Which iPad Navigation App is the Best?

[cashgar]

Anyone can help me with the garmin blue charts (iPad) I am not able to pair with the garmin glo Is it possible or not thanks

[Tantalus]

Originally Posted by cashgar

Anyone can help me with the garmin blue charts (iPad) I am not able to pair with the garmin glo Is it possible or not thanks

The Garmin support website has step by step instructions.

[cashgar]

So it is passable ?

[Freerider]

I downloaded "Skipper" for $11, love it.

[Land an]

I use OpenCPN on an XPS laptop (W8 and the screen swivells to become a tablet). I like it. Tried Polar whats its name but never got used to it. I have a Raymarine chartplotter at the helm but i dont use it all for plotting a course only to see where I am on a chart.

XPS is great and is a full scale laptop for other things. Battery life is short though. Thinking of getting the wife an ipad for christmas that I can borrow for use as a chartplotter with OpenCPN.

[Boat Guy]

iNavx for their NOAA charts that are free and updated

Navionics for ease of creating routes

Garmin for Active Captain integration

[Tantalus]

Originally Posted by Land an

I use OpenCPN on an XPS laptop (W8 and the screen swivells to become a tablet). I like it. Tried Polar whats its name but never got used to it. I have a Raymarine chartplotter at the helm but i dont use it all for plotting a course only to see where I am on a chart.

XPS is great and is a full scale laptop for other things. Battery life is short though. Thinking of getting the wife an ipad for christmas that I can borrow for use as a chartplotter with OpenCPN.

But opencpn doesn't run on an Ipad.

[Land an]

iPad won't run. OpenCPN ?? What ? Are you sure ?

[Tantalus]

Originally Posted by Land an

iPad won't run. OpenCPN ?? What ? Are you sure ?

There is an Opencpn forum on here, you can ask them if you'd like. Last I heard it discussed on there there were no plans do do so. If it was available, I can assure you, I would have it. I'd love to see it on Ipad, but no joy. Sorry!

[s/v 'Faith']

I like the Garmin app as a backup, free app and $29 for the charts..... Well worth it IMHO.

[LoganK]

I love using Spyglass as a backup navigation, works great at sea.

[Vlad70]

Originally Posted by nautical62

Regardless of the app used, I don't think an Ipad, is a true substitute for a marine GPS, at least not outside in the cockpit. It's not built for a marine environment, though a good case can help to some degree. It's not hard wired, and I have yet to own any plug in device that didn't eventually corrode when constantly used in the cockpit. It also heated up quite a bit some of the time and once even shut itself off for that reason. (may not be true of other nav. apps)

Also, my Ipad will not charge directly from a 12-volt outlet, (Iphone or Ipod touch will) requiring an inverter to be used, which again is a limitation to using it in the cockpit as well as a power consumption and charging issue compared to my hard wired GPS. Again, this may not be a limitation for everyone, but it was for me.

Also, there are good, hard-wired GPS units costing far less than the price you mentioned.

Very suitable for cockpit :big grin:
20 000+ miles without chart-plotter





it perfectly charged from 12v, just need little bit more power 1A+, You can change car charger or install something more waterproof like blue sea charger or any other sealed charger.


add to the list of program - SEAiq Open - good alternative to OpenCPN on iPad, may be on of the most advanced program.

http://www.seaiq.com/p/seaiq-usa-1.html

[t380029]

I use Navionics on an iPad Air with a Bad Elf Pro Bluetooth GPS, Lifeproof NUUD Case and RAM mount. In 2013, the Navionics App was marginally useful. The updates over the past year have really improved it. I also like the fact that the charts and data are continually updated and SONAR data is crowd sourced. Government Charts are also included, but I use the Navionics charts. Biggest remaining issue for me is that some NAVAIDS and features do not appear when at large scale (zoomed out). Chart plotter is a Raymarine E, but I now use it mostly for RADAR. With the Go Pro I'm independent of the network and can take the iPad anywhere below and it still has a fix. I leave the Go Pro under the dodger. I've got 12 V outlets at the helm so battery life is no issue.
Dodger and Bimini are always up so I never had a sunlight viewing issue.
When the iPad is in danger of getting doused by spray or driving rain, I unplug the power and close the charge port. Internal battery life is not long enough for anything but daysailing which is why I would not make a passage without a purpose built chart plotter backed up by paper charts.
I also have a stand alone hand held GARMIN with Blue Charts as a back up and I do like the Blue Chart graphics.
I originally got the tablet for its other uses and was surprised by it usefulness while sailing.
Mike Bolon



Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Livia]

We use our iPad at the helm in the South Pacific sun, no prob. We like Navionics charts for the regions we have been to but have some frustrations with inavx.

Electronic charting on Estrellita: iPad, iNavX and Navionics ~ SV Estrellita 5.10b

[pesarsten]

VLAD70 --- what case is that for the Ipad? What mount?