I PAD and Charts

[CampDavid]

Santa was good and brought a new IPad Mini (retinal) 16 mb for Xmas. Ok I do not want to sound dumb however here we go.

I believe that this device can be used to add to my existing navigation stuff. Maps and plotting


Would someone give a simple run down on what applications to consider and what might be available for the Florida coast, Northern Bahamas and the Keys.

This will be my first winter in these waters, I have no paper charts ( Yet), so suggestions on what to buy in this area.

I do have a Raymarine C80 and a Navionics 1XG chip.

Here we go, spend, spend spend.

Thanks a Million

Fletch

[rcmpegasus]

I recommend iNavx for the iPad. Works great, charts are easy. Makes a great backup system.

[tartansail]

First, I hope you got the 3G/4G enabled iPad so you have the GPS chip and don't need to buy a separate GPS puck. You don't need to buy a cellular service to get GPS, but you do need the iPad with cellular hardware. If you have wifi only, consider going back and upgrading.

We use iNavX as well and find it very easy to use. We use Navionics charts with it which should be similar to what you're seeing on the Raymarine. The iPad is our primary route planner and our secondary chartplotter underway. We haven't used the Navionic app, but that seems to be a viable alternative based on what others have said.

There are a number of threads on the topic of iPad nav apps. It's worth searching CF and deciding for yourself.

[67Therapy]

Fletch,
I have a non-cellular iPad2 and use a Bad Elf bluetooth GPS. I like the Bad Elf, just wish it would work with my Macbook, not just iOS devices.

The iPad has Navionics and Garmin Bluechart both installed. Both are decent apps. Garmin has Active Captain integration which is nice.

Some other apps I use on the boat:
GoPro app
Cruisers Forum...(I just downloaded Tapatalk and like it better)
Marina Life - a cruising guide
Spot app
Knots - an admitted weakness of mine
Grogs Knots
Hurricane Tracker
Tapatalk

The best use of the iPad is having it next to your head when you're sleeping either off watch or at anchor. Great instant situational awareness...comforting.

[Cotemar]

Garmin blue charts mobile has charts all of USA with Florida and the recommended Explorer charts for the Bahamas and Active Captain integration built in.

[american]

I use an iPad mini with Navionics and a GPS puck from Bad Elf. I also have a Nexus (Android) tablet with Navionics and integrated GPS chip.

Even with redundancy, there have been times when both units decided to stop working - either from dead batteries, lack of GPS signal or some combo of issues. In those moments I was *really* happy to still have charts with some sense of paper planning as a back-up.

[Rick R]

I second iNav-X as well. Cost $50 from the APP store, US charts are free, but now without the magenta line.

An excellent site about charting APPs is here: i-Marine Apps

[Charliemciver]

Get yourself a NMEA to wifi mux/converter like shipmodul's one and bring iNavX alive with your boats instrumentation data. Awesome. Even better with AIS!

[marlinmike]

Navionics app, nice easy to use.

[FSMike]

Last year there were some problems reported concerning use of Navionics in the Bahamas. You need to use programs that utilize Explorer Charts data.

[Hoofsmit]

Navionics app at £39.99 and a Bad elf Bluetooth GPS works well for me. The Bad elf works for a good 24 hrs with logger on between charges that can then be down loaded to other apps like navx and google maps, great for emailing to friends to show where you have been, also as a stand alone gps. The bad elf is the same price as the G3 upgrade for the iPad you just lack the cellular wifi but as above there are other ways around that. The other apps tend not to work so well for Europe as most of the cartography starts to get expensive.