iPad for navagation

Kevin Kidd

Member
Oct 16, 2017
41
California Delta
Boat Info
270 Sundancer 2000
Engines
7.4 Mercruiser w/ Bravo 3 outdrive
I have a question for the members,
Who use's an iPad for navigation, do you like it and what App. are you using? We boat on the California Delta, so I need it more for getting around, not real worried about sand bars and reefs. Things can get confusing with all the cuts and sloughs.
Thanks in advance for any input.
 
Kevin, there is lots of good software out there. iNavX and Garmin's ActiveCaptain. Among them. The problem is sunlight. iPads are very difficult to see in direct sun. I use my iPad as a planning / backup nav device but rely on my Chart plotter for general use.

If you have one of the latest Garmin EchoMap units, you can sync your iPad to them and transfer maps, waypoints, routes, etc. You can even mirror your MFD to the iPad and control it from there. I just wouldn't rely solely on an iPad.

Bonus points: Active Captain has quite a bit of community data for here in the Delta.
 
I use Navionics app on my iPad in the delta. It seems to work well and has a lot of good information. As bobeast said, because of the heat and sun, I only use it for planning and backup. I use a garmin as my main chart plotter.

Dan
 
I use an iPad Air 2 as backup navigation. I use navionics app and it works well. I have a life proof nuud case with a ram mount.

FYI. The iPad Air 2 has a anti glare screen. Apple removed this on the newer models so maybe look for a refurb air 2.
 
I use Navionics app on my iPad in the delta. It seems to work well and has a lot of good information. As bobeast said, because of the heat and sun, I only use it for planning and backup. I use a garmin as my main chart plotter.

Dan
Like Dan, I also use Navionics on the Delta on my iPad Pro. I will say that there is nothing better than experience when boating on the Delta though. Check us out sometime at SRBCNC.org
 
I use an iPad with Garmin as my primary chartplotter/nav aide. I don't go far from home port and I'd prefer invest my money in gas/beer than a "real" marine grade MFD.

I think use case is worth considering. If I were traversing Lake Michigan or going into unfamiliar waters with any regularity I'd consider a marine-grade setup an important piece of equipment. For the way I use my boat (casual weekender) navigation is more of a nice-to-have than a requirement.
 
My primary chart plotters are Garmin.

I use the iPad continually looking at progress/heading in open water. When on the ICW or a river, I use the iPad for Active Captain information.

In confined space, such as canals, rivers where there are banks on each side, I have seen positional errors for the boat location.
 
If you need a navigation GPS, then you should probably have a real one, and use the iPad as backup or as a second screen. I have a Raymarine C80 that is a dinosaur, but reliable and marine grade (plus radar). But I do have my iPad Air 2 set up when navigating as well. Different views give me the advantage of two screens and the iPad redraws much faster. Best of both worlds.

As others have said, the iPad screen is hard to see in bright sunlight with sunglasses on. the Air 2 anti-glare is OK, but I always add a glass screen protector on my devices so its a mute point. They don't like heat either and will shut down if they are in the direct sun and get too hot. I use the Navionics software. Works well and the C80 uses the same Navionics charts so the look and feel is the same.
 
I use this:
https://www.amazon.com/ZenPad-Camer...UTF8&qid=1521564857&sr=8-3&keywords=asus+z300

With Navionics HD and it's perfect. Does not seem to be as sensitive to heat like my iPad was. With a folio case it fits into a ram mount iPad mount pretty well. It is easy to see in the sun and with sunglasses on. Built in GPS gets a fix quickly too.

Garmin's iPad BlueChart app is no longer supported. The new app requires you own a Garmin GPS or buy a chart package for several hundred dollars to use. The Active Captain data is still free.
 
I updated my nav electronics last year to a Raymarine system. I use an iPad Pro that links into it by wifi that I have mounted on my helm. It mirrors the Raymarine screen with the Ray Control app. The raymarine screen is too low and not easily viewed while standing at the helm. It seems to work for me.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions. We just purchased our 270, October 2017, it doesn't have any navigation systems on her, so the iPad is just a start until I purchase something.
 
Another vote for Navionics for Delta boating. I'm another Delta boater and use Navionics on my iPad. Very good info, including tides and currents. Tracking and auto or manual routing also good features. While I do use it for navigation, I use more for planning and for fun, and flagging areas to avoid. You can go anywhere on the delta with a good paper chart and a compass, but theNavions (or any chart plotter) is nice to have, primarily for avoiding shallow areas on the delta, marking nice anchorages, fishing holes, etc.
 
I use Garmin on the ipad but only for off boat navigation, then upload it to my 8200 series. Even using the Kindle app on the ipad is almost a waste on the boat be cause of the sun and heat.
 
If you have adequate sun and water protection, then an ipad is just fine for navigation. If those conditions don't exist then you'll really need to use a marine specific GPS and use the ipad as a backup.
 

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