iPad as MFD?

I love my Ipads and the navionics app. I use it to to share routes and waypoints on my Raymarine MFD's as well as be a remote monitor for the MFD. I also keep a Bad Elf GPS antenna onboard as a complete back up system in case all my MFD's or GPS fails I have the Bad Elf, Ipad and a back up battery in the ditch bag just in case.

https://bad-elf.com/
 
Henry Boyd said:
A) I know, but for the life of me can’t get the Navionics iPad app to see the wifi gateway.
B) you’re right, but if you have AIS, Depth, & GPS on a NMEA2000 net you most likely have a marine grade MFD to run it anyways.

At the heart of it I think my biggest reservation is that when you need navigation data the most, the Ipad is more likely to be DOA than a marine grade device.
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A) The gateway parameters, host (default is 192.168.4.1) and NMEA server (default is TCP, port 1456) need to be entered in Navionics at Menu..Paired Devices. As long as your phone or tablet is on the same wifi as the YDWG it ought to connect.
B) Agree. I typically just use my iPad periodically for checking on overall progress along my intended track or for looking ahead as to what is coming up outside my MFD's picture. I find Navionics much easier than the MFD to move the picture ahead of track and zoom in or out as needed.
 
ocgrant said:
I love my Ipads and the navionics app. I use it to to share routes and waypoints on my Raymarine MFD's as well as be a remote monitor for the MFD. ...
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One of my favorite things that Raymaine has over the Garmin MFD's, the ability to use the Navionics app and charts. I truly wish Garmin would allow the Navionics app to integrate with their MFD's ...

EDIT: This is pretty cool for a BT battery operated (USB Charge) GPS: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/645104
 
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Havana Shamrock said:
This is how I use my iPad Pro, as a monitor when I eat lunch at the table in front of the helm on Autopilot i can control the chartplotters / And the Autopliot. from the iPad. I wouldn’t use it as a primary source unless needed no radar/ true depth soundings.
View attachment 110383
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Joe, is that a Cajun turkey sandwich???
 
Though I have a full suite of electronics, two screens, etc. I have Navionics on iPhone and Samsung tablet. I use the iPhone almost exclusively to navigate.

Logging into Navionics account on my Mac at home, looking around, zooming in/out, marking spots, etc. is great and that all three are connected makes it pretty sweet.

Yes, don't need cell service to use in ocean, just GPS enabled tablet/phone.
 
HP12Sea said:
... I use the iPhone almost exclusively to navigate. ...
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So I guess you don't use AuotPilot? Why would you use your phone to see where you are and want to go when you have much larger MFD's?
 
I really appreciate this conversation, and thought I would post a summary of what I'm currently working towards.

I needed a new iPad for personal use and for work, so I ordered the iPad Pro 12.9. It apparently has a 1600nit screen, supposedly brighter than some MFDs. I'll check that when it arrives next week. For now, I'll just use it for Navigation (with my E120 as a backup). Then over the winter, after I take care of the rest of the boat maintenance I'll start looking to upgrade my old electronics to an Axiom+ system. I believe that the Axiom+ will integrate wirelessly with the iPad, and if not I'll get an external wireless gateway, so that I can send NMEA2000 to the tablet. At which point, I will have two MFDs which can operate independently of each other.
 
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SKybolt said:
So I guess you don't use AuotPilot? Why would you use your phone to see where you are and want to go when you have much larger MFD's?
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I can't speak for him, but in my current system, the mobile device (phone or tablet) is MUCH faster and easier to use than my classic e120. Upgrading an old electronics system is expensive and time consuming (new MFD, new radio, new gps antenna, new radar, new transducer, new panels to mount all of this, etc) It's just easier to download navionics and get on the water. For me, I ran my radar on top of the the map data on my E120, but I used my tablet for actual navigation and route planning.

Edit: also I haven't found a use where I'm comfortable with my autopilot yet. Which oddly is the one thing the previous owner upgraded. It is located on it's own NMEA2000 backbone and just holds a steady course when set. If I make a trip in open water I suppose I would set it. But I would still monitor the navionics app for course confirmation.
 
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SKybolt said:
So I guess you don't use AuotPilot? Why would you use your phone to see where you are and want to go when you have much larger MFD's?
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Using your iPhone or tablet to navigate doesn’t preclude you from using the AP. The AP is set it and forget it.

iPhone is easier because it is just right there, in your hand, easily accessed. No leaning over to play with chart plotter, etc. Chart plotter has it’s place but don’t really need it all that much.
 
jmauld said:
I can't speak for him, but in my current system, the mobile device (phone or tablet) is MUCH faster and easier to use than my classic e120. Upgrading an old electronics system is expensive and time consuming (new MFD, new radio, new gps antenna, new radar, new transducer, new panels to mount all of this, etc) It's just easier to download navionics and get on the water. For me, I ran my radar on top of the the map data on my E120, but I used my tablet for actual navigation and route planning.
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I get that the older electronics are slow and may be a good reason to have a faster backup, just don't see that becoming the primary go to. I did use my tablet on a friends boat when his charts didn't cover where we were and his plotter was so slow we we're already there by the time it updated.

HP12Sea said:
Using your iPhone or tablet to navigate doesn’t preclude you from using the AP. The AP is set it and forget it.

iPhone is easier because it is just right there, in your hand, easily accessed. No leaning over to play with chart plotter, etc. Chart plotter has it’s place but don’t really need it all that much.
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I can't see that at all, but hey if that works for you then awesome, it is a great app.

What I meant about the AP was no routes or waypoints are active on the plotter to guide the AP with, but yeah stand alone use works fine, I use mine that way a lot.
 
SKybolt said:
I can't see that at all, but hey if that works for you then awesome, it is a great app.
What I meant about the AP was no routes or waypoints are active on the plotter to guide the AP with, but yeah stand alone use works fine, I use mine that way a lot.
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Yeah, some of my runs are hours and not running through a whole lot of obstacles with many deviations. I point n run and monitor radar manically at night...so that screen does get use a lot :)
As far as phone/iPad over screens, leaning over helm/wheel while running, slamming into the occasional wave (gut crushing against wheel), trying to keep hands still enough while trying to work them is just not as simple for me as holding a device.
 
I guess it comes down to where and how the boat is used.
Would you use an Ipad or Iphone to navigate without sight of land and expect to hit a tiny island over a hundred miles away?
Would you use an Ipad or Iphone solely to get somewhere in the middle of the night?
Are you using these devices to stay in established marked channels and areas with good depth?
Are you using these devices to make sure you take that left turn towards the destination?
Are they a tool to plot a route to somewhere never been?

It's all about reliability, accuracy, and risk. I'd consider an answer to the insurance company after tearing up the running gear on rocks; "well I was following a route on my Iphone......." If they didn't cancel me my rates would certainly reflect the stunt. Worse yet if someone was to get hurt and I was the captain using an Iphone to navigate...

For us and going to the Bahamas for example my paper charts and compass are backup to the boat's Garmin electronics; they are onboard but not at the helm. If my electronics crap the bed out in the middle of nowhere do I know where I'm at on the paper? The answer is no because I'm not plotting and tracking on the paper; I need a GPS fix to start on the paper. So I have four sources of GPS coordinates of which one is my Iphone; in a bad situation I can get to destination picking up with the paper. I'm comfortable with this plan.
 
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Why would the gps on the iPhone be any less accurate than on an MFD? You do realize that the new raymarine MFDs use the android operating system. Software wise there is zero difference between the two.
 
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jmauld said:
Why would the go’s on the iPhone be any less accurate than on an MFD? You do realize that the new raymarine MFDs use the android operating system. Software wise there is zero difference between the two.
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Really? zero difference?? Sounds like you have made your mind up.... You are welcome to follow us to the Bahamas any time...
 
Yes my mind is made up. I’ve already posted my plan above. And I can tell you from experience that navionics on the iPad tracked significantly better (faster and more accurate) than my e120.

I’ve also used the iPhone to put me directly over shipwrecks for fishing. It works great.
 
jmauld said:
Why would the go’s on the iPhone be any less accurate than on an MFD? You do realize that the new raymarine MFDs use the android operating system. Software wise there is zero difference between the two.
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All very true. But, the stuff inside the Raymarine is protected from moisture and direct water based on a standard. Guts of an iPad, not so much. Are either of my Axioms going to go flying onto the deck if we run into rough water? Not unless the helm console goes first. The iPad in a friction clamp bracket on the other hand will be airborne in a flash (along with everything thing else that isn’t literally bolted down).
 
I've got an older Garmin GPSMap and RayPilot Autopilot. I use that combo for plotting routes for longer runs so that I can use the AP. I don't have the ability to update the charts though, so I'm stuck with whatever version it was last updated to. I have a dash mounted Android 10" tablet running Navionics, and I use that for close in navigation (Garmin stays zoomed out for course updates, Navionics mostly stays zoomed in for depths when I'm nearer to shore/obstacles). Another benefit that the tablet has is I was able to install an AIS transponder, and it connects to the tablet to overlay AIS contacts right in the Navionics charts. I really got use out of it last year when returning from the San Juan Islands in heavy fog and smoke. I was able to have both radar and AIS going and was able to pick up most activity around me.

I think for the lower cost, running a tablet like I do makes sense, I'm not ready (yet) to spend $10k+ on all new electronics, as much as I would like to.

Here's a pic of my typical setup when longer range cruising:
Seafari Cockpit.jpg
 
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