iPad used as second chart plotter

Over the winter I considered adding a second Garmin 7612xsv chart plotter. The price as come down with the introduction of the 8612. The price has come down to 3K range this year and probably drop more next year. Now that Garmin seems to have perfected the Active Captain app. I started looking at the purchase price of the new iPad with built in GPS at just over $700.00 it seemed like a cheaper option. The iPad's capability of of downloading Garmin updates and mapping and Active Captain information is now working much better then a year ago. The route planning is easy using the iPad linking all routes and waypoints to the chart plotter just by opening the app on the plotter and the iPad. The other advantage is the ability to use other mapping resources, and marine applications. The new iPad has increased storage space and seems to process information quicker. I decided to give it ago this year. My next concern how to mount it. I looked at many mounting devises many seemed like they would do the job. My biggest concern, I want it out of the way and mounted to stay in place during all conditions. I ended up making a mounting plate that the iPad just slides into with a side port so I can plug the charger adapter in while cruising.The mounting plate is made from a piece of plywood with the same veneer used in the interior of the Cutwater.
Mounting plate installed with easy access for use.

With the use of a AT&T hotspot I have the ability to receive up today NOAA Radar weather and when I'm not worried about navigation and weather I can watch Cubs games using At Bat App.


The Garmin G3 mapping installed in the Garmin 7612 is also downloaded on the iPad along with all my waypoints and routes. With the built in GPS this is a good redundant navigation tool.


I also purchased additional mapping using the Navionics app. This mapping is continuously being updated as long as it as a internet connection. In areas of continual shoaling and changing depth this will be a added aid in navigation.



A very important aid and resource to have on board Tugnuts right at my finger tips while cruising! 😀


All control buttons are accessible without moving the iPad volume up/ down/ off and control button all usable. Removal is done by unplugging the charging plug and sliding the Ipad up and out.

One thing to consider is humidity near water. Marine electronics are usually sealed and filled with inert gas as far as I know to protect components or are coated with some protection. Not sure if an iPad has the same protection without some case. This is especially important around saltwater when hands may have some residual salt coatings and perhaps may not be as gentle to electronics

Much difference between the latest g3 maps on the garmin vs the navionics mapping?

I assume you bought the cellular version to have the gps version?

That is a really nice alternative to having & buying another 7612 for sure. Well done.... I'm impressed.

Question: Can the iPad display a different chart display than what the main/primary 7612 is displaying ? I'm assuming the iPad is connected to the primary Garmin 7612's locally hosted Wi-Fi network, and that you're using ActiveCaptain application on the iPad. For example can the primary 7612 be displaying a chart showing your position and auto guidance while the iPad is showing the Sonar display so you can see where the fish are lurking 😉 ?

No matter, very good work.... congratulations. 🙂

Brian,

Great setup and nice installation! I have gone the same route for all of the reasons you mentioned. Having access, in real time, at the helm, to a completely independent weather/navigation/info source is awesome and it gives all the flexibility of display setup that's available through multiple Garmin screens. I think one of the biggest benefits is that the ActiveCaptain and actual chart navigation info via Navionics is continually updated without operator action like is required on our chartplotters. So, I don't have to worry that the inevitable waterway/bridge emergent repair/maintenance work has popped up or that other boaters have found a new shoaling area or hazard that I am not aware of since I haven't updated my chartplotter immediately before departing. Also, I have found the Navionics data sources don't rely solely on NOAA data, so the info available from both charts is sometimes different in terms of depth, navaid locations relative to hazards, program depths in restricted channels, etc. I don't have a preference between the NOAA and Navionics charts since they are complementary in the info they provide and I like having both as ready references, but I'm not sure I will routinely pay for frequent Garmin chart upgrades. Since both our chartplotter and Navionics app have auto-route functionality, it's been a big voyage planning help to let both systems recommend a route based on their chart data, then review them and revise track points to come up with the optimal route.

Still figuring some of the functionality and benefits out, but so far I'm a believer in the Navionics/Garmin/ActiveCaptain integration.

Mike

Brian, how did you attach the mounting plate to the console? Looks great, by the way!

Gordon

Cutwater28GG":2fdnf5yk said:

Much difference between the latest g3 maps on the garmin vs the navionics mapping?

I assume you bought the cellular version to have the gps version?

Click to expand...

The information currently for my area is the same G3 and Navionics. The advantage navionics through app. (advertised) is t is continually updating mapping information. The Garmin G3 updates are not as current. The Garmin G3 mapping looks the same as the G2 just a lot more information. The LakeVu G3 using fishing chart is much better in my opinion. Our boating on Lake Michigan along with lakes and river that connect, the mapping is much better.

I do have the cellular version. In order to have built-in GPS you must purchase the cellular version. The GPS function does not require cellular service to work. If you are in an area with no cell service you do not loose the navigation function of the charting (GPS). You need the cellular to run the weather apps, updates, and to watch Cubs games!!! We have a Hot spot on board that works well. I installed a smart TV, iPad and our smart phones all link to the Hotspot on board and use the unlimited data from the Hotspot.

baz":2fdnf5yk said:

Question: Can the iPad display a different chart display than what the main/primary 7612 is displaying ? I'm assuming the iPad is connected to the primary Garmin 7612's locally hosted Wi-Fi network, and that you're using ActiveCaptain application on the iPad. For example can the primary 7612 be displaying a chart showing your position and auto guidance while the iPad is showing the Sonar display so you can see where the fish are lurking 😉 ?

🙂

Click to expand...

I am using the Active Captain app. and can mirror the iPad to the chart plotter. The only time we will do that is navigating in bad weather. I can mirror the chart with Radar overlay, my wife can monitor information around us so we have two eyes looking at individual screens. She can be in any part of the boat monitoring it, the iPad is easily removed. When using the iPad for navigation I have all mapping installed independent of chart plotter. Same G3 mapping is installed in the iPad as the Garmin 7612 along with all routing and waypoints.I can have auto guidance on using the 7612 and have the same chart pulled up on the iPad showing my position. Switch the 7612 to Sonar display and still have navigation and position still displayed on the iPad. and autopilot is still navigating in auto guidance via 7612. The iPad and 7612 are operating separately. The navionics mapping is also down loaded on the iPad. I can not use sonar display or radar on the iPad unless it is mirrored. All other navigation is independent. The iPad also gives my Weather ,tides, wave, current apps along with BoatUS app( all my information is in the BoatUS app. along with my location( iPads GPS) if I need assistance open the app and hit Need a tow. Help will be on the way. ( I haven't used this, I was told by BoatUS that this is the way it works)

Brian: This iPad Pro holder would have worked for you. It was one I purchased to be ready for using the iPad as a 2nd display had I not gone with having a 2nd 7612 on my boat.

RAM-HOL-AP21U EZ-Roll’r Cradle for the Apple iPad Pro 12.9"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0 ... UTF8&psc=1

I had bought this iPad holder and was ready to use it but as things turned out I ended up with a factory installed 2nd 7612 display. 😱 ...so this holder at this time is sitting on a shelf somewhere. 😉

gwishon":2bn8wt1c said:

Brian, how did you attach the mounting plate to the console? Looks great, by the way!

Gordon

Click to expand...

It is mounted with 2, 1" #8 SS oval head screws. The photo of the holder without iPad installed shows screw location. The Dash is 1/2" plywood covered with vinyl material The back side of the plywood has a small air gap and then fiberglass. I cut radiuses in each corner of the back of the holder to eliminate sharp corners damaging the vinyl.

Thanks, Brian!

BTW, you do not need to purchase a cellular-capable iPad if you use a GPS receiver such as this one. Works perfectly on my wifi-only iPad.


https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Elf-GPS-Ligh ... 4866&psc=1

Gordon

gwishon":9mgpgpu8 said:

Thanks, Brian!

BTW, you do not need to purchase a cellular-capable iPad if you use a GPS receiver such as this one. Works perfectly on my wifi-only iPad.


https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Elf-GPS-Ligh ... 4866&psc=1

Gordon

Click to expand...

We have owned a half-dozen iPads since they first came out in April 2010. I waited for the cellular-capable original iPad because I knew it would a GPS receiver in the cellular chip. There were a lot of nay-sayers back then, who said it wouldn't work without being connected to a cell tower... they were eventually proved wrong (as we happily used our in open water and other areas that didn't have cell coverage). When asked about it back then (we were already using it for marine navigation), I let people know that you had to have a cellular-capable iPad, but you did NOT need to sign up for cellular coverage. Then, the Bad Elf and others began marketing small GPS receivers made to work with iPads.

Of those half dozen iPads (from the original to a current iPad Pro 12.9) all have been cellular except one that was gifted to my wife (from our son-in-law). We did buy a Bad Elf for that iPad, and it does work fine.

All that said, if buying, I would buy one that is cellular-capable. The cost difference between wifi only and cellular-capable is about the same as the cost of a Bad Elf. From my perspective, better to have the GPS receiver built in rather than carry around a small dongle. The Bad Elf is a good solution IF you already own a wifi only iPad.

gwishon":15ww4tah said:

All that said, if buying, I would buy one that is cellular-capable. The cost difference between wifi only and cellular-capable is about the same as the cost of a Bad Elf. From my perspective, better to have the GPS receiver built in rather than carry around a small dongle. The Bad Elf is a good solution IF you already own a wifi only iPad.

Click to expand...

When I purchased my new iPad at Apple store. I told the Apple specialist I wanted the cellular capable tablet. He then asked me what cellular service I use. I told him I'm not using a service, we use a hot spot. He then told me I could save $130.00 if I purchased without cellular-capable. I then told him I need the built in GPS that comes with the cellular-capable. He then said you have to have cellular service for the GPS to work. I questioned this statement and asked him to confirm that information. He left for a few minutes and came back saying" you learn something every day the GPS works without cellular. He then said some applications need cellular service to work correctly with GPS. The mapping does not.

This is our second iPad. We used the older the same way and it was a great back up navigation devise. The issue with it is we have so many different applications downloaded it was some times clumsy finding what I was looking for Weather, navigation ..... Also the older was 32GB making it hard to download the Garmin G3 mapping. The new iPad I purchased is 256 GB. The newly purchased iPad is only going to be used for navigation and boating tools with the exception of MLB at Bat (Cubs Games) and our TV viewing applications.

The "geniuses" (genii?) at the Apple Store have no idea about marine navigation. I have been told repeatedly that what we DO won't work. :roll: Those "geniuses" would be mistaken.

You do need some connectivity to load the apps and get the map sections loaded (if that is how your choice of nav app works). For most consumers (non-mariners), their use would be as a car GPS; we do have one early "automobile GPS" app that needs to have cellular or wifi connection to continually update the map position (if you drive out of the area shown on your screen, you will have no mapping info - even though you will still have GPS information) - don't confuse that with the marine nav apps, where you purchase "sections" or load NOAA charts. The marine nav apps DEFINITELY work as long as you have a GPS chip (part of the cellular capability) in your iPad, or the separate purchase of an external GPS (like the Bad Elf).

I had a wifi-only iPad gifted to me. Bad Elf was the only way to go!

Gordon

BB marine":wl2enz41 said:

gwishon":wl2enz41 said:

All that said, if buying, I would buy one that is cellular-capable. The cost difference between wifi only and cellular-capable is about the same as the cost of a Bad Elf. From my perspective, better to have the GPS receiver built in rather than carry around a small dongle. The Bad Elf is a good solution IF you already own a wifi only iPad.

Click to expand...

When I purchased my new iPad at Apple store. I told the Apple specialist I wanted the cellular capable tablet. He then asked me what cellular service I use. I told him I'm not using a service, we use a hot spot. He then told me I could save $130.00 if I purchased without cellular-capable. I then told him I need the built in GPS that comes with the cellular-capable. He then said you have to have cellular service for the GPS to work. I questioned this statement and asked him to confirm that information. He left for a few minutes and came back saying" you learn something every day the GPS works without cellular. He then said some applications need cellular service to work correctly with GPS. The mapping does not.

This is our second iPad. We used the older the same way and it was a great back up navigation devise. The issue with it is we have so many different applications downloaded it was some times clumsy finding what I was looking for Weather, navigation ..... Also the older was 32GB making it hard to download the Garmin G3 mapping. The new iPad I purchased is 256 GB. The newly purchased iPad is only going to be used for navigation and boating tools with the exception of MLB at Bat (Cubs Games) and our TV viewing applications.

Click to expand...

Brian,
You are a South sider, I think you mean White Sox games.

Cubs fan since 1969 my first home opener as a child! I'm a Chicago fan so I will watch Sox if the Cubs are not playing. There are some south siders that are Cubs fans you know! 😀

Brian might you be able to give me some more information on the construction of your iPad holder and where are you got the wood to build it? Thanks it looks great

JamesTXSD":2cpasg7t said:

gwishon":2cpasg7t said:

All that said, if buying, I would buy one that is cellular-capable. The cost difference between wifi only and cellular-capable is about the same as the cost of a Bad Elf. From my perspective, better to have the GPS receiver built in rather than carry around a small dongle. The Bad Elf is a good solution IF you already own a wifi only iPad.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Don't think about the cost difference as a one-time thing. The Bad Elf (or similar GPS dongle, whether Bluetooth or Lightning) could last five years; if you have two iPads in that time, the Bad Elf or even a higher-end Garmin bluetooth GPS is 1/3 the price (Garmin link below). A cheap Bluetooth GPS is only $50 (also linked below).

So if you combine the fact that the external GPS is buy once, use with multiple iPads (whether yours or shared among family), it starts to look like a better deal.

https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-GLO-Bluet ... 07M9CZYTD/

https://www.amazon.com/GlobalSat-BT-821 ... 005QXYEA8/

Also, if you happen to have an Android phone, there are apps that will turn the Android phone into a Bluetooth GPS that can be used from an iPad. And yes, you can do whatever else you want with the phone (the app doesn't have to be in the foreground). The comparable iPhone app, which I linked in a different thread, just turns your iPhone into an NMEA2000 WiFi gateway with GPS, which is probably trickier to configure.

Jp.":31gzaaoq said:

Brian might you be able to give me some more information on the construction of your iPad holder and where are you got the wood to build it? Thanks it looks great

Click to expand...

I used 1/2" plywood then stained with a close match to the veneer used in the Cutwater interior. The holder was a simple build and iPad has proven to be a good second source for navigation. I use Navionics for redundant chart plotter . I use the auto routing on the Navionics then export the routes to Active Captain. The routes are saved to My Data routes on the Garmin Chart plotter.

I second the motion of using an iPad as a second or backup chart plotter. On our Kadey Krogen 39 Pilothouse trawler, we run Aquamaps on our iPad because it interfaces with a third party AIS provider (Vesper) for both transmit and receive. The boat has 2004 Furuno electronics that is very stable. But, the maps are no longer supported. Thus, the iPad. We are very happy with it.

Related note, on our Ranger 27, Trilogy, I wanted to receive AIS signals because the commercial traffic on the Salish Sea can be intense and I wanted to where that 30 knot freighter was and the name of Washington State Ferry so I could call them specifically on the radio to tell the Captain what I was going to do to stay out of their way (they really, really like that). So rather than buying the Garmin black box, when the Garmin VHF radio, had issues, I replaced it with one that received AIS signals. Hooked it into the NEMA network and Voila, the chartplotter displayed the the vessels sending AIS signals. The radio was also moved to the top of the cabinet where it was easy to use.