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I'm looking at options for chart plotting, at the moment I will most likely buy a Garmin GPSMAP 551 chart plotter but I do also have a Motorola Xoom tablet and for under $50 I can download Navionics as a planning and supplement tool, has anyone used this in Australian waters and is it as good as the web site suggests?

Thanks, Dennis.

Hi Dennis

I originally was using my Iphone with ISAILOR so was disappointed when it wasn't available for my new Android Motorola Razor. So I did download Navionics and downloaded the map and everything seems to work well. I'm sure it was no where near that expensive for a phone apps. Haven't had the chance to use plotter yet but might get a chance to use it more over the long weekend. Will get back then.

Hi.
I used the ap on my galaxy phone while in the Whitsundys and was very happy. Worked well and depths and contours were identical with my depth sounder. Price, from memory was around $30. I now have an android tablet and would also like to know of any others experience before I buy it. Price has increased a fair bit though.

I ended up buying Navionics for the Motorola Xoom2 tablet (android) and used it last time I went out, I was very impressed for the price, I wont bother buying a chart plotter now, this does not replace a chart plotter but it does do everything I need, it plots my position and keeps a trace of it, it allows me to create a track and follow it, it calculates distance and speed etc etc, it needs a couple of improvements but definately worth the money. The maps are free and can be downloaded easily, they appear very accurate against my sounder and have more than enough detail for sailing. no bugs have been noticed yet. It is also handy to have on your knee while at home planning future trips also. Biggest downside is using a tablet in the cockpit, not easily handled while sailing and subject to salt and water damage, not sure how to best protect it yet. Happy to answer any questions if you have them. Cheers, Dennis.

sunshinecoasting wrote:I ended up buying Navionics for the Motorola Xoom2 tablet (android) and used it last time I went out, I was very impressed for the price, I wont bother buying a chart plotter now, this does not replace a chart plotter but it does do everything I need, it plots my position and keeps a trace of it, it allows me to create a track and follow it, it calculates distance and speed etc etc, it needs a couple of improvements but definately worth the money. The maps are free and can be downloaded easily, they appear very accurate against my sounder and have more than enough detail for sailing. no bugs have been noticed yet. It is also handy to have on your knee while at home planning future trips also. Biggest downside is using a tablet in the cockpit, not easily handled while sailing and subject to salt and water damage, not sure how to best protect it yet. Happy to answer any questions if you have them. Cheers, Dennis.

Totally agree with sunshinecoaster. Running navionics/on my Acer A500 - definitely worth the price but watch protecting your device against salt air and water.

Hi Shadow,

I have used it every time I have been out since then and really come to appreciate it, the screen misbehaves when it gets water drops on it which of course is no fault of either navionics or the device, so far I am still impressed with something that cost less than $50, as you may have read on another post I am planning a Xmas trip to the Gold Coast and have used Navionics heavily to plan routes etc. I also like how you can take a photo and save it in archives with the GPS location and comments, almost like a travelogue, great tool.

Try this waterproof case: lifeproof.com

I'm not affiliated, just own one on my iphone and it works awesomely. You can take it down up to 6m underwater. You lose a bit of sound quality is only drawback, but I use headphones or stereo anyway. I wash my phone under the tap every week. Never had a leak.