Using an Ipad as a plotter

[Giblets]

Thanks for the input on iNavX, Snooks.

Any chance you could throw up a marine screen shot of, say, the eastern Solent, so we can get an idea of the detail of the charts?

TIA

 

[snooks]

Thanks for the input on iNavX, Snooks.

Any chance you could throw up a marine screen shot of, say, the eastern Solent, so we can get an idea of the detail of the charts?

TIA

The detail is the same as the Navionics charts, because they are Navionics charts

Here it is with AIS data

 

[franksingleton]

It's the sun and warmth, it's getting to me!

Seriously though, some people do want to use an iPad to navigate with, the same way that some people want to use a sextant. If, and that's a big if, you do want to use an iPad to navigate with, iNavX is the best app to do that with. It's also the most expensive. But if all you want to do is look at charts and have the whole of the UK with weather and tides in the palm of your hand, Navionics's own app is a lot cheaper and more than up to the job.

Thanks. It all helps.

My position is that we carry paper charts as well as a laptop with OpenCPN and a GPS dongle. This last year we have been planning using OpenCPN, checking on the paper charts. Apart from a compatibility problem with the GPS dongle and my Win 7 64 bit machine, all went pretty well. I also have a Garmin 152. I like the laptop for checking positions relative to the planned route because I have some myopic macular degeneration and plotting positions on paper charts underway is not easy.

The problem that we are foreseeing is that as we get nearer to the UK after years away, we are going to have more chance of rough passages and, that enemy of laptops rain. Going down below in dripping wet gear is not good for a laptop which, in any case, can be a drain on our not too large batteries. A dedicated chart plotter might seem the answer but space is a problem around our chart table.

I like the idea of an iPad because of its screen size and resolution as well as being more robust than the laptop. I have been looking at the Digital yachts AIS transponder which has a built in GPS and claims compatibility with iPad. I do not regard being able to overlay AIS on to the chart as important although I can see that it could be convenient. I do not want to overlay GRIB files. To me, that is an unnecessary gimmick – the scale upon which I look at GTIBs is incompatible with the scale on which I navigate.

So, for me, the iPad seems a sensible solution. We have only just got back home and ploughing through the pile of mags behind the door, I see an article by Graham relating to iPhone apps. I have only today seen that. Another useful contribution to my personal data base.

Many thanks, Graham

 

[chartnavigator]

The iPad can be used, albeit as suggested with extra waterproofing, but is a bit fragile for use in the cockpit I would have thought. Most people would probably find it useful as backup at the chart table. Have you tried using it to route plan with Imray Chart Navigator. I have had great fun working out the optimum TOD to catch the most helpful tide streams on a route etc. Visit routelist.co.uk to learn more. I would suggest that laminated A4 data sheets and chartlets, produced from the iPad screen are much more practical in the cockpit or at the tiller than an iPad used as a plotter. It also would eliminate the temptation to go without proper charts and tables, (in case of a complete power failure). I notice there is a warning out that GPS jammers are becoming popular items for sale on the internet. Not that this is likely to affect boat owners, but lorry drivers etc. are using them to defeat GPS which might show their employers where they are on the road, apparently. Regards.

 

[chartnavigator]

Here is an example of what can be done with an iPad, Imray Chart Navigator, Dropbox, iStudio, a colour printer and some plastic laminating pockets.

The resolution is actually better than this on A4 glossy photographic paper and on the back you print your 'route list' and notes.

 

[chartnavigator]

"Any chance you could throw up a marine screen shot of, say, the eastern Solent, so we can get an idea of the detail of the charts?"

There is an issue about 'detail' in vector charts, as are iNavx and Navionics. It should always be borne in mind that vector charts, although capable of being zoomed to astonishingly large scale, showing very fine detail, are nonetheless based originally on data derived from a good old paper chart, then the data is 'vectorised'. Sometimes when over-zooming a vector chart, it's accuracy can be astonishingly poor. There have been some classic examples of boats running into rocks that have suddenly 'moved' many yards from where the vector display 'said' they should be. Simply because the data has been zoomed far below the original scale of the chart from which it has been originally derived.

These Imray Chart Navigator images are raster scanned. They look much more like a real chart, because they are real charts. The area of the Solent is the very same as the previous vector iNavX chart with the AIS data on it but the area just south of Portsmouth, (in the rectangle and shown in image two), is the maximum zoom capability of the Imray iPad chart of 'The Solent'. Good enough though I think. Still larger scale charts are available for most ports and some inlets.

The app. costs more than iNavX or Navionics but I think it's well worth having both on your iPad and I use the best features of both of them. It still works out a lot cheaper than a dedicated plotter if you happen to have an iPad anyway.

Regards Chris.

 

[franksingleton]

I hav been using iNavX on y iPad this year. Apart from a few odd little quirks, some of which might b due to my clumsiness, I have found it excellent. It has been a great help with my myopic macular degeneration. The obe drawback is that my wife does not now believe that naviagtion is highly skilled and best left to the male of the species.

One query, probably my own incompetence, I cannot see how to delete a route. Help, please.

 

[maxi]

Have just used my Ipad2 with a Bad Elf gps, around N Brittany, checking visual nav and Ipad data and it has been very accurate indeed. Navionics software.

Housed under the spray hood visibility was good at all times, even bright sunlight. A "properly" rated cigar lighter charger coped very well and 100% charge was maintained at all times.

Track device, tidal curves, phone numbers of ports etc are all useful features.

There is now a device on the market which facilitates plugging-in other devises to the Ipad, so AIS etc also become feasible.

 

[wotayottie]

Can anyone give guidance as to how much memory the charting apps use ie without loading up the IPad with lots of other rubbish would 16GB cope with Navionics?

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have Imray North Sea and Navionics UK and Holland on my I Pad and together with lots of Apps etc have not used up half of the 16GB yet.I also have a Screen protector from Mediadevil which is a Matte Magicscreen which cuts out the reflection and glare.They are about £15 on Amazon but they are far better than the cheap varieties.Both Imray and Navionics work well.I have the cheaper I Phone version of Navionics not the more expensive HD on for the I Pad but it is fine.I use the IPad for back up but I now find I use it more and more rather than my plotter.

 

[yachtorion]

If anyone who hasn't been given an iPad2 wants to consider this then look at android tablets - not because they are superior, I think both are about the same - but because you can get them an awful lot cheaper. For example at the moment an 8.9 inch Galaxy Tab can be had for £240.

The Imray app runs fine on mine, though I don't think it's as good as my cockpit mounted Garmin 551 for a real navigation tool.

 

[Reptile Smile]

If you do want to consider this then look at android tablets - not because they are superior, I think both are about the same - but because you can get them an awful lot cheaper. For example at the moment an 8.9 inch Galaxy Tab can be had for £240.

The Imray app runs fine on mine, though I don't think it's as good as my cockpit mounted Garmin 551 for a real navigation tool.

Very much so - and, of course, if one is a fan of the 7" form factor (which I vastly prefer to 10"), then there's always the Google Nexus 7 8GB at 150 quid...

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Can anyone give guidance as to how much memory the charting apps use ie without loading up the IPad with lots of other rubbish would 16GB cope with Navionics?

No problem.

My Navionics UK and Holland HD on iPad uses 129mb.

 

[Reptile Smile]

And from an Android user, my patch - the Bristol Channel (actually, not my patch, because I'm talking about all of it, which is over-emphasising how far I sail somewhat) is 35mb...

 

[krissteyn]

Have been monitoring this for a while , who is using the apps in the Greece/Cyprus/Croatia areas . That is where I will need it next year ?

Kris.

 

[Cookee]

Can anyone give guidance as to how much memory the charting apps use ie without loading up the IPad with lots of other rubbish would 16GB cope with Navionics?

You only download the detail for the area you need - this means you don't have charts for the whole of the UK and Holland sitting on your Ipad doing nothing, it does mean you need to download everything you will need before leaving home though! Once it's on your Ipad it will stay there unless you take it off.

 

[chartnavigator]

I have a 32Gb iPad2 and iNavx, Imray English Channel, Imray free, and Imray Irish sea plus all my other apps, files and photos, still fill a lot less than 16Gb.

Of course if you want to have "Gone with the wind", "Ben Hur" all the Bat Man movies, on it as well you might run into a problem with the 16Gb version.

I find that it is almost impossible to work out tide stream corrected routes with iNavX. I do not know about Navionics but Imray has an excellent bearing and distance measuring rule, capable of measuring any distance and bearing even while zooming the chart. If InavX has such a facility, I have never found it. Once the iNavX distance markers are employed the zoom function is totally disabled and as soon as zoom is invoked the positions marked by the distance marker are lost. This makes working out tidal vectors and plotting corrected headings quite impossible, so I do all that in Imray and punch the resulting waypoint coordinates into iNavX from a printed rout list. So I have the best of both Apps and still plenty of room for more on the iPad.

Regards Chris.

 

[chartnavigator]

One query, probably my own incompetence, I cannot see how to delete a route. Help, please.

Hi Frank. To delete a Route.
Select 'Routes' from the bottom toolbar.
Tap on the route to select it.
A screen will come up with the route no. and other options.
Tap the dustbin in the top right of that screen and the route is deleted.

Regards Chris.

 

[franksingleton]

Hi Frank. To delete a Route.
Select 'Routes' from the bottom toolbar.
Tap on the route to select it.
A screen will come up with the route no. and other options.
Tap the dustbin in the top right of that screen and the route is deleted.

Regards Chris.

Many thanks.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I hav been using iNavX on y iPad this year. Apart from a few odd little quirks, some of which might b due to my clumsiness, I have found it excellent. It has been a great help with my myopic macular degeneration.

I've been getter ever larger screens as my eyes get older - which iPad verson do you have Frank and (as I seem to recall you sail somewhere that has the concept of sunshine still) do you have any problems with seeing the screen in bright sunlight?