Nautical use of the new Apple iPad

B

baz

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 19, 2009
Messages
6,083
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
I've been waiting for years for Apple to produce and sell the 'tablet' or what they have branded as their iPad. It's been a long wait, but it's now here in two weeks time.

I've pre-ordered two. One will be the Wi-Fi only model arriving Apr 3rd and the other a Wi-Fi + 3G model that will arrive later in Apr.

We will use the Wi-Fi only model about the home primarily and the Wi-Fi + 3G model that has Assisted GPS for the boat.

I intend to load up the boat's iPad with all the manuals, navigational aids and operating tips etc that I can get in electronic form. Not sure about maps etc but Google maps will certainly be there via the browser and either Wi-Fi or the 3G networks.

Have others given the iPad any thought and if so what nautical uses do you envision it can be used for.

I may need to get a small solar panel charger for the iPad... and maybe the solar panel accessory I'm getting for my Portland Pudgy's electrical system can be put to double duty... 😉
 
I have an iPod Touch and have been using it with the Magellan GPS car kit. The touch has no GPS, the cradle has the GPS receiver in it. I tried that with the Navionics software currently available through the app store, and it works great. A second GPS/Chart plotter as a backup! I'm hoping they make an upgraded version for the iPad to take advantage of all that extra screen real estate. Yep, I'm a geek who pre-ordered too.

I have been looking forward to reading the paper on the boat with the 3g version. Not glamorous, but something I enjoy. We often get out before the papers do. I have pdf files of the users manuals for the various equipment, a Yanmar parts catalog, which I will also put on.

Dave
 
Looking forward to the WiFi/3G myself.

Check this thread which lists several applications (those I use, and those used by Capt. Richard Rodriguez). No doubt developers will be releasing useful native apps for the iPad soon. In the interim, the iPad's pixel-doubling capability will allow you to use the currently available apps.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
For those interested in this thread and the potential onboard uses of the iPad, here's a video demoing Ship Finder HD (and AIS ship tracking application already available for the iPhone:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEW2kFp0Jm0[/youtube]

Cheers,

Bruce
 
Bruce -- that's a cool App. 🙂
 
Big day tomorrow as UPS will be delivering my long awaited iPad Wi-Fi model. I'll probably get just a few hours of use on it before my wife snatches it out of my sticky fingers. 😀 The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be shipping late April.

I think these iPads will be very successful and their use will expand rapidly.

I'm looking at every possible way to make this iPad useful to us in a nautical way as well as about the home and about town etc.
 
I have a question for you iPad folks. I enjoy tinkering with Rose Point's Coastal Explorer on my PC. Would this type of program be useable on the iPad, or would it have to be rewritten for it?
 
Rose Point's Coastal Explorer requires a PC with MS Windows XP, Vista, 7 or later. They haven't given any indication they'll be porting to Mac OS X, much less the iPhone/iPad OS. Too bad.

Cheers
 
Great news for iPhone/iPad users on the list. The new version of Navimatics Charts&Tides application (available for West Coast, East Coast, and Gulf Coast) was released today with full integration of ActiveCaptain information.

If you already own an iPhone or iPad, this app provides a reasonably featured redundant chart plotter, as well as rich information about marinas, anchorages, services, hazards, etc. There is also a valuable layer of information submitted by the Active Captain boating community, which enhances to coverage with local knowledge. That's quite a value for $20.

This will be particularly useful for the lookout who can quickly get information about markers, destinations, alternate routes, etc., while whoever has the helm uses the primary plotter for navigation and piloting. Not to mention tide and current information, and more. Think of it as a location aware cruising guide. It's a wonderfully integrated package. Here are some screenshots.

Those of you who aren't already members of [urlhttp://www.activecaptain.com/]ActiveCaptain[/url] (free) should check it out. Even without an app on a mobile device, the site is increasingly valuable. The large amount of information available has prompted three large PC navigation software companies, MaxSea, Rose Point, and Nobeltec, to integrate the data and marker functions into their software. There are also ActiveCaptain apps for Palm OS and Windows Mobile phones.

Thanks to Navimatics for bringing to the iPhone/iPad!
 
Bruce: Thanks for the update -- it's now on my iPad WiFi + 3G. 😀 I'll be checking out this jewel and post back. If others have this also I would request they also provide feedback.
 
Great. If you haven't registered for ActiveCaptain, you won't see their data. Register on the site, then within the app, hit the i button at the lower right, choose the ActiveCaptain tab, and sign in to your account.

Then, hit the Update Now (blue) bar. This imports all of the ActiveCaptain data - you don't need to be online to access it. Turn "Layer Visible" on. You can set your preferences for updating the data.
 
I'm now an ActiveCaptain. 😉 Thanks.... D/l-ing 2-stage over wi-fi and seems like a lot of data -- wonder just how many MB this ActiveCaptain info is ?
 
wonder just how many MB this ActiveCaptain info is
Click to expand...

Just enough 😉
 
Oh -- I really like the additional ActiveCaptain info -- this is going to be a great addition.

The Tides info is just what I needed as well.

The 'extra' info that ActiveCaptain provides at the touch/press of the finger on a spot is going to be very useful (Harbor Master's name & Tel#, Marina's Tel number, alerts&warnings, and so on).

It's all there at the tip of the finger. 😱

We should get together sometime and exchange what we've learned from this App.

My wife or other matey s can use this iPad to see the local sea scape and see where we are going and where we currently are without squinting at the Garmin display. They can explore all around if they wish without bugging the Captain. 😉

This is what I have been hoping would be available for the iPad as it's screen size is so much more readable than on the iPhone.

Here's an iPad screen shot of what ActiveCaptain provides for Langley Small Boat Harbor, WA

dy3uho
 
Very cool!!!

I have both packages on my iPhone and my iPad!!!!
 
Those of you with the 3g iPad... I know it has GPS, albeit AGPS. This has caused me some confusion. Will the GPS work properly as a stand alone GPS outside of cell tower range, say up the inside passage or does it always need to be in range of a tower or two in order to grab coordinates.
 
There has been a lot of speculation about this topic (read this comment thread, for instance), but Apple has provided some additional updates and information about the iPad's GPS and navigation features.

Apple states: "iPad with Wi-Fi finds your location using known Wi-Fi hotspots, and Wi-Fi + 3G models use Wi-Fi, GPS, and cellular towers. So you can get routes, get directions, and get there in no time."
Click to expand...

The three Wifi+3G models all have fully functional AGPS(Assisted GPS) chips built in that will use GPS satellite positioning, plus Wifi/cell tower positioning for greater accuracy in a wide range of conditions, including urban environments, which can block or bounce GPS signals.

Many iPad applications rely on "location awareness" to deliver services, i.e. where are nearby ATMs, what restaurants or stores are around me, are any of my friends nearby, getting directions on Google maps, etc. These apps are often used indoors, where a GPS sat signal wouldn't be available. So Apple's AGPS chips use the additional location methods to make this possible.
 
To add to Bruce's comments.... I would find it astounding to find that the iPad with AGPS would not work correctly out on the waters in the Pacific NW. The Charts&Tides application sold for the West coast would surely have been tested and QAed with the iPad out on the waters away from Cell towers to make sure it tracked the boat's course and direction.

Of course, successful use of this application on the iPad when out on the waters will be the real confirmation -- but as I said above -- it would amaze me if it didn't work as advertised. I will post back what my experiences are later on....
 
Good news fellow iPad users - I left a complimentary comment about how we use our Charts & Tides w/Active Captain on the Taking Paws blog maintained by Karen and Jeff, the creators of Active Captain. Their vision of a back-up/companion tool will continue to be developed in the application. Here's a quote from Jeff:

Thanks Bruce - your comment made us all smile here. We use our iPad the same way. Whoever is not piloting is watching for what's up ahead. The nice thing is that if the main electronics fail, we're right there with a backup ready to take over.

Lots more coming with it. We have a page of ideas for this "companion" use and will be definitely adding to the web site and partner products with that vision.
Click to expand...

Cheers,

Bruce
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top