Thinking of Developing an App
- Thread starter PGIJon
- Start date
I actually like those options ... the log book particularly. I've also started my own spreadsheet to sort out the equipment and rigging items that I both want to install and have installed. An app to do this would be useful.
I got so frustrated trying to read all the pros and cons of various lines to use on the boat, and I wanted to have a spreadsheet that provided a basic description of the line, the intended use (i.e. halyards, sheets, control, etc.), length, line diameter, weight, strength, stretch, price, manufacturer, supplier. There is an overload of information that I could not remember after searching thru website to website. I started the spreadsheet and then fed in the datapoints, particularly price points from about 6 or 7 different providers, such as SBO, Defender & others (but I still buy my lines from SBO). Obviously, the price and availability is variable and needs to be updated. Also the products may change. Anyway, the spreadsheet is immensely useful, but it requires a mountain of input. An app to create the spreadsheet of options just by entering simple details like the product, length and diameter would be useful to me.
I didn't mean to be flip about the use of apps. I just don't really want to use them as a toy. I put a very sophisticated app on my iPhone to track snow skiing a few years ago when we were on vacation. It was developed by a guy who does this sort of thing for fun. It provided amazing detail for the events of each day we were at Steamboat Springs and Vail. In the end though, it is essentially a toy to provide information that I quickly forget about. The days of skiing were recorded in immense detail, but these particular days of skiing basically merge into my memory no differently than the hundreds of other days that were/are memorable, so the act of recording them was really not so special afterall (except for a few minutes of marveling at what was recorded). Aside from that, the drain on the battery was ridiculous, and one day my battery went dead because it wasn't fully charged when we started out in the morning.
Take a look at Boatlogger. It may already have what you're looking for and more. I thought it might be the answer for me, as I'm lousy about keeping a log. What I found was that I forget to turn the logging on, forget to turn it off (I've logged my boat trip all the way home in the car before). I forget to add relevant details, etc etc. So I pretty much quit using it for logging. I do use my Navionics app to log legs of any real trips we take, but that app lacks the ability to add any detail to the log.
What I do like about Boatlogger, is that if you have the patience, and attention to detail, you can really make the app track whatever you want. It also has the ability to upload relevant pictures, organize picture albums of boat upgrade projects, etc.
http://www.boatlogger.com/#
Besides the website and personalized web page for your boat, there's a complementary phone app that uploads the log to the website.
What I do like about Boatlogger, is that if you have the patience, and attention to detail, you can really make the app track whatever you want. It also has the ability to upload relevant pictures, organize picture albums of boat upgrade projects, etc.
http://www.boatlogger.com/#
Besides the website and personalized web page for your boat, there's a complementary phone app that uploads the log to the website.
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I live about 15 miles (less, as the crow flies) from our lake. Sunday, I was looking at the Windfinder forecast, and looking at tree movement out the window. I decided it would be what I call a "teaser" day, when there's enough of a puff to get across the lake, then you sit there and wait 20 minutes for a puff to get you maybe half-way back. I decided to have a slacker Sunday morning (at about the time I came to that decision, I also had a late Second Breakfast. It was more around the time for Elevensies, but apparently my Hobbit meal schedule is a bit off.) So, eventually I decided I needed a bike ride, and headed out for the 40 mile lake loop. About half-way through, I got a text from a fellow club member who lives farther than I do, asking if I was at the lake, and how was the wind? Heh, he got a video of racing in the distance, and my assessment "There has been a breeze, but not very consistent. I expect it would be sailable, but a bit of a teaser, too. Relaxing enough sailing."
Sooooo... short story long, there might be a market for such an app. The biggest issue is probably how to quantify conditions in a meaningful way, and how to build enough of a database or enough participants to get meaningful results. I believe there are plenty of friend finder or dating apps that show you where registered members are located with respect to your position. Probably not too hard to come up with something.
Sooooo... short story long, there might be a market for such an app. The biggest issue is probably how to quantify conditions in a meaningful way, and how to build enough of a database or enough participants to get meaningful results. I believe there are plenty of friend finder or dating apps that show you where registered members are located with respect to your position. Probably not too hard to come up with something.
Same here. An APP would do me no good anyway. I still love my flip phone
It's a shame to see people with their face looking into their smart phone all day. Just curious, if the App says "great day for sailing" just what does that mean? What's great for one may not be for another.