What's are your favorite sailing, navigation and weather apps?

[Rick R.]

I posted on a thread Christian startd about a backup GPS and thought it might be useful to share what we all use.

We use the app called "GPS Nautical Charts" on the iPad and iPhone. I've used it crossing the Gulf of Mexico and navigating all over the BVI.

In addition, I have two files on the desktop on my iPad titled 1-Weather and 2- Sailing that have direct links to:

1) Weather
Sailflow
Passageweather.com
NOAA Marine Forecast
Buoyweather
Tides.mobilegeographics.com
Wunderground

2) Sailing
GPS Nautical Charts
Pilot Charts
Active Captain
Sail
Cruisers Forum
EYO

Rick

 

[toddster]

On the iPhone, I am still actually using an app called "MotionX," which was a simple road map app when I first bought it. Over the years, free upgrades have expanded the thing so that you can switch between highway maps, topographic maps, NOAA charts, and satellite images - probably some others too. Gives audio turn-by-turn directions on the highway. Possibly the best ten dollars I have ever spent. In fact, I haven't taken the time to study it enough to take advantage of all the features. The only real drawback is that in NOAA chart mode, the depth markings and buoy info are too small to see. If you try to zoom in on them, you have about half a second before they snap back to unreadably small text. Also, unless you pre-load all of the charts for your area, you may get stuck between charts if the cellular data connection flakes out. If you DO pre-load all the charts, it can easily exceed the memory capacity of your phone, so you have to make careful selections.

e.g. Once last summer I was on an unfamiliar stretch of the river and an oil tanker was rapidly bearing down on me. I needed to know if the broad section of the river outside the marked navigation channel was deep enough to sail into. But I had gone over the edge and the next chart wouldn't load in time. I had to blow the sails so that I could let go of the tiller and dive down below to grab the paper chart.

 

[toddster]

Hey, just yesterday I came across an ad for an app called "SonarPhone" which connects wirelessly to a little gadget that you can tow or cast with a fishing rod and provides a fish-finder/sonar type display on your phone. Looks like a cool toy. Has anybody tried it?

 

[Rick R.]

M experience with the Mais App by MarineTraffic.com.

A few months ago we were in a heavy storm in the ICW between Pensacola and Orange Beach, AL. We were in a very narrow part of the ICW and couldn't see farther than maybe 20 yds.

I checked the Mais App on my iPhone for commercial traffic (we have a lot of barge traffic in the ICW) and it showed nothing nearby.

In 15 minutes when the rain let up, I was able to see a tug with two barges heading towards us maybe 1/4 mi off the bow. I hailed the skipper and told him we would pass him on the 1. He affirmed.

Then I asked if he had his AIS transponder on (which he did). When I told him he did not show up he asked me to go to another VHF channel so we could talk. He asked what program I was using and when I told him, he said DO NOT USE THAT ONE! He had it on his iPhone too and it was not dependable and had areas where it was "blacked-out".

I told him I was just using it as another aid and would be upgrading to the real thing soon. Then he asked, "Do you see that vessel coming up behind you?"

It was another tug with two big barges! MAIS didn't show that one either.