Friday. What a delight to use compared with the boat's fitted Raymarine E80 networked MFD. As said the charts are very good IMO and altering the course on the fly is a doddle. The only problem was the battery life of the iPad but this was soon rectified by standing it on the chart table where visible from the cockpit and the 12v charger connected. A longer lead would allow it to be used up above. No problems with having the iPad in the cockpit when required as it is wrapped in a Lifeproof case and could be propped up under the spray hood to shield the screen from direct sunlight.

Out of all the nav programs I have on the iPad in my opinion iSailor comes out tops.

 

[chartnavigator]

Out of all the nav programs I have on the iPad in my opinion iSailor comes out tops.

I agree, iSailor is probably the best implemented navigation App for the iPad. It only lacks the interactive tides and streams in Navionics. I am most impressed by the distance and bearing ruler in iSailor. There is no other app I know of that can measure distance from a position to two other points simultaneously. Very neat design.

 

[franksingleton]

I agree, iSailor is probably the best implemented navigation App for the iPad. It only lacks the interactive tides and streams in Navionics. I am most impressed by the distance and bearing ruler in iSailor. There is no other app I know of that can measure distance from a position to two other points simultaneously. Very neat design.
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+10!!

 

[chartnavigator]

I agree, iSailor is probably the best implemented navigation App for the iPad.
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For anyone interested there is an iBook available dealing with Tidal Waters Route Planning, specifically using the iSailor iPad and iPhone App here.

http://routelist.co.uk/isailor/4587502896

 

[mainshiptom]

I was onboard a sailing boat the sails around the world , they use marinetraffic.com when they can get internet.

 

[quark-elec]

Marinetraffic.com cost a lot internet data stream, which could be very expensive on the sea. Also you will see a lot of ship around you, espeically small ship, which doesn't show on Marinetraffic.com website.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I've also used Navionics HD, on a Samsung but also seen it working on an ipad and it works well. Been using it for the last 2 years, to Holland, Thames Estuary and the West Country. Pay a little more and get the extra bits, I do also use a Yeoman plotter and paper charts as well of course.
Bit of an interloper as I have one of those slow boats with white flappy things but I suppose it'll work on a mobo.........

 

[franksingleton]

iPad battery issues

For the last two seasons. I have used my iPad with INavX and now iSailor. I have always plugged the iPad into a 12V to USB power supply. That has worked well. However, on our last two passages – 5 hours or so the iPad has come up with a low battery warning and then stopped working.

As a trial, in port, I have left the iPad running all day plugged into a 220 VAC to USB power supply. It runs OK.

I suspect that the iPad battery is the problem. Presumably, I will have to get a new battery fitted (or buy a new iPad – I have the iPad2.)

Any views or advice, please.

PS. I have bought a new 12VDC to USB adaptor as I suspected my old adaptor was the problem.

 

[franksingleton]

Re: iPad battery issues

For the last two seasons. I have used my iPad with INavX and now iSailor. I have always plugged the iPad into a 12V to USB power supply. That has worked well. However, on our last two passages – 5 hours or so the iPad has come up with a low battery warning and then stopped working.

As a trial, in port, I have left the iPad running all day plugged into a 220 VAC to USB power supply. It runs OK.

I suspect that the iPad battery is the problem. Presumably, I will have to get a new battery fitted (or buy a new iPad – I have the iPad2.)

Any views or advice, please.

PS. I have bought a new 12VDC to USB adaptor as I suspected my old adaptor was the problem.

Problem solved. I had not realised that I needed a 12VDC to USB capable of delivering 2.1 amp. The one I bought only gave 1 amp. Back to bed.

 

[franksingleton]

I agree, iSailor is probably the best implemented navigation App for the iPad. It only lacks the interactive tides and streams in Navionics. I am most impressed by the distance and bearing ruler in iSailor. There is no other app I know of that can measure distance from a position to two other points simultaneously. Very neat design.
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At #23 I agreed – and still agree that iSailor is an excellent navigation app. I used it continuously over 4 months’ cruising this year.

However, I have some macular degeneration problems. Accordingly, when using the AIS facility – with Digital yachts AIS 1000 -, I find that iNavX gives much clearer information on ships. I can read off information about CPA etc far easier than in iSailor. In these situations, I switch between the two. I appreciate that this is a function of my eyesight and that others will probably find iSailor fine for this purpose.

 

[wizzer]

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

Navionics for iPad UK & Holland, have used it in preference to installed boat's plotter software on several occasions

 

[karl.e]

This one is free to try on iPad. It has a very slick vector renderer.

https://appsto.re/us/--Lt7.i

 

[freetom]

Spyglass is an amazing app to have on a boat. It works as a ship's compass, a bearing compass and sextant (without the math), as well as a GPS. It makes a great introduction to celestial navigation, I use it as a backup navigation. Here it is, if interested https://itunes.apple.com/app/spyglass/id332639548?mt=8&at=11lLc7&ct=fs