I-Pad as additional navigational aid...

Totally agree with PMC! I too have a 10" Samsung tablet that I bought at Costco. Loaded navionics app on it. I mount it to the side window next to the dash. Blocks nothing in that position. Full GPS with no data plan. Worked great all the way from south sound to desolation Canada. Love the pinch and swipe easy panning. My raymarine is primary but a pain with pushing buttons... So I use it most to monitor the engine room via camera.
 
I put it on the dash over the Radar... Old Northstar is too low below the Radar...

IMG_20170428_124651825.jpg
 
I have the 12.9” iPad Pro and use it as my main navigation, and then my old Northstar for backup. I have an external GPS for positioning (iPad was purchased before I bought the boat!)
I keep it out of direct sunlight, it’s pretty easy since I keep it right there in the cockpit beneath the soft top. If the mid day sun is hitting it, which is rare, I will shade it with a towel. Evening and morning sun are never a direct hit to heat it up enough.

I added a screen protector which is anti glare, and that helped as well.
I take it down once I get to my destination and keep it in the salon and charge it up (if needed) until we are ready to head back.
I use the Navionics Boating USA app, the auto routing and data it records that I can access at any time make it a great tool to have, also, laying out your routes ahead of time is great as well.

I use two Nato mounts, basically strong magnets and never had an issue with it falling off.
 
I use the Navionics Boating USA app, the auto routing and data it records that I can access at any time make it a great tool to have, also, laying out your routes ahead of time is great as well.

The auto mapping and the ability to pre-plan (when you're not on the boat) is fantasic. I've even been know to point to a spot on the chart (while on the water) and use the Boat To option to get a route plotted while I'm on the water. Really nice feature. I really hope Garmin doesn't kill this app now that they own Navionics.
 
Nobody has mentioned the DualGPS puck, which is a very reliable GPS antenna. I have that on a iPad 4, wifi only, and Navionics HD. Accuracy is outstanding, and is a great way to do quick planning with the automatic route builder. Keep it out of the direct sun, and you will be fine. Outstanding back up, that often I use as my first look at where I am, when I will get there, etc.
 
If you are on a lake or river, good with iPad as primary tool.

If you are on the coast and rarely leave the the icw and stay in the local area you are ok with the iPad as primary navigation. Although make sure you have either rowboat or sea tow paid up, I can give you several locations where that can take you aground.

If you are cruising significantly, use the iPad as a tool, but not as your primary.

I think I was the first person who posted here 4-5 years ago about using an iPad.

We have cruised 3-4000 miles in the last few years. Always have an iPad on the side. For us would never depend on it as a primary navigational device.
 
Those of you that like the function of an iPad should take a hard look at the Simrad GO XSE series of GPS/Chartplotters. I installed the GO5 in my 23' Cobalt and it works awesome. It uses all the good touch screen technology and it is made to go boating. And they accept all navigation software brands. For those of you with smaller helm areas they have 5"and 7" displays. They also are wi-fi capable so if you are near a wi-fi signal you can download charts. There is also a function that allows you to transfer the charts you've purchased for your iPads to the GO unit.
Simrad-GO5-XSE-Gallery-img3.jpg
This is the 5" unit but I chose to flush mount mine.
IMG_0603.JPG

Also you notice there is only one button on the unit.
https://www.simrad-yachting.com/simrad/type/fishfinders-chartplotters/go7-xsr-no-xdcr/

No I don't sell them. I just don't like the limitations of an iPad for navigation and was looking for something better. I think this is it.
Shawn
 
I need to replace my northstar at some point, might use Simrads mentioned above, but I might just go with the NSS evo2 or 3. It’s not the navigation I need, other than a backup for the iPad, it’s for the depth finder, radar, anchor alarms, etc, and would like to get a forward scan sonar, so I can see the depths in front of me. In Florida, every trip I make is to an island where I am pulling up to skinny water, and the closer the better. Typically, I end up too far from the shallow water, but I correct by simply walking the stern anchor closer to shore and letting out the front anchor.
 
I need to replace my northstar at some point, might use Simrads mentioned above, but I might just go with the NSS evo2 or 3. It’s not the navigation I need, other than a backup for the iPad, it’s for the depth finder, radar, anchor alarms, etc, and would like to get a forward scan sonar, so I can see the depths in front of me. In Florida, every trip I make is to an island where I am pulling up to skinny water, and the closer the better. Typically, I end up too far from the shallow water, but I correct by simply walking the stern anchor closer to shore and letting out the front anchor.

BIG fan of the NSS evo2 here. I got the NSS9 and love the mix of touch and the dials. I don't know about anyone else, but I have a hard time zooming or hitting just the right spot on the screen when I'm in any sort of swells. The dial/buttons are key for me. I love the touch, but live the option to use "real" controls at times, too. Find a reman NSS evo2 and you'll get a great deal, too.
 
As mentioned above, wifi iPads- those that don't have a cellular chipset- also do not have a GPS chipset. They triangulate with wifi and Apple's iBeacon. As I understand, cellular devices also use the other location services. Not sure how the device prioritizes location services but it can lead to alarming errors where the device doesn't tell you it's not working, it just shows the wrong position or heading. My MFD and other GPS devices at least tell me when they're not getting a gps signal.

Samsung tablets (all of them, I believe) have gps and glonass chips; I've used a couple different ones, most recently a galaxy tab S3 running navionics, with pretty good results. But sometimes I look at the screen and it just 'feels' off. And when I get near a landmark I can confirm that it might be 5-10 meters off. Despite good results with the samsung lots of software is optimized for IOS not Android, and it can be buggy and a little frustrating.

Had the galaxy tab S3 out in the sun all day, many days with no problem ever but got a samsung s9 phone and that thing is like a mother-in-law... too hot, too cold, needs an umbrella and fan then has to be put in the cabin.
 
As mentioned above, wifi iPads- those that don't have a cellular chipset- also do not have a GPS chipset. They triangulate with wifi and Apple's iBeacon. As I understand, cellular devices also use the other location services. Not sure how the device prioritizes location services but it can lead to alarming errors where the device doesn't tell you it's not working, it just shows the wrong position or heading. My MFD and other GPS devices at least tell me when they're not getting a gps signal.

Samsung tablets (all of them, I believe) have gps and glonass chips; I've used a couple different ones, most recently a galaxy tab S3 running navionics, with pretty good results. But sometimes I look at the screen and it just 'feels' off. And when I get near a landmark I can confirm that it might be 5-10 meters off. Despite good results with the samsung lots of software is optimized for IOS not Android, and it can be buggy and a little frustrating.

Had the galaxy tab S3 out in the sun all day, many days with no problem ever but got a samsung s9 phone and that thing is like a mother-in-law... too hot, too cold, needs an umbrella and fan then has to be put in the cabin.
@dannymc - my old iPad was WiFi only. To get an accurate GPS fix I had to pair it with a Bad Elf GPS receiver. This was the model recommended in the Garmin BlueChart iPad app (which unfortunately has now been discontinued).
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,942
Messages
1,422,701
Members
60,927
Latest member
Jaguar65
Back
Top