Navigation app

[Toolsntoys]

Hi all. Has anyone used the Navionics GPS App. I will be bringing my Hatt home in a few weeks from MD To CT the boat doesn't have any real chart plotter or navigation equipment. I am deciding if I want to remove my ray marine 125 from my cruisers express to temporary bring the Hatt home. A friend at dinner last night said that they used the Navionics app on there I-pad and was very impressed with its accuracy and chart plotting ability. I whis I had the ability to add the proper Nav equipment but will not be purchasing that until after the refit is complete. Thank. Pete

 

[Glory]

I would get some things that doesn't rely on cell service, and if you go that route down load the charts you will need in advance.

And get paper charts!!

JM

 

[SeaEric]

I have a Navionics app on my Samsung tablet. It looks better than my Garmin. I have never actually used it to navigate though. My tablet does not require a cell signal for the nav app to work. It sees the satellites directly.

 

[bobk]

There are a number of apps that operate with downloaded maps and only require a true GPS signal. I would suggest you get one that has downloaded Active Captain data as well as this will provide a lot of valuable information.

Bobk

 

[Freeebird]

I have the Navionics app on my iPhone and am always amazed at how much more detail I can get than on most dedicated chartplotters. You don't need cell signal for it to work.

 

[rob71]

I have been using the "Time Zero" Navionics app on my IPad for a couple years now. Paid about $50 for SE United States charts. I used it to deliver from No. Carolina to Florida west coast. Always cell coverage with AT&T.
Great app!
Of course paper or other charts as a backup always.
Capt. Rob

 

[Toolsntoys]

I know I use my I-pad for gps on land and don't need cell service once I typed in the address. The only thing that is scary is once I leave the dock I'm committed to a 350 mile trip. The Navionics app has good reviews

 

[Freeebird]

I have been using the "Time Zero" Navionics app on my IPad for a couple years now. Paid about $50 for SE United States charts. I used it to deliver from No. Carolina to Florida west coast. Always cell coverage with AT&T.
Great app!
Of course paper or other charts as a backup always.
Capt. Rob

Time Zero isn't a Navionics app. Just sayin...

 

[Pascal]

You don't need cell service to use a GPS app !!

But your iPad needs to have the cell chipset even if not activated with a carrier as the wifi only models do not have GPS capabilities

I ve been using Garmin blue chart on iPad for a couple of years, mostly in the bahamas where the charts are incredibly accurate. Love it. Device accuracy is as good as marine plotters

Make sure you get a lifeproof waterproof case though. I prefer the nud model without screen cover. Much clearer. It s fine in the shade but will overheat if left in direct sunlight too long

 

[barkdee]

Purchased and used Navionics yesterday and it worked ok. Had some quirks and
some things that didn't seem to work but I never read the manual either. It took
me offshore 20mi and pointed me home just fine. For $15 it seems a bargain.

 

[Toolsntoys]

Purchased and used Navionics yesterday and it worked ok. Had some quirks and
some things that didn't seem to work but I never read the manual either. It took
me offshore 20mi and pointed me home just fine. For $15 it seems a bargain.

The Navionics I saw for iPhone is 9.99. And for iPad is 49.99.

 

[Freeebird]

Purchased and used Navionics yesterday and it worked ok. Had some quirks and
some things that didn't seem to work but I never read the manual either. It took
me offshore 20mi and pointed me home just fine. For $15 it seems a bargain.

You got a manual?

The only issue I've run into is the Auto-Routing which cost extra and just plain didn't work. I swapped a few emails with them, and they said they were trying to work out the glitches. They apparently have an updated version, but I would like to have somebody confirm that it actually works before I spend the extra money for nothing again.

 

[krush]

I just bought MX Mariner - Marine Charts $6.99 for my old android tablet. It works well and downloads the USA charts for free quickly. It can import other charts, I believe.

Does anybody have input on a program that will download free international charts for Europe? Taking a trip to Italy/Spain/Ireland/Malta and would like to have the charts on my tablet for giggles.

 

[dottieshusband]

The refresh rate on the Navionics app is way too slow when the shizen hits the fan. Works great, but when your in the shallows looking for deeper in a hurry, it's not quick enough.

 

[Freeebird]

The refresh rate on the Navionics app is way too slow when the shizen hits the fan. Works great, but when your in the shallows looking for deeper in a hurry, it's not quick enough.

Refresh rate? I've never seen mine blink.

 

[Pascal]

I only use th for basic nav, underway I never use routes, auto routing, etc... Even with marine plotters I never link it to autopilot or set up route. All I do is pick a WP to have an ETA and that's about it. I use the route function for planning purpose and it s extremely easy I'm blue chart as it creates WP on the fly as you draw the route


I have never had a refresh rate issue or anything like that. The accuracy is as good as the marine plotters and the app has never crashed or frozen on me.

It has become my primary nav tool in the bahamas. I ve used it countless number of times to come in cuts at night, using the boat furuno and the radar as a back up. Spot on.

 

[Freeebird]

The only reason I bought into auto routing the first time was it supposedly would quickly calculate distance between two points on the river system which would eliminate the need for grabbing charts and a calculator. It quickly calculated the distance between the two points all right, but it was in a straight line. Would work fine in an airplane, but in a boat, not so much.

When I pointed this out to Navionics, they asked for screen shots. I'm like, really? After providing several examples, they offered an apology, but that's all they offered. Granted it was only a few bucks for the upgrade, but I would have expected to be offered either a credit or a refund.

 

[Toolsntoys]

I have the same issue with my ray marine Unit It's a pain in the @ss

 

[dottieshusband]

Just to clarify, the refresh rate is the time it takes the screen to update the vessel representation in relation to where it really is. My Raymarine is painfully slow (e7d), and my Northstar is not much better, but the Navionics phone app is slower that either one. I was using a Garmin 8215 a while back, and it's pretty fast.. And Garmin has discontinued it for and even faster model!

 

[LUV'N LIFE]

Downloaded both the free Navionics gov charts and bought their enhanced app for my IPad. I use a Bad Elf GPS receiver since the IPad didn't have it built in. First time I upgraded the apps the free gov chart still works great but the enhanced puts me in Tanzania. Weird. Haven't had a chance to call them as I am on a trip to Longboat Key and the Furuno and free app work fine.