iPHONE/iPAD APPS

[Lobo]

Pacific Yachting Magazine is now giving information on interesting marine apps. Here are some:

SHRALP TIDE. Displays current tide conditions along with highs and lows for the next 4 days. Consistent data for Canadian and US Coasts. No cost, I think.

SHIP FINDER HD: There is a free version and a $4.99 version. This is AIS that shows excellent coverage of marine traffic (those vessels with AIS transmitters which is generally any thing commercial or over 60' in length). The free version is time delayed; the $4.99 one is "almost" instant. There is good coverage of most places in the world, but not all. US and Canada are well covered. Try the free one and I bet you'll soon pay the 5 bucks for upgrade. Now you will have the name, destination, course, speed and on about half -- a photo -- of that freighter trying to run you down. Your position is shown on the screen IF you are checking out the area around where your and your phone are.

I have the two above on my iPhone G3 and they work very well.

Of course for this app to work you have to be connected to your data provider.

NAVIONICS: (G4 and iPad) $9.99 and up (the intro screen tells you what units it will work on before you spend $$.) Charts from almost everywhere. I don't have this on my G3 iPhone so no comments.

WIND METER ($4.99). Turns your iPhone into a wind meter. Since I downloaded it we haven't had much wind in our area when I've been outside, so I don't know how well it works. It apparently works by processing the sound of the wind through the microphone. If it does, it'll be a good $5 spend. Works without being hooked to your data supplier.

Any other good marine apps out there?

Dave
"Lobo"

 

[Zundels]

Thanks for this list Dave,

I have Navionics for Gulf of AK on my iPhone and it works well. I wanted a bigger screen than the iPHone and GPS connections. We are considering a new iPad2 with the GPS.

Also had someone recommend the app Charts and Tides. They really like the detail on this app.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We have an iPad II and have the Navionics app and have used it in Lake Tahoe and Lake Powell so far and have had great success. We felt this was, over time, more affordable then buying paper charts or Garmin chart chips for all the interior waterways we have and plan to cruise, where our onboard Garmin does not have charting for. One interesting point I'd note is this: by accident I forgot to turn the 3G on to activate the iPad II Navionics GPS and I found out that it still worked if I had the boat Garmin chartplotter and GPS antenna turned on.

Jim F

 

[GulfSailor]

.......One interesting point I'd note is this: by accident I forgot to turn the 3G on to activate the iPad II Navionics GPS and I found out that it still worked if I had the boat Garmin chartplotter and GPS antenna turned on.

Neither the Garmin nor the 3G should make any difference.
Unlike the Wi-Fi only model, 3G iPad has a GPS chip built in which requires no assistance from Wi-Fi, 3G, or any outside antenna.

As mentioned in another thread, I use 'iSailor' for backup navigation. On the road I use 'Motion X GPS Drive'.