iPad Chart Applications

[Freestyle]

Anyone have a recommendation about the best iPad Chart App. There are several ranging from $5 to $50. Is this a get what you pay for deal or is there something in the middle?

Bruce

Freestyle
1985 62 CPMY
Tampa

 

[OBXTucker]

Navionics get my vote hands down. I run it on my Droid and I'm pretty sure they have it for Apple products.
Active Captain is another great product, along with Marine Weather Pro.

 

[Pascal]

I use Charts and tides, INavx and eSeachart.

CnT in vector which i dont like but it has Active Captain data and allows update

Inavx is raster but the chart selection is a little clumsy and doesn't support AC


ESeaChart is the newest, has raster and AC but doesn't not let you update AC

It depends on your needs. I use on active captain and contribute a lot of data so for me that s a key feature. Also CnT has a very convenient tide and current function

 

[MikeP]

IMO the Ipad/app http://www.inavx.com/ makes a better GPS chartplotter than a GPS chartplotter does plus it's far easier to update the charts. BUT unless you have a 3G Ipad, you will need a GPS thingie like this since there is no GPS in regular ipad. Actually, I'm not sure the 3g Ipad has a real GPS receiver, I think it uses assisted GPS using the cell towers. http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Elf-Receiver-iPhone-66-channel/dp/B0035Y7ZJ2

The downside is that although the Ipad is much better than a laptop for reading outside in bright light, it's still not as easy to see as a dedicated GPS.

 

[carolinacoast]

with an Ipad 2 and the $34 navionics eastern seaboard you are very well covered. I use Opencpn for planning and as a backup to my garmin with a usb pigtail. I prefer the RNC or raster charts on a laptop. that setup is completely free. I use verizon on my droid, and att on the ipad to cover all bets. I have used an ipad offshore on a sailboat with just the GPS and it was faster than any chartplotter on board. Times sure have changed.

to echo Pascal, the Active Captain site is a great supplement on the ICW. we used it to choose a restaurant nearby to our anchorage, and it had reviews of all of the nearby business establishments from cruisers. shoaling, fuel prices, marina reviews are all there on a chart or a google earth looking aerial. the chart overlays are current too.

 

[Finalee]

Installed InaVx on my new a1460 IPAD . Originally had the I1458, no GPS , so went back to Best Buy they upgraded me charging only the difference. The salespeople assumed all gen 4 iPads had GPS. they do not.

Can't wait to try it. Sure it will be good.

 

[gbharrington]

Yesterday's Panbo newsletter has a great review of the newest addition regarding this topic.
http://www.panbo.com/archives/2013/...ne_navigation_app_for_ipad_on_the_market.html
The price is right and it has Active Captain support.

 

[Pascal]

I haven't tried the new nobletec app but from the screen shot I see one flaw. That compass rise takes way too much precious real estate space on the screen...

Since my previous post on this thread, many more apps have come on line and a few months back after my laptop failed i went to a 128gig ipad with built in GPS ( again, all cell data iPads have the built in GPS evening you don't activate the data service, the wifi only versions do not and require an external receiver). The built in GPS is as accurate as any other external or marine GPS.

I also use a lifeproof case which is waterproof to 6' so no worries if i take it in the tender

So far the app I like the most is the recently released garmin app. Works well, includes active captain data, easy to read, etc. the Bahamas chars are fantastic which is important for us.

Ipad is readable outside, much better than a laptop or iPhone.

 

[LIBERTY]

I love iSailor. As I recall, the ap was free or nearly so. The charts are mostly $5 per huge region. They look great and updates are free. Lots of features. When blue-toothed to Garmin glo provides pinpoint accuracy. A friend of mine just returned from 1800 NM cruise from NC to west coast FL and back using only the iSailor I set up for him. It is worth mentioning that his previous experience has been over-nighters in the local area.

 

[jmagel]

I love iSailor. As I recall, the ap was free or nearly so. The charts are mostly $5 per huge region. They look great and updates are free. Lots of features. When blue-toothed to Garmin glo provides pinpoint accuracy. A friend of mine just returned from 1800 NM cruise from NC to west coast FL and back using only the iSailor I set up for him. It is worth mentioning that his previous experience has been over-nighters in the local area.

This looks great -- thanks for the tip. I was just about to spend $50 on navionics. Worth a test drive for $5. Oh and I like their homepage as well ( http://www.isailor.us ). Who knew "professional" sailors looked like that?

 

[kwerges]

I saw one reference to running charts on a Droid application vs. Ipad's. Are you running it on a Samsung Galaxy? Looking to buy one or the other, and I'm looking for someone who's done a comparison...