I-Pad as GPS ???

jrowan · Mar 20, 2012

I know some boaters in my marina, (that is powerboater smokers, not sailors) that use I Pads for GPS. Just kidding they're nice guys, and have toolboxes & fridges that want for nothing. An I Pad or I phone can certainly work as a GPS in a pinch (they use Nav-X), but read the disclaimers on them. They are not water resistent AT ALL. Moisture & salt air will corrode them, and a freak splash of a cresting wave into the cockpit & they're done for. Garmin units on the other hand are deigned to be used in a marine environment. They are at least tested to be fairly water & corrosion resistant. I have had 3 Garmin units over the years, all of em were tough & durable. The GPS 76 color hand held model GPS can be had new for a couple of hundred bucks. I upgraded to the Garmin 440S 4" screen with a built in depth sounder which is a great unit for around $500. I would not sail without it. In my opinion phones are for talking on & tablets for surfing the net. I would not depend on them for something as crucial as navigation. I would at a minimum, get some kind of water resistent cover for anything electronic that U care about. That said, nothing is more reliable then a compass & paper chart books.

longterm · Mar 21, 2012

GreenLight said:
I recently received an ad for the new I-Pad which looked like it might have the capability to work as a GPS. Possibly with a much larger screen and at a lower price. I don't paticularly want to chart waypoints or anything, I just want to miss the rocks and shoals.
So, I did what any person my age would do and I asked my son. He replied "there's an app for that!" and provided me with several web addresses:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/motionx-gps-hd/id370488535?mt=8
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inavx-marine-navigation/id286616280?mt=8
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/transas-isailor/id398456162?mt=8
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/isailgps/id433950540?mt=8

He also cautioned me that while some of these look really good they are in the business of selling their product and I should ask other sailers what their experiences have been using a i-pad or similar device as a GPS.

Does anyone have any experience with this or suggestions?

I have an iPad and Nav-X, and have a Catalina 30.

I love my iPad and am using it to type this, but it's not great in bright sunlight; I haven't tried Nav-X on my boat yet, but can't imagine using it anywhere but in the cabin. I'm not worried about water so much as I think the screen would be too hard to see unless I have my bimini up.

sinnettc · Mar 21, 2012

They do make waterproof bag type "cases" I think. Either way, I don't think I'd depend solely on iPad for navigation. Also, IIRC you have to get the 4G (or older 3G) version to get GPS; the wifi version doesn't have it.

I use a netbook with OpenCPN for route planning and then transfer the waypoints/routes over to my chartplotter (Lowrance HDS-5) on an SD card. After we sail I transfer the track info back to the laptop so I can keep a record of how many miles we've done each year. Not sure I could do that with an iPad without buying some kind of adapter for the SD card.

longterm · Mar 21, 2012

sinnettc said:
They do make waterproof bag type "cases" I think. Either way, I don't think I'd depend solely on iPad for navigation. Also, IIRC you have to get the 4G (or older 3G) version to get GPS; the wifi version doesn't have it.

You're right; only 3G (or the new 4G) iPads have GPS.

longterm · Mar 21, 2012

sinnettc said:
After we sail I transfer the track info back to the laptop so I can keep a record of how many miles we've done each year. Not sure I could do that with an iPad without buying some kind of adapter for the SD card.

Actually, it's very easy to transfer data to and from an iOS device; FileMaker Go runs on iOS, Macs and PCs, and you can use a DB on the iPad and then open it on a laptop or desktop. Or you can store data in text files and use Dropbox to work with them on both platforms.

I'm a FileMaker developer by trade and have been toying with the idea of writing some sort of solution for sailors. Not sure how many people would se it though...

Bob

Scosta · Mar 22, 2012

There are many apps for navigation using an I pad. For inexpensive Simple Charts is good. For a few dollars iNavx is good. There are brackets made to hold the I pad at the helm if you desire and a zip lock type bag is your " water proofing". It works and the Raytheons and their kind will be hard pressed to continue charging the current prices for their products. For the prices on pads you could get a new one each year and have the latest technology for the same price as is currently charged for a simple display module. Compared to the multiple function displays ie chart plotters you can buy a pad for each cabin in the boat.

jrowan · Mar 22, 2012

It would be nice if U could find a tough water proof case that had bouyancy built into it, so that it floated. That way at least you'd have a chance at retrieval should it go overboard. We lost a digital camera over the side last year at the marina, but luckily the case floated and we got it back without it being ruined. I don't doubt that the I phone will work as a GPS, but I do have my doubts as to their durabiity in a marine, salty enironment.

longterm · Mar 22, 2012

jrowan said:
It would be nice if U could find a tough water proof case that had bouyancy built into it, so that it floated. That way at least you'd have a chance at retrieval should it go overboard. We lost a digital camera over the side last year at the marina, but luckily the case floated and we got it back without it being ruined. I don't doubt that the I phone will work as a GPS, but I do have my doubts as to their durabiity in a marine, salty enironment.

The biggest issue, having had an iPhone since 07 and an iPad since day one, is sunlight; the iPad isn't going to be very visible out in the cockpit, unless it's a cloudy day or you have a bimini up. I'll try it Saturday and report back; I have Nav-X.

GorillaToast · Mar 23, 2012

I've installed a articulated tv mount on the inside of the cabin bulkhead for my iPad the pad is encased in a water resistant plastic box with an otter-type skin. The screen i type on is not even the ipad sreen but a plastic cover. The boat is still in my garage getting a refit, so I don't yet know if I'll be able to read it from the cockpit, but any crew member could sit in the cabin and direct me, just like if I had to rely solely on paper charts.

I-Pad as GPS ???

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