iPad with charting software

FootballFan

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
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Florida
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For those who are using an iPad with charting software - which do you feel is more accurate with location?

The chartplotter or the iPad?

My chartplotter is Raymarine.

Primarily using Bluechart on the iPad, though starting to play with Polar.

Have noticed when zoomed in - at times it is not putting the marker for boat in the same spot on both devices. have wondered which is more accurate? Have seen some situations where one device showed between two day markers, the other device showed the boat to the edge (or slightly out of) the two markers.

Would love to hear thoughts and comments...

Mark
 
Which do you feel is more accurate with location?

The chartplotter or the iPad?

IPad

My chartplotter is Raymarine.

So is mine

Primarily using Bluechart on the iPad, though starting to play with Polar.

Navionics - for navigation
Garmin - Active Captain
INavx - Backup and AIS

Running over 2500 miles in different waters on my boat I can say two things:

1. The Ipad kept GPS signal when the chartplotter would lose it.
2. The refresh on the Ipad screen kept my position on the chart far more accurate. When you are running the ICW in tight areas, a few feet count. Especially in turns.
 
You do realize chartplotters, paper charts are all for reference for the most part right? No chart is perfect when it comes to exact location of ALL objects. The best way to navigate is still and always will be by sight.

With that said, I think your questions would have 2 parts. 1) Which chart program is more accurate with placement of objects and 2) Which GPS is more accurate the IPAD or the onboard navigation system.

I think these answers are going to depend on many factors, when was the last time you updated the IPAD software, your navigation software or even hardware. So, how old if you navigation system on board? When was the last time you update your chart programs as they do have updates every year, are you up to date? If you are up to date with everything, latest hardware from Raymarine (new units) new charts, new IPad, new software, then and only then can you start comparing these items, otherwise you are not comparing apples to apples, IMO.
 
I have iNAVx on my iPad, but we mostly use our Raymarine Chart plotter and a back-up handheld. I am a real fan of redundancy when it comes to knowing where I am, and I like purpose built electronics. Preferably fastened to the boat. I do use the iPad for "Boat Beacon", and it is the handiest thing ever for finding restaurants, chandleries, taxi cabs, etc. when we are visiting new Marina's. Plus it takes great pictures and OK video. The re-draw on our Raymarine is not any faster than the iPad and both will show position well enough to navigate. There was a story about a bind sailor who went aground in Hawaii because he was navigating solely by his iPad (http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2014-05-23#.VN5gm4fTkiQ) he had sighted crew with him and he acknowlegd he made some bad decisions, but what happened with his iPad illustrates my concerns very nicely. Count my vote as 'Chartplotter' all the way.
 
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P.S. Although not iPad related, I was the only crew on a 47 foot sailboat coming up the Pacific Coast from Puerto Vallarta. Both the hired captain and myself had flown down with handhelds included in our gear. The boat had an amazing nav system onboard, run through a LapTop with a special holder in the Navigation Station. Everything ran through the Lap Top. Radar, Chart Plotter, Depth Sounder, AIS, and Weather. The Lap Top failed the first day! The owner took it home from Cabo on the plane. The captain and I navigated up the coast, from Cabo to San Diego, using a Magellan hand held and paper charts. This included a night landing in Turtle Bay where we stopped for fuel.
 
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Ipad is more accurate. I use the Dual XGPS 150 with Navionics, the HD version. I am simply amazed at how accurate it is. I consider it a backup for my Raymarine GPS, but if I am honest, I use it way more than the Raymarine. I did a Ram Mount, put in two USB charging ports and have a high quality waterproof case for it. I could not be more pleased with the performance.
 
Does anyone use an external GPS antenna for their ipad or is the built in one sufficient?
 
I am seriously considering removing my current Raymarine radar/chartplotter and replacing the panel with a new blank and mount for Ipad. It seems more accurate and is so much smoother and faster. Furuno has just come out with a wifi based radar that will display on the ipad. I believe there may be a way to get nmea data on the ipad via wifi as well. It is only a matter of time before someone integrates everything in to a nice package using an ipad to do more than most current systems on the market for a much lower price(if it does not already exist).
 
I use Navionics on the ipad for up close look, elapsed time and miles covered. It's biggest deficiency is that it doesn't let you save and store more than one route. I use my old Raymarine RL80C for 6 mile view of relative progress. I had planned to buy new current chartplotter when I bought the boat, but this is working so well for me that I am putting that $4-5K into other things.
 
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Does anyone use an external GPS antenna for their ipad or is the built in one sufficient?

Built in one is sufficient, but it wouldn't hurt to have a backup.

You do realize chartplotters, paper charts are all for reference for the most part right? No chart is perfect when it comes to exact location of ALL objects. The best way to navigate is still and always will be by sight......

With that said, I could land a plane with the accuracy it provided me. In my real world experience in inclement weather it kept me right on position. I could easily reference when positioned near markers.

I am a real fan of redundancy

Me too... Further regarding your story. If I recall if he hadn't messed with the software, he'd have been fine.

Ipad is more accurate.... I am simply amazed at how accurate it is. I consider it a backup for my Raymarine GPS, but if I am honest, I use it way more than the Raymarine. ... have a high quality waterproof case for it. I could not be more pleased with the performance.

I mirror this reply

I am seriously considering removing my current Raymarine radar/chartplotter and replacing the panel with a new blank and mount for Ipad. Furuno has just come out with a wifi based radar that will display on the ipad. .

My plan is to keep the plotter as backup and clear my lower panel on the helm station of all old nav equipment and replace with a blank panel that has ventilation, power, shading, and room for three Ipads. This will provide for multiple redundancy and lessen the need to change apps. I'm glad to hear that the radar is moving in this direction. Though wifi does seem a bit risky.
 
So, I guess I could have better phrases my question - the resolution accuracy of the signal (without an external GPS puck attached to the iPad, just the native chip included in an iPad with celluar option).

Granted, my iPad experience to date has been with an older iPad. Just got a new one yesterday. Did the GPS accuracy improve between the iPad 3 and the Air 2?

If you have compared any iPad model against your chartplotter display - include which iPad model if you don't mind.

Has anyone used the Polar software much? Any opinions on that?

thanks


I am not even close to being knowledgeable about the different types of signals.
 
Does anyone know of a waterproof housing for the I-pad with mounting screws in the back to be able to mount it to rail? I want to be able to see our fish sonar by the downriggers
 
I have over 30 routes in the Navionics app. I think I might misunderstand you, or you need to review the app.

Guess I gotta look at it again. Do you have a menu selection sequence?

Maybe I am confusing it with the one on my iphone. I definitely can't seem to find a way to save more than the current route on the phone app. Also, specifically I am using the Boating USA app by Navionics.
 
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I use a Ram Mount - nothing providing "water proofing". I could see the need for waterproof if you were on an open helm during inclement weather.

If the concern was water splashing from rough sea's - my opinion is the iPad has lost functionality for me due to action of the boat. As much as I love the iPad and the chart plotting software of choice - in rough water situations I have found it very difficult to interact with the screen through gesture controls. Maybe its just me.

In rough water situations - I am interacting with the chart plotter with buttons and soft keys much more than I am the iPad. As the technology sits today, would always want the iPad in my Ram mount - but not give up my chartplotter(s).
 
Guess I gotta look at it again. Do you have a menu selection sequence?

Maybe I am confusing it with the one on my iphone. I definitely can't seem to find a way to save more than the current route on the phone app.

I don't know about the phone app, but I would think it was the same....

Press "Route"
Select "Manual Route"
on the top left select the name and change it to the name you want to use.
Then
click your waypoints on the chart
Once done
Press "Go"
Press"Route" and select "Stop"
Done

Press "Route"
Select "My Routes Archive"
The route you created should be there. If you press it, it will become active.
 
I use a Ram Mount - nothing providing "water proofing". I could see the need for waterproof if you were on an open helm during inclement weather.

If the concern was water splashing from rough sea's - my opinion is the iPad has lost functionality for me due to action of the boat. As much as I love the iPad and the chart plotting software of choice - in rough water situations I have found it very difficult to interact with the screen through gesture controls. Maybe its just me.

In rough water situations - I am interacting with the chart plotter with buttons and soft keys much more than I am the iPad. As the technology sits today, would always want the iPad in my Ram mount - but not give up my chartplotter(s).
I am in agreement with this whole statement. I love my iPad, but when I really need a chart plotter, I want a purpose built, marine chart plotter that will not start playing Pong, or try to surf the web in the middle of trying to zoom in on the channel. To answer part of the question: When your iPad or Raymarine are not showing exactly the same it is more likely an update or re-draw time separation. I have not tried this but I would bet if you fired them both up at the dock, or at anchor, in a very short amount of time they would be within 6-feet of each other. I have also noticed, if we have two iPads running on the boat at the same time they do not always show us in exactly the same spot. Especially in AIS mode. This is why you should always play with this stuff when it is sunny and calm and you know where you are going. As pointed out earlier in the thread, however slick and modern, these devices are only "aids to navigation".
 
IF you go the Ipad route you NEED the following.

1. Waterproof case - Seriously, in a water environment this is a must. You can't risk damage and your safety because you're not investing in a cover. I use Lifeproof, but there are others.
2. You need to keep it out of direct sunlight because of overheating and screen brightness.
3. It's best to keep it someplace where it is shaded and ventilated.

Not needed but not a bad idea if you are moving it around on a smaller vessel :

1. Lifeproof Lifejaket that keeps the Ipad floating if it goes overboard.
2. Charger to maintain charge.

Running the nav app uses a fair amount of battery power. You're probably not going to run out. But, I keep power to it at the helm so it's always fully charged. That way in the even of an issue I have hours of use left.
 
Does anyone use an external GPS antenna for their ipad or is the built in one sufficient?

I use the Bad Elf with my iPad, it is great and agitate, but I'm only in a lake. I use BE since my iPad is only the wifi version, BE used the power from the iPad and finds the satellites.

Matt


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