Fav ipad app for sailing

Hello Below · Apr 14, 2015

Many apps to choose from, I like Boating HD (Navionics) and an app called Anchor. I am sure that someone will chime in here and suggest you do a search on this forum as this topic is subject to lots of discussion.

WRT reading boat instruments, I have a Raymarine e95 that has a built in wifi and free apps that allow you to control or simply view the MFD. Other brands also have built in wifi. There are companies such as Brookhouse, Digital Yacht and vyacht.net that standalone wifi. I used the latter for several years with both my laptop and iPad. Good price but zero support from the designer/fabricator/seller. Fortunately, although it did not fully function, it worked for what I wanted. You will also need the iNavX app and some purchased charts (Navionics) to complete the system.

Brian S · Apr 14, 2015

Make sure your iPad has the cellular data option. If you have the cellular data chipset, it will include GPS functionality. If it is a wi-fi only iPad, it will not have any GPS capability, though you can purchase a Bluetooth GPS receiver for about $100-130.

You DO NOT need to carry a cellular data plan on the iPad if you don't want to, or to use the GPS. It's just that the cellular chipset includes the GPS receiver functionality.

Tim R. · Apr 15, 2015

We have a Gramin 840xs chartplotter and we use the helm app and Garmin Bluechart mobile. Helm allows us to see and control the CP via wifi connection. Bluechart mobile is a charting app that allows us to create waypoints and routes that can then be uploaded/downloaded to the CP. Bluechart mobile also includes Active Captain which is necessary if you will be doing the ditch. Other apps also have AC but I think Bluechart is the best. Charts for Bluechart are about $50. Bluechart also includes live weather radar via subscription.

I attached the electronics schematic for our boat.

Doug4bass · Apr 15, 2015

So, more than likely these ipad screens will have to be full bright. Whats everyone doing for batteries??

Bill1565 · Apr 15, 2015

Doug4bass said:
So, more than likely these ipad screens will have to be full bright. Whats everyone doing for batteries??

I put a cigarette lighter outlet in the cockpit. Leave the ipad on.

quadrille38 · Apr 15, 2015

I too use an iPad and have since 2009. Do a search of the archives on the site and you will find this subject has been discussed to death. More opinions and favorites than you can shake a stick at. You will find there are as many favorite apps as there are posters on the site.

But there is also a ton of good information for you as well.
Especially on what kind of iPad you need. I use Inavx with the Navionics charts. Easy to use and customer support was great. There is also an AIS app on the App Store that you can download for free.

I've added an external GPS antenna because it tracks 12 satellites where iPads track 3 typically. I also added an AIS transceiver with antenna so that I can see others with AIS and I can be seen. Have a wireless hub that the iPad communicates with via wifi.

Here is from a previous post on this subject. This was last year and I have already added the AIS AB transponder and used it all last summer.

If you want to use the GPS resident in the iPad you need cellular capable ipad but you do not need a cell plan. Recognize though that the iPad cellular monitors only 3 satellites so the accuracy while good is somewhat less than than a traditional GPS that track 12 satellites. I did buy the wifi / cellular capable iPad and run Inavx with the Navionics charts. What I did to improve accuracy and increase flexibility is: - purchased an external GPS antenna from Digital Yachts - purchased an AIS antenna from Digital Yachts - purchased Digital Yachts wireless hot spot device. The AIS and GPS antenna are connected to the wifi sender so that the ipad wirelessly receives the GPS and AIS data and feeds it to the Inavx software. Very accurate and easy to use interface. - at the same time this allows me to pull NMEA data off the feed and run it to my VHF radio so that I'm able to broadcast position data when the emergency broadcast function on the radio is used. - as an added featured I use Weather Trac application that allows you to pull down GRIB files and overlay them on the inavx chart. This shows you wind and weather current and predicted conditions in 2 hour increments layered right on your navigation charts. Makes weather and trip planning a dream since you can see wind directions and speeds over time on your planned route. - very happy with INavx as they routinely and very responsively push out enhancements on their product via the App Store. And if you have any questions they are so responsive and helpful via their on line Q and A feature. I do have a cellular data plan active on my iPad because it allows me to access email (even when sailing work sometimes calls) and the features like weather Trac when I'm in locations where I don't have wifi service. - added to that I can pull NMEA data from my Raymarine Seatalk network to the Digital Yachts sender which then wirelessly broadcasts so that my speed, depth and wind data is displayed in inavx. Acts as a repeater to the main instruments. - receiving AIS A signal allows me to see traffic on my iPad right on the charts. - this year I'm planning to upgrade my Digital Yachts wifi device to one that will not only receive AIS A but also send and receive AIS B so that I can see and be seen by others. In conditions where visibility is reduced I figure being able to see others and to broadcast so others can see me is an added safety feature.

On the subject of glare, I've not had a problem. iPad can be fussy but we have dodger and full Bimini and have had no issues with glare being a problem. They don't like water but there is a low tech solution to that. A ziplock bag works and the touch still works through the bag.

My only real problem is that my iBooks library is on my iPad so I can't read a book when I'm using it for navigation. But is suppose there are worse things in the world. Just by a paperback instead.

Brian S · Apr 15, 2015

Canonshooternb said:
Thanks for the update. I only have the wifi model but do also have a iphone that I can tether...

I have not found a way to connect an iPhone to the a wi-fi only iPad for purposes of sharing GPS data to the iPad. Both the iPhone's and iPad's Bluetooth act as a "base," pairing with other devices like hands-free headsets, audio, or keyboards. They can also share documents or pictures between them over Bluetooth. But the iPad can't pair to the iPhone as if the iPhone were an accessory device, allowing GPS data to cross over. With the proper cellular data plan on the iPhone, you can share that internet connection to the iPad over wi-fi, so called "tethering." But this will not share GPS.

This is the Dual GPS receiver I would use with a wi-fi iPad: http://gps.dualav.com/explore-by-product/xgps150a/ It connects to the iPad via Bluetooth and would allow applications like Navionics to do chart plotting, or Waze or Apple Maps to do turn-by-turn directions while driving a car. I have never used my cellular iPad to do turn-by-turn directions, mainly because I have an iPhone mount in the car which is more convenient to glance at to see the next turn.

JTulls · Apr 15, 2015

Sailing related apps on my ipad now are the Navionics app, iRegatta, and AyeTides. I have the purchased version of Navionics so I can get access to the sonarcharts and the community edits, but the free one is pretty good too -- just fewer options for map overlays. You can download the maps when you have wifi and it stores the map on the devices, so you don't need to worry about having an internet connection out on the water. AyeTides gives tides (seems obvious) and I usually just do a quick check before I head out on the water. iRegatta is more of a tactician app -- I'm still learning the ins and outs though so I can't comment too much on that one.

dscribner · Apr 15, 2015

Tim R. said:
We have a Gramin 840xs chartplotter and we use the helm app and Garmin Bluechart mobile. Helm allows us to see and control the CP via wifi connection. Bluechart mobile is a charting app that allows us to create waypoints and routes that can then be uploaded/downloaded to the CP. Bluechart mobile also includes Active Captain which is necessary if you will be doing the ditch. Other apps also have AC but I think Bluechart is the best. Charts for Bluechart are about $50. Bluechart also includes live weather radar via subscription.

I attached the electronics schematic for our boat.

Tim! How the heck are you and the Mrs doing now that you've bugged out from the frozen north, leaving the rest of us to pine? I think we'll have ice out in a few weeks. Still have snow in the yard. Missing it yet?

Tim R. · Apr 15, 2015

dscribner said:
Tim! How the heck are you and the Mrs doing now that you've bugged out from the frozen north, leaving the rest of us to pine? I think we'll have ice out in a few weeks. Still have snow in the yard. Missing it yet?

Hi D, we actually are missing it. We are all three(including Shamus our dog) doing fine. We love the snow and missed our winter activities. The Bahamas wasn't too bad either and we are missing that a little too. We are presently holed up in the Alligator river waiting for weather to cross Albemarle sound in NC and making our way back north to Portland to sail Maine for the summer.