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FYI
There is also an app for android based devises called navtronics ... it has all the charts ... works without internet ... takes waypoints and routes ... you can add pics and any point and it will store them for visual reference ... does track line ... measurments .... and lots more .... I use it on my few trips and love it ... its $10.00 for a android devise, but $80.00 for your laptop ... just my two cents

capthb26x wrote:FYI
There is also an app for android based devises called navtronics ... it has all the charts ... works without internet ... takes waypoints and routes ... you can add pics and any point and it will store them for visual reference ... does track line ... measurments .... and lots more .... I use it on my few trips and love it ... its $10.00 for a android devise, but $80.00 for your laptop ... just my two cents

Ii was just about to research Navtronics--thanks for your timely post

Bob

I believe it is called: "Navionics".

~Rich

I believe it is called: "Navionics".

~Rich

Yeah, it works pretty well, downloads a whole coast at once and is similar to garmin maps. If you have an unsupported device like I did just download the .apk to your computer and install it. I actually liked it better than my garmin for anchorages on tight creeks of the chesapeake, very easy shading to follow skinny channels at a glance.

Navionics


Earth NC gives you unlimited chart downloads and topos for inland areas where there are no charts. Good detail but harder to follow depths if you are navigating at a glance while also reading the water.

Charts


Topos



There are many choices in Android GPS for well under $100 now.

If there are Android tablets that have navigation apps available and also have built in GPS, then great. A drawback to the IPad is that the IPad technology is based on the assumption your desktop computer is a Mac. Transferring files, syncing files, and making backups using a Windows computer for the IPad is not easy, and at times can be very confusing.
I have spent countless hours learning the quirky ways of the IPad.

Apple products remind me of my report cards from my early years: The check box for "Does not play well with others" was always marked.

~Rich

...I'm fully Apple both at home with the family (7 users) and my sales and marketing team ( 9 users).....both spheres work without IT intervention....my Overworked IT guys are the biggest fans since they get no support load from my team

Cost wise I've found the depreciation curve so favorable on Mac stuff ...you can typically upgrade every other generation and recoup 50% of purchase price on eBay or CL on ipad, for example ...especially if you buy the higher level storage devices ...when ipad3 came out I got 550 for my ipad 2 for example.

Apple stuff gets a much higher grade than my early report card

I prefer a gadget (tablet...) that shows my current position and a path to follow on a GPS movine map

Problem is: the iPad is very susceptible to moisture damage, and we r sailing on water. Spray and splash are very bad for it.

So i would prefer to use something waterproof.

So I could be inclined to use iPad as backup, keeping it below in water proof container until needed for reference, and prefer to use waterproof GPS for normal navigation.

I boat offshore, southern Cslifornia. It's usually nice, but sometimes you get spray that could destroy a phone or tablet.

Nonetheless, I use a GPS w moving map for primary nav, and compass for second (dead reaconing), and keep my pad or phone for remote backup.


Haven't even needed them yet. Save their batteries for use at moor in destination.

J

They make some good waterproof cases for the iPad that would be suitable for use in a marine environment.
Here is an example of one: http://www.moxiware.com/

I have a Lowrance Chartplotter/GPS, but would like to use my 3G iPad as a backup.

Paulieb

The New iPad Mini has been launched http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/overview/
WiFi and cellular model has GPS (yes proper GPS using signals from satellites and not just cell towers )
This runs all the iPad apps so Navionics should work fine. $560 for the base model with WiFi and Cellular (and GPS). As already discussed only the cellular models have GPS as it is all on the one chip.

Fully waterproof cases would not be far off if they are not available already.

Phil M wrote:Although I am specifically referring to the Ipad3 with is GPS capability, any similar device will do. The old rule of thumb to always carry paper charts as a backup in case something goes haywire with your chartplotter - is no longer valid. The electronics for the IPad are completely independent of the chartplotter, and if something goes wrong with your boat's electronic systems, your IPad is the backup. Add in such things as Active Captain, and the ability to hold many dozens of paper charts in one device, the argument can be made that such a tablet is BETTER than having paper charts stashed in a locker somewhere down below.

While I see where you're coming from, and especially for our brown-water boats your point is likely spot on, paper charts are very inexpensive and easy to store. I keep mind behind the galley. I just don't see a reason not to carry them. Then again, I'm the guy who taught himself celestial navigation in the Navy (which is no longer required for any rate) and ded. reckoning, so I'm a big fan of being able to do things without anything but your brain and some simple tools.

I've also spent three days completely adrift at sea on a 500 foot long cruiser that had lost all power, so I can tell you a lot about how very smart people can fail to consider that back-up systems are often subject to various unanticipated cascading failures. iPads get dropped, a small amount of wetness can take them out, and if you find yourself adrift without power, you've only got ten hours to find your way home before that battery is gone (although, admittedly a charged Group 24 battery would probably run an iPad for a month).

My biggest problem with the iPad is that the kids have always burnt off the battery playing games and watching movies. But I absolutely agree its the best backup for a chart-plotter available.

You might be able to convince me that along with a 15 watt solar charger and an iPad that had been vapor deposition sealed (like http://www.liquipel.com) would make a reasonable replacement for paper charts.

mastreb wrote:
While I see where you're coming from, and especially for our brown-water boats your point is likely spot on, paper charts are very inexpensive and easy to store.

Brown water?

Navionics for the west coast cost $25. How many paper charts would you have to buy to cover the west coast?

My biggest problem with the iPad is that the kids have always burnt off the battery playing games and watching movies. But I absolutely agree its the best backup for a chart-plotter available.

Buy your kids a Nintendo DS for a lot less money than an IPad.

You might be able to convince me that along with a 15 watt solar charger and an iPad that had been vapor deposition sealed (like http://www.liquipel.com) would make a reasonable replacement for paper charts.

Solar power might easily recharge a tablet, but they require so little juice that recharging overnight from your house battery is less hassle.

Phil M wrote:Brown water?

Brown water is the Navy term for a littoral or coastal areas, and blue water is the open ocean. Sorry--thought that term was more universal.

Otherwise, we're talking about individual opinions based on different estimations and acceptance of risk and different perceptions of value. It's exceptionally remote that anyone on this board will encounter a situation they can't get out of with an iPad, so I'm not disagreeing--I do all my trip planning on the iPad even when a full laptop is close at hand because the user interface for mapping is just better period. Its also a better U/I than any chartplotter I've ever seen, and I'd love to see a waterproof binnacle mount for them that provides power and interfaces to my NMEA 2000 devices. With those capabilities I'd strongly consider it as a primary chart plotter.

I just don't see the cost, storage, or knowledge required to also use paper charts to be any kind of barrier, so I keep them aboard.

Matt

mastreb wrote:...-I do all my trip planning on the iPad even when a full laptop is close at hand because the user interface for mapping is just better period. Its also a better U/I than any chartplotter I've ever seen,...

Interesting, what makes it different than say one of the navigation programs that are either free or that you pay for on a pc where you just click, click, click and have a route and information about the route right there and can easily transfer to another device such as a chart plotter in a few seconds or use on the pc?

And here I thought brown water was sailing on the Mississippi and I'm with you in that I'll keep my paper charts also, which are much quicker to look at if I just want to check an area out,

Sum

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Waterproofing ipad?

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