posted 02-24-2011 06:43 AM ET (US)         

quote:

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One problem with the Navionics, it requires cell phone service for real time use, the maps are not pre-loaded on the iPhone.

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posted 02-24-2011 12:20 PM ET (US)            

Tony

posted 02-24-2011 05:37 PM ET (US)            

I have both versions one on my Iphone and one on my Samsung Galaxy Tab

It's an excelent app for the price considering how much the chart is for our plotters

posted 02-24-2011 05:56 PM ET (US)            

I highly recommend the PC/Mac Navionics program.

posted 02-24-2011 07:31 PM ET (US)            

I like my desktop Navionics chart to "cruise around" looking for shoals and depth changes for fishing. It also has tide and current charts that I can read at the comfort of my home office rather than bouncing around on the water.

Just today, I was checking out Tomales Bay on the PC version. I also looked around Seattle and Bimini Island in Florida. All on a big screen with fast refresh rates.

All for $25.

posted 02-24-2011 07:32 PM ET (US)            

http://www.navionics.com/

posted 02-25-2011 01:49 AM ET (US)            

App store, here I come!

posted 02-25-2011 12:24 PM ET (US)            

Cell phones mounted on small boat consoles or helms have HIGH risk to fall, get wet. Refs avail.

Tuco only asks about the apps but the question implies and leanging towards a cell phone becoming a inexpencive Marine GPS. Beware, this is a recipe for disaster when you "really" need a GPS to navigate.

Warren has the right idea, cell phones are a GREAT backup in case you loose 12v power on your primary GPS.

Normally I would suggest ANY navigation aid is an asset but in this case, I fear a cell phone as a primary GPS will lead to a false sense of security. Was this paragraph redundant?

posted 02-25-2011 12:55 PM ET (US)            

We get fog where I boat -- thick, miserable fog at any time of the year, sometimes without much warning at all -- and I've limped home on several occasions via GPS. No fun at all, but consider the alternative...

posted 02-25-2011 01:51 PM ET (US)            

Not sure what you mean by consider the alternative?

My reply isnt directed at you or the experianced members who comment/advise and totally understand where I am coming from.

In fact, my logic is inspired by your post about the guy who lost his life crabbing near Bodega Bay last week. Obvioulsy this guy had a false sense of security, lack of good judgement.

I read 10 times more threads than I comment on so Ive gotta believe lots of others do too. So here we have a young boater who buys into the unsinkable Whaler hype...yes it is unsinkable but only an asset if you are still alive and physically able to hold on...LIFE JACKETS are unsinkable. Anyway, this guy now reading CW threads, I am concerned this inexperianced person might consider a GPS cell phone in the same context as a unsinkable hull, which is better than a hull that will sink, just as a cell phone GPS is probably better than none at all but they BOTH imply a false sense of security.

posted 02-25-2011 03:55 PM ET (US)            

quote:

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AIS ap would be nice as well

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There is "ship finder" :) but need a continuous network web access, not very reliable normally port/coastal only, but intresting.

posted 02-25-2011 07:41 PM ET (US)            

I use this site to track Ships and Tows ETA's on my home/office desktop. Now that Sprint offers unlimited data plans I can afford, soon to have a smart phone that is hot spot enabled to use laptop or Ipad on the tug, pickup, whaler...wherever. A helm mounted AIS wont cover as many bases.

posted 02-25-2011 10:59 PM ET (US)            

My iPad is the G3 version but I had "Enable G3" turned OFF as I did not want to risk paying international roaming charges. The iPad's internal GPS always had us located within a few seconds of starting the application. And we used the application throughout the BVIs.

If I had not purchased the G3 model then the iPad would not have an internal GPS and would have relied on wifi hot spots to determine location. That would not have helped us at all.

So if you are considering the purchase of an iPad, make sure that you get the G3 version as you can then use it as a GPS, even if you never enable the G3 capability.

Also, if you take the iPad and Navionics application to the Caribbean, make sure that you download all of the charts that you need before you leave a wifi hot spot. Just purchasing the application does not put all of the charts on your phone or iPad—you have to download the charts after purchasing the application. Just start the application, zoom out, select an area, click on Menu, then click on download chart. There is no additional charge, but you do have to take the time to download the areas you want. I suppose that you could download all of the charts if needed.

posted 02-26-2011 08:58 AM ET (US)            

quote:

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Or even, what good do they do you on a laptop with no GPS

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What makes you think laptops etc don't have GPS ?

Long before GPS was integrated into smartphones and PDA's small bluetooth and compact flash units etc were available many of these would work with laptops providing you had the map software to read these devices :)

Of course Navionics laptop/PC software is a planning tool only so no GPS interface

I still have a little bluetooth one by Nokia that also had a magnetic base for extrnal mounting

posted 02-26-2011 11:41 PM ET (US)            

The answer is no. I believe Steve is correct, the $25 cheapo Navionics PC package does not interface with a gps.

But for $25, I have charts of the entire USA including Alaska, Hawaii and the Bahamas, Great Lakes, Mississippi River that I can scan with my 27 inch monitor. :-)

Isn't technology cool?

posted 02-27-2011 02:42 AM ET (US)            

AIS is just too cool. That is great info especially in and out of San Francisco Bay where there is lots of traffic.

Standard Horizon has a VHF radio with AIS built in.

http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts& ProdCatID=83&encProdID=A2C2F4EB2A092075389DC4199A79B6C1&DivisionID=3& isArchived=0

I want one!

posted 02-27-2011 01:43 PM ET (US)            

POLAR NAVY
http://www.polarnavy.com/

posted 02-27-2011 04:45 PM ET (US)            

I have one :) is the good news the bad news I can get it to talk to my Lorwance HDS-5's as my one is the original GX2100 from last year that needs a 200USD multiplexer or a HDS8 or 10 with dual NMEA ports

The new GX2150 has the multiplexer built in so if you need a good deal on a nearly new white GX2100 drop me a line :)

Else

There is a really good website http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/default.asp?_SetCurrentVersion=EN with lots of resources

There is some good free PC software out there that even allows you to scan or use free maps and digitise the scale etc

posted 02-27-2011 05:37 PM ET (US)            

I was disappointed recently when I discovered that the Garmin g2 U.S.A. chart chip that I bought for my handheld GPS does not have complete coverage for the Great Lakes. It only includes the U.S. portion plus some basic information for the Canadian portion of the Great Lakes. If I want full Great Lakes coverage, I will have to spend another $160 and get the Canadian chart card.

posted 02-28-2011 12:59 PM ET (US)            

BTW, I just had my first chance to test the iPhone Navionics set-up yesterday, and it performed well. I cruised down the Petaluma River into San Pablo Bay (the upper west arm of the San Francisco Bay) down as far as the Pump House, and matched the performance of the iPhone with my Lawrence chartplotter. Spot on, and easier to read in the sunlight than my Garmin handheld. Very pleased (and still very cold the next day...though clear, calm and sunny yesterday, it was in the low 40s; considering the dreaded wind chill factor from my 25-30 mph cruise ~40 statute mile roundtrip cruise, brrrr!).

posted 03-04-2011 09:44 AM ET (US)            

--display visibility in sun light

--user input using keyboard and mouse or touchpad

--damage to laptop from water splashing

--convenient operation from 12-volt power

posted 03-04-2011 02:51 PM ET (US)            

Your comments apply equally to any non marinised laptop/Ipad/Tablet/Smartphone.

Most good laptop OEM provide what was commonly called an airplane adapter kit for running from 12/24v supply reducing the requiremnts of an inverter for 110/240V laptop chargers.

The connectivity and availability of commercial marine products for laptops/macbooks for those with a bigger budget makes them an invaluable tool that our little mobile platforms cannot even get close.

Of course most of these are outside BW user requirements or budgets.

posted 03-05-2011 12:51 AM ET (US)            

I cannot imagine that someone would make a marine GPS receiver and chart plotter product that needed 19-volts to run, and then suggest the buyer also buy a convertor or adaptor to run it from 12-volts. A truly marine-ready computer should be built to run from 12-volts directly.

posted 03-05-2011 01:57 AM ET (US)            

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=168&pID=416

You might be able to find one for less than $500.