Tide predictions software

[DAKA]

I m about to renew my Belfield Tide predictions software for £10.99 and just thought I best check if its the best one available currently ?
What do you use ?


Belfield is easy, you get local ports and tide graphs.

Very basic plotter with tide diamonds (arrows showing tide flow for each hour selected along with tide speed)
and a basic drag distance plotter tool for passage planning.

I want something to help avoid wind against tide in strong tidal flow areas.

 

[mjf]

I use an iphone app that was very cheap or even free Tidesplan11 it says

Good for flow rate/direction etc and w/w tidal data

 

[Geoffs]

+1 for Tidesplan11. Will be Tidesplan12 next year. Even better on iPad. The free version only gives 7 days look ahead, for £4.99 , I think it is, you get full version. I use it instead of Bellfield, nowt wrong with Bellfield, excellent value.

If you have an Apple device, iphone or Ipad, then Boatie is good too(maybe on Android). Gives inshore forecasts, synoptics and an excellent animated tidal flow map for Solent and South Coast, plus lots of reference info, oh and a marina guide.

 

[Gwylan]

Try WXTide32 - bit fiddly at first, then it's great and will do about everything you might need and it's free.

For the Android you can try Marine Weather by Bluefin - again versatile and free.

 

[Delivery Skipper]

Value for money

Hi go for it and renew ,We have used Belfield now for three years and would certainly continue. Also very helpful when we had any technical problems as well.

Regards John Keen

 

[oceanfroggie]

I use an iphone app that was very cheap or even free Tidesplan11 it says

Good for flow rate/direction etc and w/w tidal data

+1

 

[Solitaire]

I m about to renew my Belfield
What do you use ?



I want something to help avoid wind against tide in strong tidal flow areas.

Almanac and tidal atlas or diamonds. Works every time. No batteries, no wireless, etc etc.

OK, just call me old fashioned.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Almanac and tidal atlas or diamonds. Works every time. No batteries, no wireless, etc etc.

OK, just call me old fashioned.

Yes carry paper bits for backup, but iPhone app more useable and less prone to user error. (eg UT v BST, reading wrong column, secondary port calcs done, etc). Even better on iPad for tidal streams.

 

[thomshap]

I use an iphone app that was very cheap or even free Tidesplan11 it says

Good for flow rate/direction etc and w/w tidal data

+ another one - Used Benfield for a couple of years before Apps and it was excellent

 

[dharl]

Almanac and tidal atlas or diamonds. Works every time. No batteries, no wireless, etc etc.

OK, just call me old fashioned.

agree prefer charts and books on the boat.. however nice to have a good app so you can have a look at and do a bit of planning for the weekend while on the train home.....

 

[DAKA]

When planning 80-140 nm I find it easier to have a full size screen (I dont own an Ipad) so I think the app would be fiddly , I looked at WXtide thankyou and I will use it as a standby but I think the belfield with the tide plotter still wins on value .

Thanks for everyones help and input

Almanac and tidal atlas or diamonds. Works every time. No batteries, no wireless, etc etc.

OK, just call me old fashioned.

I used to find that weather altered plans without warning and I frequently found my self checking several departure time options for secondary ports and tidal flows for every 1/2 hour for a 120 nm cruise , this headache of calculations usually started after a night out say 2330-0030 and an error with a tidal flow of 180' was not uncommon .

Belfield has eradicated these errors and only an occasional French Daylight saving cockup has caused slight discomfort for an hour as the last bit of tide looses momentum.

 

[dedwards]

Shameless plug:

In the next few weeks I'll be releasing an android tide app that displays UKHO data for the main UK ports for 2012 and is completely offline. No tidal stream support yet though.

see the link in my sig for details.

 

[trooper]

Belfield

I am thinking about buying the belfield software with tidal data - I have also looked at Nuno navigator which again looks like it will fit the bill - anyone had any experience (good or bad) they can share? I am looking to run from a laptop on board.