tablet chartplotter software that works ?

[Bristolfashion]

I use Navionics, for "chart plotter" functions and have found it to be excellent. Wartsila I sailor looks fine & I've met a few fans. C-map is also good & handy as the internet connected version is free.

I use Marine navigator for the "proper" charts - a steal for the whole set. It also displays AIS well.

I have tried open CPN on a tablet and couldn't really get on with it - it looks like it is the most customisable / powerful, but therefore requires the most work to use. Navionics, on the other hand, is just switch on and use - it displays basic AIS from an on-board AIS WiFi without any fuss.

I've used all of them on basic Lenovo 7" and 8” tablets, a Samsung basic 10" and on various cheap phones - they do seem to work fine on relatively basic Android kit as long as you have GPS. I like the 10" for planning on the larger screen.

 

[Bristolfashion]

Could I add a plug for the digital ordnance survey maps for land exploration - work a treat on your phone / tablet and give endless interest, walks & bike rides. Only a few quid a month for the entire set at all scales. Handy to work out the best way from anchorage to town as well.

 

[franksingleton]

Much depends on personal circumstances, likes and dislikes. We do not have masses of power and have 0a fairly small yacht (34ft), on both counts, a laptop is out As we are not fair weather sailors and I do not want a laptop bouncing around, even solid state. I have AMD and, so, find it easier to bring the screen to my face rather than take my face to the screen. For those reasons, a tablet is the most convenient. I have a large screen iPad Pro - screen size as big as the HP 13” laptop. I have an old iPad 2. Both use the GPS attached to my Digital Yachts AIS. As second backup, I have an iPhone 7. That has its own inbuilt GPS but can use the DY one. So, I am backed both for device and GPS receiver. The iPkone screen is a bit small but useable if I really have to. I have iSailor on them all and all the charts downloaded on each device at no extra cost.

I started off with iNavX which uses Navionics charts. I was content with the charts but just found the software a little clunky. I have no reason to change but I am sure that, if I did, I would probably be quite happy with most, if not all the options mentioned as far a navigation performance. In my case, IPad is the best solution.

 

[GHA]

I have tried open CPN on a tablet and couldn't really get on with it - it looks like it is the most customisable / powerful, but therefore requires the most work to use.

Not so sure about more work to use but certainly a steeper learning curve compared to navionics, bit like a very simple word processor against a full blown microsoft office suite. Opencpn is very powerful but you do need to spend time on it, and maybe a bit too far for some of the ,erm, more 'elderly' sailors who aren't very computer literate.
Back in UK with a paid navionics I'd use both on the tablet, navionics for a quick 'we're here going there' and opencpn for much more detail like ais plus engine data getting sent over wifi. Signalk is just great for getting any data you want onto a phone or tablet.
Opencpn lets you get various different sources of chart data displayed as well, can be very useful having satellite images on there.

 

[franksingleton]

Not so sure about more work to use but certainly a steeper learning curve compared to navionics, bit like a very simple word processor against a full blown microsoft office suite. Opencpn is very powerful but you do need to spend time on it, and maybe a bit too far for some of the ,erm, more 'elderly' sailors who aren't very computer literate.
Back in UK with a paid navionics I'd use both on the tablet, navionics for a quick 'we're here going there' and opencpn for much more detail like ais plus engine data getting sent over wifi. Signalk is just great for getting any data you want onto a phone or tablet.
Opencpn lets you get various different sources of chart data displayed as well, can be very useful having satellite images on there.

I am certainly in the, emm, elderly category although I am reasonably computer literate, more so than many I meet but far less so than others. I want a chart plotter system that lets me download and update Nav charts simply. I want to be able to plan a route easily. On passage, I want to be able to modify my route, for example if the wind changes and I cannot lay my next waypoint. I want to have a clear AIS display with information that lets me speak to that large vessel approaching. I am not interested in overlaying satellite data. I fo not want the complication of overlaying radar images on my NAV chart. I work on the KISS principle. I do not want an overload of bells and whistles. I have, in fact looked st OpenCPN on my laptop but decided for several reasons that it was not appropriate to my needs.

The video has strengthened my conviction that, for my use, iSailor, iNsvX and similar systems are what I need,

 

[dune16]

I think navionics is great, its never let me down. I have a Raymarine Axiom Pro on my boat but find i rarely use it compared to Navionics on phone/tablet

 

[GHA]

I am certainly in the, emm, elderly category although I am reasonably computer literate, more so than many I meet but far less so than others. I want a chart plotter system that lets me download and update Nav charts simply. I want to be able to plan a route easily. On passage, I want to be able to modify my route, for example if the wind changes and I cannot lay my next waypoint. I want to have a clear AIS display with information that lets me speak to that large vessel approaching. I am not interested in overlaying satellite data. I fo not want the complication of overlaying radar images on my NAV chart. I work on the KISS principle. I do not want an overload of bells and whistles. I have, in fact looked st OpenCPN on my laptop but decided for several reasons that it was not appropriate to my needs.

The video has strengthened my conviction that, for my use, iSailor, iNsvX and similar systems are what I need,

Opencpn does all that as well, charts come with a years updates then subscription. You don't have to use every bell and whistle, but they can be really useful. The weather apps are very useful as well, imho, synoptic overlaid on grib can be informative.
Each to their own