What useful boating apps do you use?

Skylark said:
Multi Function Display, the in-vogue new word for Chart Plotter with AIS & Radar etc. Mine adds to my sailing pleasure as it allows me to select music choice from the cockpit without the additional hassle of having to go below ?

I prefer stress-free sailing so that generally excludes the obsessive, compulsive need for a smart phone.
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Thanks for that. I've got to the age where I can remember acronyms like WMD and WD-40, but the more recent fashionable ones don't seem to stick.

For music I've got a wee Roberts radio with re-chargeable batteries which I sometimes bring into the cockpit, but there's already something wrong with me as I only normally listen to Radio 3 classical...
 
had to look but I have
Navionics
Active Captain
Marine Traffic
Vessel Finder
Navily
Anchor Pro
Setur Marinas
Multiple weather apps including Windfinder Pro, Windy and PredictWind.
 
Garmin MFD at the helm, with two GMI20s and Autopilot control.

10" tablet with Garmin Active Captain, which can be used stand alone (as a backup) or mirroring the MFD. Basically another MFD, which can be used anywhere onboard, passage planning can be done below decks, can sit under the sprayhood so everyone in the cockpit can see etc.

Smartphone also has the Active Captain app', same possible uses as above.

Laptop down below, hidden in chart table, connected to 24" LCD TV and wireless keyboard. This is the main "ships computer", running Windows 10, it connects to my phone, which is setup as a mobile hotspot (also available to the tablet and MFD via wifi). XC weather, Admiralty Total Tide, OpenCPN with VMH UK charts. A N2K to 0183 converter feeds all available data to the laptop (OpenCPN) and only needs the network to be on, the MFD can be off. The Victron connect app' displays the battery monitor and solar controller data.

The N2K to 0183 converter also broadcasts all available data via wifi.

Available data on the N2K network at the moment:

GPS
AIS
Depth
STW
Water temp
Wind speed
Wind direction
Barometric pressure
Hell
Pitch
Rudder position

There's a whole load of other information that the plotters can generate/extrapolate from the above data. Everything is integrated, so the autopilot will steer to a waypoint, route or wind, all data is available on all devices, the MFD will initiate a DSC call to an AIS target etc etc.

Just waiting for delivery of a Garmin ClearVu sonar transducer, which will be fitted at the next liftout.

The MFD (and consequently the tablet and phone) can display pretty much any N2K data, including engine data, sensor data, tank levels etc and can digitally control any onboard electrical systems. N2K tank sensors are on the todo list, i've sourced some nice ones, where the fuel sensor also checks for water in the tanks.

Another project, in its early stages, is engine monitoring and control. I've been planning to fit a new engine panel for some time, with push button stop/start etc, but with the new plotter i'm going to make it digital. I'll move the existing tacho, temp and oil pressure gauges into the engine compartment, along with some new switches and fit an electric stop solenoid. Then, i'll add an engine management module and a digital switching module, wired in parallel to the analogue equipment. I can then have a page on the MFD showing engine data, with touchscreen switches to turn the "ign" on/off, operate the pre-heat (will fit a timer for that), start and stop the engine.
 
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PaulRainbow said:
Garmin MFD at the helm, with two GMI20s and Autopilot control.

10" tablet with Garmin Active Captain, which can be used stand alone (as a backup) or mirroring the MFD. Basically another MFD, which can be used anywhere onboard, passage planning can be done below decks, can sit under the sprayhood so everyone in the cockpit can see etc.

Smartphone also has the Active Captain app', same possible uses as above.

Laptop down below, hidden in chart table, connected to 24" LCD TV and wireless keyboard. This is the main "ships computer", running Windows 10, it connects to my phone, which is setup as a mobile hotspot (also available to the tablet and MFD via wifi). XC weather, Admiralty Total Tide, OpenCPN with VMH UK charts. A N2K to 0183 converter feeds all available data to the laptop (OpenCPN) and only needs the network to be on, the MFD can be off.

The N2K to 0183 converter also broadcasts all available data via wifi.

Available data on the N2K network at the moment:

GPS
AIS
Depth
STW
Water temp
Wind speed
Wind direction
Barometric pressure
Hell
Pitch
Rudder position

There's a whole load of other information that the plotters can generate/extrapolate from the above data. Everything is integrated, so the autopilot will steer to a waypoint, route or wind, all data is available on all devices, the MFD will initiate a DSC call to an AIS target etc etc.

Just waiting for delivery of a Garmin ClearVu sonar transducer, which will be fitted at the next liftout.

The MFD (and consequently the tablet and phone) can display pretty much any N2K data, including engine data, sensor data, tank levels etc and can digitally control any onboard electrical systems. N2K tank sensors are on the todo list, i've sourced some nice ones, where the fuel sensor also checks for water in the tanks.

Another project, in its early stages, is engine monitoring and control. I've been planning to fit a new engine panel for some time, with push button stop/start etc, but with the new plotter i'm going to make it digital. I'll move the existing tacho, temp and oil pressure gauges into the engine compartment, along with some new switches and fit an electric stop solenoid. Then, i'll add an engine management module and a digital switching module, wired in parallel to the analogue equipment. I can then have a page on the MFD showing engine data, with touchscreen switches to turn the "ign" on/off, operate the pre-heat (will fit a timer for that), start and stop the engine.
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Wow! Pretty cool that!

I'm wanting to connect my garmin 451 plotter to my Cobra marine DSC MR F55 with a NMEA 0183 but have no idea at all where to start or what to buy or how to perform DIY surgery on the wiring to connect up as, From what i can gather you can't but a "Plug and play" cable. You've got to butcher wiring and do it yourself.
 
MystyBlue2 said:
Wow! Pretty cool that!

I'm wanting to connect my garmin 451 plotter to my Cobra marine DSC MR F55 with a NMEA 0183 but have no idea at all where to start or what to buy or how to perform DIY surgery on the wiring to connect up as, From what i can gather you can't but a "Plug and play" cable. You've got to butcher wiring and do it yourself.
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Simple two wire connection. Start another thread about it and you'll soon get the info you need. If you can post links to the two manuals that'll help.

It's just a case of connecting the two output wires of the plotter to the two input wires of the VHF, no actual butchering required.
 
PaulRainbow said:
Simple two wire connection. Start another thread about it and you'll soon get the info you need. If you can post links to the two manuals that'll help.

It's just a case of connecting the two output wires of the plotter to the two input wires of the VHF, no actual butchering required.
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Think i will do that at some point! Cheers :)
 
One app I have that I think is amazing (and free) is c-map embark. As long as you have an Internet connection you can use auto routing and world coverage.
 
MystyBlue2 said:
With mobile phones being pocket sized computers nowadays it would be interesting to know what kind of phone apps you use, If any for boating.

The ones i use are as follows:

Navionics,
Vessel finder (AIS)
Do any of you use any of these listed and do you find them useful?
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My GPS does the anchor alarm function.

I use Navionics which has many uses both ashore and afloat. The most used feature for sorting out dates for boating events is that it gives very accurate tidal data for years ahead so good for fixing dates for events. It also has a feature where the user can put in data on the map at full zoom level so can place on the chart marker positions for races . This makes laying the marks a doddle as the buoy laying boat goes out with a device and easily finds the location, Even mark the positions of Transits ashore . Shapes can be selected and notes can be put with each mark indicating only in place on race days.
When driving the club committee boat I take my tablet to help me get to buoy locations upriver that have escaped my memory :)

I use marine Tracker for AIS and the club boat has it linked to a plotter so handy when the onboard committee can be warned of commercial vessels approaching the course which are not yet visible due to obstructions such as Bl**dy Big Bridges :)

The passage planning function is useful and can be shared between crew if doing expeditions.
 
Seems like some good mixed views which is a good thing. I must admit i am never glued to my phone while at sea. It is always around my neck in a waterproof case and i check all weather apps before leaving harbour. And updated via VHF whilst out there. And i start a track on Navionics and let it do its thing.

Navionics is strictly a plotter backup!

Met office, if the weather is doing the complete opposite of what it is supposed to be doing it (Nothing new there is there!) I will keep checking the app and keep ahead of the weather coming in rather than finding myself "Caught out",

Anchor Alarm, Is a plotter alarm back up, Also i find it a little more sensitive than the plotter too. It may notify me that the anchor is dragging a bit earlier than the plotter,

RYA, for emergencies as i can still operate phone through the touch screen waterproof case and even if my boat would ever "Sink" and my hand held would not work for any reason/out of range etc, I can make an emergency call to the CG without phone signal and it also has my phone GPS Coordinates so he knows where to find me.

Vessel finder, AIS app, So if a large ship is coming close to me, i can click on the vessel which tells me the vessel name, Call sign and MMSI number so even though i DONT have AIS i can voice call the vessel on the radio and inform the skipper of where i am incase he cannot see me. Like said though this is not something i am glued to. Only if the occasion arises and i need to open the app.

Seems there is a fine line between making the most and enjoying boating, And becoming obsessed with apps which inturn causes distractions and a busy day checking electronic gadgets 24/7.

Some good pointers here folks (y)
 
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PaulRainbow said:
Those using AIS app's should be aware that they are not live, ships may be totally missing or transmissions delayed. Not anything like as accurate as having a proper receiver.
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Yeah i do agree there is no substitute for AIS receiver, but if i see a ship heading for me, I can open the app and if he is visible i can bring up his info and make a voice call to the skipper. It could just make all the difference rather than not having the app at all.
 
For weather I have started using Ventusky - although it has a small annual fee (£2.99), it has lots of options to see including wind, gusts, wave,. swell, etc etc. Last summer it was reasonably accurate in the predictions.
I have also been playing around with a Planner App from Neptune Navigation. If you have no plotter or want a backup, it is very good at passage planning plus tides etc. It takes a bit of getting used to for route entry but overall very good value. It is a mainly a Planner app so no nmea connectivity or AIS (yet?) but it will show your track, heading etc. No affiliation with either!
I am using these (among others mentioned on this thread) with Android.
 
Quite like the max sea iBoat app have that on my phone and iPad only pay for the charts once for both handy.

I used to use navionics but since switching the plotter card to nv charts it’s main feature doesn’t work with the updates for the plotter card and I refuse on principle to buy the data twice!

Other than that I have open plotter running hidden away in a headless setup. It’s logging everything from the Nav network onto a database which is Viewable later or live via the boat tablet or my phone should I desire (I don’t much tbh)

My favourite gadget is my ICS Nav 4 which is old school navtex but it also gets all the nmea data strings from the network and records snap shots on paper, I set it to every 3 hours usually, simple and effective. Till rolls annoying sometimes but it’s also super reliable and useful for the regular log entries when busy sail changing or short handed
 
jwfrary said:
Quite like the max sea iBoat app have that on my phone and iPad only pay for the charts once for both handy.

I used to use navionics but since switching the plotter card to nv charts it’s main feature doesn’t work with the updates for the plotter card and I refuse on principle to buy the data twice!

Other than that I have open plotter running hidden away in a headless setup. It’s logging everything from the Nav network onto a database which is Viewable later or live via the boat tablet or my phone should I desire (I don’t much tbh)

My favourite gadget is my ICS Nav 4 which is old school navtex but it also gets all the nmea data strings from the network and records snap shots on paper, I set it to every 3 hours usually, simple and effective. Till rolls annoying sometimes but it’s also super reliable and useful for the regular log entries when busy sail changing or short handed
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I'm totally lost . o_O:)
 
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