Opinion - Navionics+ phone/tablet app vs. regualar GPS unit

[badrano]

I saw another post about regarding this topic, but the question was different,

I'm curious to know what the thoughts are using the Navionics app vs a standalone GPS like Garmin. I understand there are issues with screen visibility on a tablet vs. a marine GPS, but from the perspective of just having a basic way of using electronic charts for navigation, what are the thoughts?

 

[kaulbr]

For what it's worth, I discovered and started using the Navionics app on my iPhone towards the end of summer. So far I LOVE it. There is a free trial period too where you can try it out (I think it was a few weeks) before you buy. And, it's only like $10/year so if you don't like it, you're not out much. I don't have any experience with standalone marina GPS systems. I'm sure they're much nicer but hard to beat the price and convenience of using the app.

 

[wahlejim]

From my understanding with Navionics, charts are updated more frequently and updates are included in your subscription. I believe on most standalone GPS units, you have to buy updates.

 

[southkogs]

Because I don't need charts very often, Navionics has worked VERY well for me. I've used it quite a bit here in TN as well as down in Florida on the ICW and in the Gulf. (Did a bit of a write up HERE)

I've always been a Garmin fan for navigation (aviation is probably where my bias comes from), but I've been pretty impressed with Navionics. I can't speak to it offshore though.

 

[badrano]

southkogs, nice write up. Your post was back in 2015, so I'm sure there are some more features as well as bug fixes. I'm, for what ever reason, a little old schooled. I like the technology, but I always want the paper charts as backup. I'm not sure if I'm ready to spend the $$ for a hard mount GPS yet since I mostly planning on day time runs and paper charts will suffice.

If I start to go out after sunset, having an electronic chart tied with GPS makes things a little easier...but I will still carry a spot/flood light to light up the shore lines and what's ahead.

A GPS in general probably would have helped yesterday since the waters I was in (Inland waters by the Jersey shore) was at low tide and after the fact, Navionics did a better job (compared to the paper chart) at showing the contours and I would have avoided many of the minor groundings. Yesterday definitely proved the shallow water capabilities of the boat.

 

[dingbat]

I run a 8” MFD and a 9” chart plotter/fish finder on a NMEA 2000 network.

Fuel flow, paddle wheel speed, remote GPS sensor, DSC and AIS position data at the touch of a button.

Running Garmin Blue Charts on both. The Blue charts are more accurate (up to date) than the chart book. My “local knowledge” is better than both.

Needless to say, my chart book hasn’t been out of the cabin in years.

 

[southkogs]

Indeed they have both worked out some bugs and made some nice changes to the app.

When I'm down on the coast, I do check charts, local tide information, etc. I've done a little checking navionics against charts here in TN, and my depth sounder on the boat. Honestly, it's pretty accurate.

 

[badrano]

I run a 8” MFD and a 9” chart plotter/fish finder on a NMEA 2000 network.

Fuel flow, paddle wheel speed, remote GPS sensor, DSC and AIS position data at the touch of a button.

Running Garmin Blue Charts on both. The Blue charts are more accurate (up to date) than the chart book. My “local knowledge” is better than both.

Needless to say, my chart book hasn’t been out of the cabin in years.

This set up I could see as a pro for using a hard mount GPS vs. navionics and this set up is definately on my wish list. I've seen that navionics allows your phone/tablet to connect to a sonar transponder but I haven't read the full details on that feature.

 

[DouglasW]

I understand there are issues with screen visibility on a tablet vs. a marine GPS, but

The tablet and phone are unusable for me because of the fact that I can't see the screen in open daylight, useless. Perhaps you guys have better phones?

You can see that I use eyeglasses ;-)

 

[dingbat]

The tablet and phone are unusable for me because of the fact that I can't see the screen in open daylight, useless.

Dont feel bad....can’t “see” using a cell phone or tablet for navigational purposes and I don’t wear glasses.....lol

 

[southkogs]

The tablet and phone are unusable for me because of the fact that I can't see the screen in open daylight, useless. Perhaps you guys have better phones?

My iPhone actually isn't too bad, and I have a convenient spot where I can get a little shade on it. BUT it is a small screen for navigating on. It just wasn't worth it for me buy anything fancier until I got my Hummingbird. The screen on that is a little bigger and a little brighter, but at the wrong angle you can still have some trouble with it.

When I used the phone down in the Gulf, I was under a bimini or convertible top most of the time which made it pretty easy to see.

 

[Chris1956]

Cell phones and tablets are very susceptible to corrosion. Marine GPS units are fairly corrosion resistant. Let's say you are in bad weather and a wave sprays your cell/tablet with water. That will usually be the end of it's function. A Marine GPS/chartplotter will still work...


Any other questions?

 

[Scott Danforth]

in addition to Chris's comment on water ingress and Dougs comment on not being able to see a cell phone or tablet in the sun (that is where the LCD screens shine over a phone/tablet LED) most cell phones and tablets shut down if exposed to direct sunlight because they over-heat. many times they get so hot the screen will crack.

just having them out in direct sun, even with the screen down causes them to overheat

while some have luck with a tablet or cell phone for navionics, I personally do not because the phone shut down within 2 miles (and that was 3 different phones).

 

[5150abf]

Just spent a couple days tooling around the UP of Michigan in my Miata, wife didn't write down addresses of places we wanted to go and no cell service so we were kinda screwed but the Garmin gps worked fine.

Moral, lots of places to drive out of tower range, very few places on earth aren't covered by satellites so I would go with the gps