iPad navigation

  • 16 Mar 2013 15:44
    Reply # 1244219 on 1244135
    Deleted user
    Gary King wrote:Seems a like a future echo around here. Same posts and replies on the Yahoo JR forum..
    I must be watching too much Red Dwarf..
    Indeed. Same question. Same answer. But different audience, though with some crossover, inevitably. They are two interest groups with largely the same interest. In fact I'm the moderator of the Yahoo group.
    Last modified: 16 Mar 2013 15:44 | Deleted user
  • 16 Mar 2013 13:28
    Reply # 1244135 on 812175
    Deleted user
    Seems a like a future echo around here. Same posts and replies on the Yahoo JR forum..
    I must be watching too much Red Dwarf..
  • 16 Mar 2013 00:12
    Reply # 1243907 on 812175
    Deleted user
    Lesley Verbrugge recommended GPSCITY for iPad mounts. Those links added to our Links pages.
    Last modified: 16 Mar 2013 00:22 | Deleted user
  • 15 Mar 2013 20:38
    Reply # 1243750 on 812175
    I'm using Transas iSailor successfully. 

    I'm also using Garmin Bluechart successfully, now that I've discovered that there's a limit to how many chart sections can be downloaded onto the iPad at once. When I downloaded all of Hawai'i, southern Alaska and British Columbia, Bluechart would quit without warning, but with a smaller area of coverage it's stable. It carries more information than iSailor, with Active Captain and tides and weather being available if there is an internet connection.

    If there's any question of the iPad being exposed to moisture, I put it in a Ziploc bag, and the touch screen still works. A more robust solution would be a clear plastic map case, as used by hikers. I don't mount the iPad, but keep it on the chart table (next to the paper chart, Kurt), and when I'm doing anything where I need up to date position info (entering a port for the first time at night, for example), I put it on the companionway step where I can see it. However, if you do want to mount it, there are now a huge number of iPad mounts, particularly:

    RAM Mounting Systems, Inc.

    www.rammount.com/

    And try Googling "waterproof ipad mounts" - you can pretty quickly find items like http://store.griffintechnology.com/ipad/survivor-ipad-3 
    "Tested and certified to meet or exceed US Department of Defense Standard 810F, Griffin's Survivor Military-Duty Case is designed from the inside out to protect your iPad from extreme conditions ... dirt, sand, rain, shock, vibration and a host of other environmental factors."

    The iPad does make a good chart plotter. It has a good daylight viewing screen, it is easy to zoom in and out, power consumption is low. It is much to be preferred over a laptop, for real-life, on-board navigation. It is not 100% reliable, and neither is a laptop - you have to go to a very expensive big ship system before you get ECDIS, a computer-based navigation system that complies with IMO regulations and can be used as an alternative to paper navigation charts. Keep some form of paper chart and separate GPS as backup, but then enjoy navigating your boat confidently between hidden dangers, knowing where you are in real time on the chart. More information is always better than less. The iPad adds another layer of information to the traditional paper chart, GPS, plotting tool, pencil and eraser, but doesn't totally replace them.
    Last modified: 15 Mar 2013 20:55 | Anonymous member
  • 15 Mar 2013 20:16
    Reply # 1243728 on 812175
    There was a pre-existing topic, so I've moved recent postings over to it...

    Georg Warnecke:
    anyone using ipad-navigion (navionics, isailor, inavx, opencpn…)?
    if so – how do you fix the ipad on the boat?

    Gerry O'Brien:
    Not an answer to your question I'm afraid. But on the subject of hand-held satellite navigation - the other day I bought an Android app called GPS Nautical Charts - UK. Just under £16 for the whole UK (Admiralty) chart folio, astonishing value. The US version is cheaper. And there are iPad versions. Also versions for many places around the world.

    The app is pretty well sorted though not, I think, perfect. But then there's no such thing as perfect.

    I haven't had it at sea yet to try it out with the GPS on my Nexus 7 but I'm looking forward to it.

    It's a back-up to the chart plotter fitted into the bulkhead of Ivory Gull's pilothouse so at sea the Nexus will live in my pocket, on the chart table, beside me during my afternoon snooze when my old-codgering chum has the helm... wherever is most convenient.

    Gosh but how times change... I would have loved to have this thing on the bridge beside me while piloting a submarine into some tiny harbour for the first time...

    And no, I don't have shares in the company.

    With best wishes,

    Gerry.

    Georg Warnecke:
    thank you.
    looks very interesting!
    even though the maps for germany are slightly more expensive…
    not sure if the transas-data or the bsh-data is better – i live (and sail) at
    the baltic sea.

    you think a plotter is still the better choice?
    and how do you preserve the ipad from getting wet?
    Mark Thomasson:

    I have used the Navionics on my IPhone.  Very pleased fantastic value.  Iphone in a waterproof case, kept on cord around my neck.  Great for single handing, literally at times! (added bonus, takes photos, videos, access web, txts, and wait for it, even makes phone calls).

    The down side, you cannot print.  They now have a webapp, which is the same on-line.  Although you cannot print directly, you can 'screen-print' an image and paste into a doc.

    Kurt Ulmer:

    Hi Georg,


    "...how do you fix the ipad on the boat?"

    I was waiting to see whether you would get answers for how to attach an iPad to something, or how to repair it if it stops working. It's obvious, anyways, that people are interested in apps for navigation. Me too, but I'll still put in a word for using paper charts as primary.

    Cheers,
    Kurt

    Georg Warnecke:
    thank you all!
    i think i go with isailor.
    even though i like the paper charts, too, i'm too geeky for them… ;-))

    and your right – the question is still open how to attach an ipad to the boat.
    nevertheless – the solutio with the iphone doesn't sound too bad… :-))

  • 07 Feb 2012 02:23
    Reply # 817926 on 812175
    I'm finding AyeTides XL to be very good on the iPad. Also available on the iPhone.
  • 03 Feb 2012 00:36
    Reply # 814936 on 814213
    Gary Pick wrote:
    David Tyler wrote:
    Gary Pick wrote:How about Opencpn David?
    I'm not aware of an OpenCPN iPad app. 


    It seems there is a request to the Opencpn team for an iPad version but nothing yet.
     Platforms
    * Windows 98,2000,XP,Vista,7
    * Linux, BSD, Solaris
    * Macintosh OSX
    Mx Mariner is closely related to OpenCPN and is for the Android platform. It's simple at the moment but is steadily gaining features as it is under active development. I have it on my Google Nexus One phone and so far it's been fine.
  • 02 Feb 2012 05:16
    Reply # 814213 on 812895
    David Tyler wrote:
    Gary Pick wrote:How about Opencpn David?
    I'm not aware of an OpenCPN iPad app. 


    It seems there is a request to the Opencpn team for an iPad version but nothing yet.
     Platforms
    * Windows 98,2000,XP,Vista,7
    * Linux, BSD, Solaris
    * Macintosh OSX
  • 01 Feb 2012 07:16
    Reply # 812895 on 812589
    Gary Pick wrote:How about Opencpn David?
    I'm not aware of an OpenCPN iPad app. 

  • 01 Feb 2012 06:02
    Reply # 812589 on 812175
    How about Opencpn David?
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