How do you use your iPad/Android for navigation?

[twistedtree]

Here has been a bunch of discussion about the importance of iPads, androids, etc as part of ones navigation electronics suite. I'm interested to hear how people use them on a day to day basis.

Do you use it to mirror your chart plotter/MFD screen? And if so, where and how? Do you carry it around the boat and monitor progress remotely rather than being at the helm? Do you take it up to your fly bridge and use it as a second nav station instead of a second MFD?

Do you use it just as a backup chart plotter in case of failure of your primary device?

Do you use it to explore and plan routes while at home or in the comfort of your salon, and then transfer than info to your main navigation system for actual piloting, or just use your main system without transferring any data?

Do you use it as your primary navigation system rather than using a chart plotter or MFD?

Or anything else?

 

[Gdavid]

I run memory map on 3 different android devices and they serve as my primary and the boat's hardwired plotters as backups. I run a number of different vessels including my bowrider, my father's trawler and various boats at a sailing school, it is great to use the same interface no matter what boat I am on so I am not relearning a different device. The 10" display on my largest tablet is larger than the hardwired displays on all of the boats I frequently run. It is really nice to plan the trip from anywhere (on charts that are always current due to the low price of updates ($15)). There are definitely drawbacks, some can be overcome while others I just live with. The display in full sunlight is not as good as most MFD's, they are not as robust to environmental abuse, gps chip is probably less sophisticated and it takes either a lot of tech savy or significant cost to get them fully integrated with your boat's network. I'm a big fan and I expect it will be the way of the future as they dramatically lower the cost of hardware and provide flexibility of programing and networking.

 

[dhays]

Here has been a bunch of discussion about the importance of iPads, androids, etc as part of ones navigation electronics suite. I'm interested to hear how people use them on a day to day basis.

Great question.

I have an Android phone and a non-cellular iPad. When on the boat, I use my phone as a wifi hotspot for the iPad.

I use the iPad with Nav apps at home or on the boat for some basic planning. I don't set way points on the iPad at this time.

Under way, I have a Bad Elf gps that I plug into the iPad as a backup to my Raymarine plotters.

I have some tide, current, and weather apps on my Anddroid phone that I use a lot. It is quick to check tides near my current location that way.

So far, I find using my Raymarine plotters to be more convenient than using the iPad for primary navigation. If I didn't have a decent electronics suite, then I may think differently.

 

[Jeffrey S]

My iPad is my main display into the internet. I'm probably in front of it for 4-5 hours a day. It's clearly a navigation and planning tool too.

I think iPad's provide the next generation of navigation device combining everything we traditionally think chartplotters are about with the ease-of-use and connectivity of internet devices.

 

[twistedtree]

I suppose I should answer my own question too.

I use mine the same way I do when not on the boat. Email, TF, a little browsing. But none of that has anything to do with navigation.

I do have Navioncs on my iPad, and use it on occasion to look at charts, mostly when flying. I've used it a number of times to figure out what I'm flying over which is fun. But it's never really for any form of navigation.

I also have an older iPad that I keep on the boat and use as a bed-side screen replicator. I have a graphical anchor watch and weather screen on my nav computer that I keep up when we are anchored. Using VNC I screen share that to the iPad, and have the iPad set up to never turn off. If it turns off, it requires fussing to get the screen sharing back up again. So I just keep it plugged in and have a book cover jacket to block the light. But it's great for doing a real quick check of our anchor status and the weather conditions while sleeping.

I also use the same iPad and screen sharing to monitor tank levels while fueling, and sometimes while performing other maintenance tasks.

They are great tools, but for me, not a fit for any sort of primary navigation. Daylight visibility, and water resistance are probably the main reasons. Also reliability of wifi at various extremes of my boat is another, but as Jeffrey S pointed out in another thread, that's a solvable problem with one or more repeaters, or perhaps even just better placement of my base station. But I also only use wifi for portable devices (laptops, phones, ipads). Everything else is wired gigabit ethernet with hard coded address. So my nav gear will all work even of my router dies, and devices will never be waiting around for a DHCP server. All the core equipment depends on is a small gige switch that could be swapped out in about 5 minutes.

 

[CPseudonym]

Looking out the window and a depth sounder was my primary navigation method. Navionics on an iPhone 5 and an iPad mini where my primary "electronic" navigation aids. No auto pilot.

 

[psneeld]

My iPad is my main display into the internet. I'm probably in front of it for 4-5 hours a day. It's clearly a navigation and planning tool too.

I think iPad's provide the next generation of navigation device combining everything we traditionally think chartplotters are about with the ease-of-use and connectivity of internet devices.

I know someone with a Hinckley Picnic Boat that has 2 Ipads at the helm and not much else...even his primary engine displays are on one or both.

Essentially a glass cockpit.

 

[johnrupp]

I use my IPad or IPhone when operating from the flybridge. It mirrors the Raymarine MFD which is located at the lower helm. It allows me to do nearly all of the MFD's functions on the iPad. The only function that comes to mind that you can't do is engage or disengage the auto pilot.

 

[tadhana]

I usually have 2 iPads running in independently but in parallel with my chartplotter. WiFi connection is not necessary as all the content is device resident. Navionics has excellent charts and is the easiest of all systems to update. Their charts are consistently more up to date than any other system. Since we primarily operate from the pilot house and only use the bridge in nice weather, we have no concerns about water resistance. The auto route function is very handy for mid day what/if planning. I don't use it for my primary routing but as an auxiliaryplanning tool it is fantastic.

 

[MV Content]

My boat had no nav devices when I bought her. I started with GPSNavX on my Mac, with a puck gps. After a few months, I installed iNavX on an iPad 2, with its internal gps. I was worried about depending on 'droppable' devices, so I put in a stand-alone Lowrance 7" fixed unit, with dedicated antenna.

I leave BC on July 1st, for a trip to the Caribbean, via the canal, and plan to carry to Europe in a year or two. I've decided to increase the resilience of my Apple network.... the Mac will be the primary, getting its fix and AIS feed from a new Vesper 8000 transponder, with dedicated antenna. One iPad will run iNavx, with fix and AIS from the Vesper, and a second iPad will be always-on, but using its own internal GPS (and AIS from the Vesper). All will have Gribs available, and tide/current data from AyeTides.
I have radar, but that is stand alone, and the AP is from CPT, so that's stand-alone too.

Having relied on Apple for six years in the PNW, I've never experienced any app issues: I have had several panic moments when the puck crapped out, or the iPad got overloaded. I reckon I'll have more than enough redundancy built in to my new array.

I'll let you know!

 

[Lou_tribal]

Here has been a bunch of discussion about the importance of iPads, androids, etc as part of ones navigation electronics suite. I'm interested to hear how people use them on a day to day basis.

Do you use it to mirror your chart plotter/MFD screen? And if so, where and how? Do you carry it around the boat and monitor progress remotely rather than being at the helm? Do you take it up to your fly bridge and use it as a second nav station instead of a second MFD?

Do you use it just as a backup chart plotter in case of failure of your primary device?

Do you use it to explore and plan routes while at home or in the comfort of your salon, and then transfer than info to your main navigation system for actual piloting, or just use your main system without transferring any data?

Do you use it as your primary navigation system rather than using a chart plotter or MFD?

Or anything else?

I use my android tablet for almost all the usage you mentionned. First to plan my route ahead in the evening in my bed. Also along my chart plotter as the display is nicer. Also for redundancy. And finally for ease of use. Can move with it, easy to update maps etc. And finally, it is cheap compared to a chartplotter.

 

[LaBomba]

I have an Ipad and an Iphone, both with Garmin Bluechart and Active captain on them, didn't know about Navionics at the time, and use them primarily to zoom out or in on an area when travelling to get a different view as compared to the Chartplotter. No autopilot so we can look ahead for markers, buoys etc. I also have another chartplotter on the flybridge so it is really not a backup for these units. As others have stated it is also our primary way of keeping in touch and surfing the net so long as we have either a wifi or data signal.

 

[ranger58sb]

We use two Android tablets, only as backups to the chartplotter. Usually running the app with whichever chart type (raster or vector) that's not being displayed on the chartplotter at the time, as a complement.

We might occasionally do some light planning on one of the tablets if it happens to be nearby when we have an idea about a potential cruise... but more likely, planning happens on a laptop with MaxSea.

We seldom bother with waypoints, so we have no huge need for creating waypoints on a tablet and transferring... and our chartplotter is old enough so we'd need to add a cable or an external wireless capability to fool with that anyway... more trouble than it'd be worth, to us.

I can transfer waypoints from MaxSea on the laptop if I want to, via SD card; did it once, just to see how it worked. No great epiphany afterwards...

-Chris

 

[Retriever]

I use an iPad running iNavX and a PC running Coastal Explorer as chartplotters. Both get GPS and AIS data over WiFi from a Vesper Marine XB-8000. The Simrad MFD is used purely for radar.

If I'm taking the dinghy far, I use an iPad running Navionics as a chartplotter. A RAM mount secured to the dinghy seat holds the iPad in a waterproof case.

I use autorouting on Navionics (either iPhone or iPad) to get real-time distance and time to various "what if" destinations. Plotting the next day's route is done on Coastal Explorer...much bigger screen and I can toggle between various types of chart.

I never found any use for the Simrad WiFi module, but I do have the hardware and apps to mirror and/or control the MFD from iOS devices.

 

[Oldersalt]

I bought my 1990 GB 32 late last year. I came with 2 Garmin 2010 plotters. Charts are no longer available, not even on Ebay, so these plotters are basically good as boat anchors.
So....I have gone to Navionics on an iPad as my main chart plotter. Has 90% of the Garmin functionality as is MUCH more user-friendly. Only problem...the depth sounder ONLY shows as a window in the Garmin; at the lower helm there is no stand-alone depth readout. BUT...I just bought for about $150 a SonarPhone wireless unit. The transducer is supposed to be a transom mount, but they say it will work just fine inside the boat, shooting thru the fiberglass hull. The wireless unit mounts in the engine room and they have interfaced with Navionics. I will install it soon and hopefully I will have depth as a window in the Navionics chart at either helm. If all this works, I will remove both Garmin and put them on Ebay. I'm told people buy them, even if totally obsolete, to use as "donor units" for parts to repair other Garmins. Here's hoping...
Oldersalt

 

[BandB]

We're tablet fanatics. We're never without one. We use them for everything. Just a few things. Now some of these things we also do on our phones as they're really miniature tablets when you think about it.

Additional navigational tools.
Access to AC and to these forums
Control A/V Equipment at home and on boat plus DVR's.
Alarms for any boat issues
Check security cameras home and boat
Maintain records of all parts on board and all maintenance. Access all manuals. Record engine checks. Log trips.
Check on business activities
Check and write emails
Skype with people at home and especially our niece
GPS navigation on land.

In our business, every person from the assistant manager position up has a tablet. People spend minimum time at a desk.

I'm sure the list above is just partial and there's much more I'm not thinking of right now.

 

[IRENE]

Our iPad is certainly a valuable backup to the chartplotter, though we do not have GPS capability. The major benefit is that we are paperless with the iPad.

1. Navionics - primary tide/current tables, primary navigational planning, secondary for navigation underway

2. Internet via phone hotspot/booster - marine and local weather, email, home security status, etc.

3. Publications - Wagonners, Volvo Penta docs, etc.

 

[bilge53]

Raymarine suite with upper and lower displays as primary. Navionics on Samsung tab as back up. Charts are within arms reach. Sure beats the old flasher for depth and only old charts at the helm.

 

[Fletcher500]

I have an iPad mounted off the side of the helm, and use Navionics. Love Nav for route planning, fuel burn estimation, etc.

Simrad has an app to mirror the Mdf through Bluetooth. It's ok, but loses connection fairly often.

I also use it for other routine things mentioned. Best 500 bucks I have spent.

It will be interesting to see where the pads end up as far as navigation and other aspects. I was on a boat at a boat show that had four iPads mounted on the helm, and all supposedly integrated..

 

[Crusty Chief]

We used the IPAD 2 with Navionics last year on our cruise, so much so, that we just purchased a new IPAD Pro big tablet and will download Navionics on it. For us, the Navionics has the best of everything. We have older Raymarine chartplotters onboard and use them as our secondary navigation.

The Ipads are our go to devices for email, weather forecast, reservations, parts search and so on. The admiral uses her MacBook for everything and next month it goes in for upgrades like memory, new digital hard drive, and new battery.

We used it last year tied into a 19 inch tv monitor, until we determined that the monitor was causing magnetic interference with the compass and auto pilot. After searching extensively for a monitor that wouldn't cause interference, we purchased the large IPAD. Then I made a cradle out of starboard and mounted that where the monitor was. Covered up the holes and provided a mount for the IPADs. So far everything works as it should. We plan a couple short shake down runs before heading to Alaska in April, just to make sure we have no new issues.

Hope that helps.

 

[cafesport]

Our iPad has become a very handy piece of gear for us. It contains all of our manuals, controls our av system, and navigationally speaking is easier to use than any of the onboard systems except for the paper charts. Having logged over 12k miles using a pad I think I prefer the navionics app over the Garmin, but you can easily run both at the same time and decide for your self. The big drawback with going to an all pad Nav system occurs if you need to use it in bright light or total darkness. The pads are too bright at night and not bright enough when the sun is directly overhead. Other than that if you stick it in a life proof case you can use it anywhere anytime with out any worries.

 

[Bruce B]

In reality my 12.9" iPad is my go to device for...everything!
I have back up nav programs on it, I browse on it, email, view spreadsheets, check weather, write, read...everything that happens 99% of the time.
I save manuals to the Reading List for those times I have no internet. I save pictures from my camera and do basic photo editing.
The only reason I even keep my 6 year old MacBook Pro is for the Windows stuff I ocasionally need (Windows 10 in Parallels) and for the occasional Nav software update for my truck. We will be on the road for the next 4 months and I'm not even sure that I will bring my laptop!
I gave owned a Windows Surface Pro 2, Android and Apple tablets. This iPad Pro is my favorite because it simply works.

By the way, I am forever done with Navionics. I purchased apps from them several times before getting tired of "updates" obsoleting the purchase.
I am currently playing with the Garmin BlueChart app for the obvious reason that we will be getting Garmin electronics and I've become fond of the Nobeltec/Furuno app. These will be my backup programs in the future.
Bruce

 

[Yahoo 1]

One of the 4 iPads aboard.

 

[dhays]

This is a slight digression but I do use my iPad all the time, on the boat and at home. I also use my office computers, home desktop, and my laptop. Not to mention my DroidMax Android phone.

Something that has helped a lot in this are some of the available file sharing programs out there. I have used Dropbox for years and keep all files related to the boat there. This makes it handy when I want to review the purchase survey, a manual, or insurance policy when not at the boat. I can view it at any time with any device.

I also have found that a program called Evernote has been handy as well. Very easy way to create a list, note, etc and have access to it anytime, anywhere. Apps like these have increase the utility of my iPad, phone, laptop, and computers tremendously.

 

[Yahoo 1]

I bought my 1990 GB 32 late last year. I came with 2 Garmin 2010 plotters. Charts are no longer available, not even on Ebay, so these plotters are basically good as boat anchors.
So....I have gone to Navionics on an iPad as my main chart plotter. Has 90% of the Garmin functionality as is MUCH more user-friendly. Only problem...the depth sounder ONLY shows as a window in the Garmin; at the lower helm there is no stand-alone depth readout. BUT...I just bought for about $150 a SonarPhone wireless unit. The transducer is supposed to be a transom mount, but they say it will work just fine inside the boat, shooting thru the fiberglass hull. The wireless unit mounts in the engine room and they have interfaced with Navionics. I will install it soon and hopefully I will have depth as a window in the Navionics chart at either helm. If all this works, I will remove both Garmin and put them on Ebay. I'm told people buy them, even if totally obsolete, to use as "donor units" for parts to repair other Garmins. Here's hoping...
Oldersalt

Hi,
Do you mean the SP200 T Box ?

 

[ranger58sb]

In reality my 12.9" iPad is my go to device for...everything!
I have back up nav programs on it, I browse on it, email, view spreadsheets, check weather, write, read...everything that happens 99% of the time.
I save manuals to the Reading List for those times I have no internet. I save pictures from my camera and do basic photo editing.

I guess I only answered about how we use tablets for direct use of a couple nav apps... but you make a good point.

So I probably could have mentioned we also use various weather apps, tides and current apps and sites, and sometimes destination marina web sites... to augment basic chart work.

We also use ours for occasional e-mail (when we don't have a real keyboard available, or don't want to fool with it), but much more often for recreational reading (books and magazines), and for access to copies of our documentation/manual library (which includes the picture deck of accompanying photos I've added over the years).

In another environment, we've been experimenting with using the tablets for sheet music and tabs/chords/lyrics -- to support our hazy memories -- when we're jamming. That's not so much boating related, given we haven't quite got room for those kinds of instruments aboard.

-Chris

 

[drb1025]

Somebody mentioned Dropbox. I use Coastal Explorer on the boat PC and also have it on a desktop at home that I use for route planning. I use the same route file on both by saving it to a folder in Dropbox. Both machines access the same file. So when I am done route planning at home, I save the file to the Dropbox folder, then when I open CE at the boat, it retrieves the updated file with the current info (once connected to the internet). Relating this to iPad use, for redundancy I export the current route file from CE and import it to a nav app on the ipad and I have all of the routes available for use as a backup with iPad connected to a gps puck.

 

[Obx]

I have a I pad and downloaded Isailor and bought Naveonics charts for the area I wanted.
I used mine to go from Cape Coral to Key West and back, I only used the onboard chart plotter and depth sounder for water depth.

 

[Jeffrey S]

I use Coastal Explorer on the boat PC and also have it on a desktop at home that I use for route planning. I use the same route file on both by saving it to a folder in Dropbox.

It's even easier than that with Coastal Explorer since they support the ActiveCaptain Route Storage & Sharing API. Within CE, routes put into the ActiveCaptain list are automatically synchronized with our server every time ActiveCaptain is updated. It only moves route data if there has been a change. It also downloads all changed routes back to the PC.

So you don't need to export routes and import than through DropBox. Just save them to the ActiveCaptain list within Coastal Explorer. They end up getting backed up on our server too and can also be viewed on the ActiveCaptain website (allowing you to share it with others). And since other apps use the RSS API as well, you could easily move the routes to other apps that don't support import, GPX, and file storage (like Aqua Map for Android or iOS).

I created the API and provided it without license to promote the automatic sharing of routes. Export/move files/import is so error prone and can't always be done. This mechanism works between various apps and is free for the developer and user. If you're using other products that don't support it, bother the developers to add it. I dream of a world where all my routes are easily available on all the apps and products I've purchase (even chartplotters).

 

[sunchaser]

I suppose I should answer my own question too. I use mine the same way I do when not on the boat. Email, TF, a little browsing. But none of that has anything to do with navigation..

We're pretty much the same. Two laptops (one semi retired) , two big MFDs and one additional older Raymarine plotter. Plus the laptop navigation screen shows up on the salon TV so guests or dozers can see what is happening.

The I pad's use is great for surfing when we're with internet. It is also nice when riding on BC, WA or AK ferries so travels can be seen via Navionics. The most important I pad thing for me is pulling up tide and current information from boat bed, AZ or wherever for trip planning.