Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

[l008com]

This started because I saw a handheld marine GPS on sale at West Marine for $150. It had a color screen to view charts, but it was absurdly small. I look at it and thought, my iphone screen is WAY bigger than that.
Duh. My iPhone screen is bigger, and has super high resolution. It also has GPS built in, and my boat's stereo has a dock cable that charges the phone as it plays tunes. So I started searching and there are a few apps available.

I'd love to hear from people that actually use these apps.
iNavX is one of them. It's $50, but seems to have fairly good reviews.
There's one called eSeaChart that's only $8.
Charts&Tides is another one. $20. Reviews aren't stellar but they're ok. It appears to use redrawn maps, not the raw NOAA charts. This is good for viewing, bad for getting the most up to date maps.

I'm not looking for advanced features. Mainly I just want to track my current position on the charts. If I can also get some interesting information like total distance traveled, that would be nice. But I'd opt out of those features if I could get one of the sub-$10 apps that can track me on NOAA charts and track me well.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

It appears to use redrawn maps, not the raw NOAA charts. This is good for viewing, bad for getting the most up to date maps.

Unlike street maps, most nautical maps have not been updated in 25 years. Most, longer than that.

If you can see an Iphone chart on a pitching, rolling boat, you have better eyes than me.

 

[l008com]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

Really? I keep reading that they update the charts "weekly"?

 

[sasto]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

I use Navionics.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

I use Navionics.

x2. You'll be pleasantly surprised ... and only $9.99

 

[NYBo]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

Really? I keep reading that they update the charts "weekly"?

The USCG Local Notice to Mariners and the Light List, yes; charts, no.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

I get navagational updates constantly during fog or dark nights.

I lower the anchor about 10'.

 

[Don S]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

I get navagational updates constantly during fog or dark nights.

Why? Is someone out in the fog and at night changing the land and navigation markers?

I lower the anchor about 10'

Why would you want to drag an anchor through the water at night and in the fog? That would make it very difficult to control the boat like that.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

+3 with Navionics. If the price is higher than you want to pay, download AppSniper. It's free. You put in what you are looking for and it will alert you when it goes on sale.

Only problem is that the marine GPS will eat your battery quickly if you're actually using it to navigate.

 

[l008com]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

About battery issues, my stereo has a dock connector so power won't be an issue. I'll check out Navionics!

 

[l008com]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

When you say "Navionics", do you mean "Marine&Lakes: USA"?? There are a ton of apps in the store by Navionics and the way they list them makes it really hard to tell which is which.

 

[l008com]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

Also, to the people who use "Navionics" on a GPS enabled iPhone, how accurate is the tracking? I hope to be able to use this app to navigate through the narrow deep part of channels and what not. Slow inland stuff, not out in the ocean. I mean ill use it there too but saltwater rivers are the most important place I'd like GPS.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

Marine&Lakes: USA is the app you want. As far as accuracy goes, there are two separate issues: (1) the accuracy of the GPS satellite information received and displayed (which is excellent for my purposes), and (2) the accuracy of the chart for the waters you boat in. Only someone who has used Navionics on the specific rivers and channels you boat on can vouch for the chart accuracy at that specific location.

 

[l008com]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

I should buy the app and take one of the MBTA ferries to test it out

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

I tested my Garmin by driving around in a car. Then asked it to guide me home. Very safe EASY & ACCURATE way to test EVERYTHING ....except.....the waterway chart data chip or download.

Input your water data. Do a simple run on ...KNOWN ...water ways & distances..........That is about all you can do.

I still carry plastic covered maps & a candle. Ok...You can use a flash light.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

As a reminder about FOG & electronic navigation.

I was fishing very close to shore on a rockledge . Fog forms in about 10 minutes. Cannot see 10 ' in my 16' aluminum.short shaft boat. I hear the sound of a big boat getting louder. Then I hear voices. I call out to them.

" Do you know where you are going."
We think so. We are headed for Cal's docks.
Well you are going to park next to me in 18" of water VERY SOON. Back up FAST. Get the hell out of here!! GO STRAIGHT BACK. NO TURNING AT ALL.

SEE. I told you we can not trust this electronic crap in fog !!!!

Sound of engines reving up in reverse. They made it out OK.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

Also, to the people who use "Navionics" on a GPS enabled iPhone, how accurate is the tracking? I hope to be able to use this app to navigate through the narrow deep part of channels and what not. Slow inland stuff, not out in the ocean. I mean ill use it there too but saltwater rivers are the most important place I'd like GPS.

The Navionics maps for the iPad and iPhone are fine as an emergency backup, but I would recommend strongly not to use them as your primary means of navigation. There is a greater delay in the signal receiving and updating than on a true GPS and I believe their zoom only brings you down to approx 175' across the screen. 50' of missed navigation can play hell on your lower unit and prop (if you're lucky).

If you truly need a GPS for marine navigation (inland is tougher navigation than offshore), please spend the money and get a mounted or handhelp marine rated GPS or chart plotter.

 

[l008com]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

To the guy that made the comment about looking at the maps on such a small screen... that IS going to be a slight issues. The iPhone app renders it's maps at the low resolution of the iPhone 3. So it's very blocky and un-precise on an iphone 4 / 4s.

 

[Skeeterbait]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

Take a look as Cabelas' Recon app before deciding. In my area, Recon covers some bodies of water that Navionics does not and vice versa. Free to download the app and see if you like it. You can switch from topo, to terrain, to streets, and even aerial imagery. The free app works where you have cellular service. The subscription is $29 per year and for that you can store maps and imagery for areas where you have no cell service, and you also get depth contours on certain bodies of water.

 

[mark1905]

Re: Anyone Use Chartings Apps for iPhone/iPad?

+3 with Navionics. If the price is higher than you want to pay, download AppSniper. It's free. You put in what you are looking for and it will alert you when it goes on sale.

Only problem is that the marine GPS will eat your battery quickly if you're actually using it to navigate.

Or you just jailbreak your phone, install Installous, and never pay for another app again.