Navionics alternative - Orca chartplotter iPad

[gabriel]

Just wanted to share, search didn’t turn up anything.

This navigation app for iPad seems like it could be a good alternative to navionics. I was suprised to find working marine traffic AIS overlayed and automatic route making like navionics as well! No subscription required.

Orca | Navigate safer with enhanced AIS data

Navigate safer with enhanced AIS monitoring, TCPA and CPA.

getorca.com

They also offer an interesting ppiece of hardware that works with the nav app:

Orca | Orca Core - modern navigation

Orca is navigation for the modern boater. Meticulously designed to help you plan and find your way at sea, without getting in your way.

getorca.com

 

[Smixon75]

Fair Isle Sailing did a nice review on the product. Very interesting!

 

[Christian Williams]

"...all you need is a cellular internet connection"

Are they selling that as well? What am I missing.

 

[Elgyn]

I briefly looked into Orca a while ago and it looks like a decent system. Ruggedized tablet running a proprietary version of navionics like software. Nothing jumped out at me saying "buy this because......" . With a bit of computer knowledge you can get the same with OpenCPN for a fraction of the cost

 

[bigd14]

Does anyone have real use experience with the Orca system? I don’t have a good space at the helm for a chartplotter and don’t want to try to mount one on a bulkhead so a tablet style system with a dodger frame mount seems best. The Orca hub and tablet combo seems like a pretty cost effective way to go, with iPhone running Navionics or Orca as a backup.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Does anyone have real use experience with the Orca system? I don’t have a good space at the helm for a chartplotter and don’t want to try to mount one on a bulkhead so a tablet style system with a dodger frame mount seems best. The Orca hub and tablet combo seems like a pretty cost effective way to go, with iPhone running Navionics or Orca as a backup.

I'm pretty sure that's what @Angel D. has been using . He's a big fan. It got him from NJ to PR.

 

[Angel D.]

I'm pretty sure that's what @Angel D. has been using . He's a big fan. It got him from NJ to PR.

Hello Guys !
I have indeed use the ORCA System... it does have a bunch of cool features . Mainly , the app is free and within US waters you have many charts with detailed information on the free app. If you are a coastal sailor you will not need much more than your cell phone or tablet and as long as you have LTE cell phone tower reach it will enjoy the AIS data from it. And GPS is as accurate as your cell phone can be.

Now , offshore is a different deal. Without a cell tower reach you may use your Starlink for AIS data. How ever ,.. data offshore is a precious recourse.

I was lucky to get a ORCA Core second hand . It goes into the boat 2K network and uses the AIS from the transponder or radio wish is always on anyways. It will get 2K network data and use it. Almost all data is available but take into account that Radar have to be a compatible model. A digital radar is required for this. Although my Radar is digital ,Garmin is not compatible for now.

It is good to have redundancy on all systems , yet I found out that for my offshore passage from North Carolina to Puerto Rico must of the time was just my Hydrovane, Compass and Radio GPS/AIS transducer that I needed. Starlink in the morning and evening for weather reports and update texts for shore crew. Navionics ,Orca , Open CPN and the Garmin and paper charts on board but like the Starlink used a couple time a day just in case I drift away of course .

On coastal is a blessing. GPS is way more accurate than a cell phone because its from the network data and I found the cell phone unable to connect to the satellites properly at times and will show the track going way out of the magenta line. This is bad when doing the ICW on a deep keel . Fortunately is all mud.

ORCA is handy tool. For me would be better if I had more 2k network data systems to share. Like a wind instrument for example.

 

[Angel D.]

I briefly looked into Orca a while ago and it looks like a decent system. Ruggedized tablet running a proprietary version of navionics like software. Nothing jumped out at me saying "buy this because......" . With a bit of computer knowledge you can get the same with OpenCPN for a fraction of the cost

Elgyn ,... you are absolutely right. Open CPN will do it. Plus I was able to get Radar view using one of their modules and a basic router switch. Had to borrow a Cat5 cramping tool to make my own cables but save a lot of money that way . Hundreds of dollars in savings.

 

[vanilladuck]

I just dropped a blog article about Orca. Enjoy!

E32-3 - Is Orca the New Apex Predator of Marine Navigation?

Disclaimer: This review is biased. I have spent enough on marine electronics over the last decade to fund a small private navy, and my opinions are heavily influenced by tears shed and expletives grumbled. I've owned Raymarine, installed and...

ericsonyachts.org

 

[gabriel]

I just dropped a blog article about Orca. Enjoy!

E32-3 - Is Orca the New Apex Predator of Marine Navigation?

Disclaimer: This review is biased. I have spent enough on marine electronics over the last decade to fund a small private navy, and my opinions are heavily influenced by tears shed and expletives grumbled. I've owned Raymarine, installed and...

ericsonyachts.org

nice write up vanilla, much appreciated!

I’m still using Orca and I like it. I now have starlink that takes care of the internet connection. Technology!