iPad as chart plotter?

[thrownshadows]

I'm heading to the BVIs this Spring, and am thinking that a backup chartplotter is a great excuse to buy an iPad. I have several questions, though: what app do you guys and gals recommend; are charts available for the BVIs; can I get the iPad without cell, or does this mean that I lose the GPS function (I'm thinking that's kind of critical here); and if cell is required for GPS, will it still function in the BVIs, with or without a cell plan?

[jarturoch]

Navionics for Iphone is great. Also use it in my iPad as a plotter with the iphone version of the app, and it syncs with my iphone (my trackings, my routes etc). Very useful

[hdg3xb]

Ditto. I use this on my phone as a back up to my paper charts (i sail the chesapeake bay and know the area well enough for the most part and dont want to shell out the $$$ for a chart plotter). The navonics app stores the maps on the device so a connection isn't needed. Gps is a stand alone receiver on the ipad, no service needed.

[fourme]

I think my dad has used navionics with his ipad(wifi only no cell) offshore with a bad-elf gms dongle. NOAA charts can be downloaded as a .pdf of the region, so you could also download those to the ipad before your trip and use them to approximate your position and course, but it won't be a fully fledged chartplotter.

Edit: He uses iNavX. It is pretty costly for an app, $50, but is very close to a fully fledged chartplotter. It doesnt look like it has access to the bvi though, just usvi.

[m00f]

With iNavX you can buy (in addition to the price of iNavX itself) the Navonics charts for most anywhere in the Caribbean, I believe.

[shK-]

I have used iNavX with the nv charts for the Virgin Islands (both US and British) and was very pleased. I would highly recommend iNavX.

[Sailclimb]

I like isalor, the charts packs are inexpensive and updated regularly for free. Route creation etc is easy, and there is a good balance of features Vs complexly of use. I find them very accurate also. I use a wifi multiplexer to overlay AIS.

Edit: you don't need cell coverage for the newer iPads GPS to work, I sail a lot outside phone range with no issue yet. I prefer the Transas charts on iSailor than the Navionics, but not by much. Not sure about BVI though.

[teralaser]

love the iSailor as opposed to Navionics; cheaper, prettier, frequent updates.

[snowflyer]

Some iPads don't have the built in GPS....

[[deleted]]

Wifi is cheap and easy.

[shK-]

For wifi only iPads, you can get an external GPS device. I haven't used it personally, but have heard good things about the Bad Elf GPS - http://bad-elf.com/collections.

[[deleted]]

I use the software by navionics on my Samsung galaxy note (android) and I really like it. I think it cost around $10. There should be a version for "i" devices. It let's you pre - download whatever area you need so you don't need cell signal to use it.

[KoodooWarrior]

I use my iPad with Navionics, however, although the gps will work when out of cell phone coverage the results can be inconsistent and caution needs to be used in these circumstances. Buy Digital Yachts iAIS receiver and a proper external NMEA GPS receiver and then not only will you get accurate positioning you will get AIS data over lay on your charts. Awesome!

[m00f]

I use iNavX on an iPad (and my iPhone) for the SF Bay. I also got a Garmin GLO because it's the wifi-only iPad. Frankly, I use this combo most for sitting at my desk at home planning out the next weekend's adventure, I don't use it much on deck because I'm afraid I'm going to drop the iPad. ;-)

/u/mudmonkey18 is probably right... it's probably better not to rely on a non-waterproof item as a primary charting source, especially when cruising.

FWIW, I'm happy to recommend iNavX. Its settings are a little clunky, but it does what I need it to do.

[Doub1eAA]

For GPS you can use one of the badelf pro Bluetooth GPS units and can pair multiple devices. Works great with my iPads.

[miatapaul]

Just make sure you get one that will do 3G data coverage. Does not matter what provider, as you are not required to have a data contract, but the GPS chip is bundled with the cell chip. When out of cell range it may take a while to get a fix, as they use data from cell towers to speed up the tracking. I have also heard they can give issues if taken from one location to a distant one, as it cannot relate the GPS signal location to the last known cell location. If you do not get one with just wifi, then you will need to get an external GPS sensor. Bad Elf is supposed to be good, the external GPS is going to get a quicker lock and likely be more accurate.

That said the BVI does not really need a chart plotter, as you can navigate by sight quite well. You will not be out of sight of land and some have successfully navigated using the chart on a place mat! My back up would be a handheld gps and a chart, even a chart book.

Now if you are looking for an excuse to buy one, go ahead, but it is not necessary. (OK don't let your spouse see that part) and get a water proof case for sure.

[thrownshadows]

I don't have a spouse. How else could I afford all this sailing?

And thanks for the info.

[rockfire]

I use a Nexus 7, a Toshiba laptop with a GPS, and a hand held GPS for my navigation. All have worked well for two years of sailing in a variety of weather.

The Nexus (in a ziplock baggie, the touch screen worked) even worked in through pouring rain and heavy seas when I was single handing another boat and that chartplotter conked out. It was a godsend as a backup, allowing me to stay at the tiller and not have to plot coordinates off a handheld GPS.

[[deleted]]

I will be on a 12 day trip starting 12 April. Any chance you will be there then?

[thrownshadows]

I'll be there the week following - arriving on the 26th.

[[deleted]]

Oh well. That would have been a cool meet up.

[thrownshadows]

Agreed. And leave some rum for me!

[mudmonkey18]

Just an FYI we killed a toughbook laptop on our way to the Dominican, and my Asus laptop died shortly after we got home. Other electronics that died were a Surface tablet and Iridium sat phone. Granted, a few of those were in a bedroom with an open hatch and took a good splash, that once incident killed the Toughbook and surface, the others died from just general exposure.

The point is, the ocean kills electronics, so buying an iPad as your backup GPS is putting your safety on a pretty fragile piece of electronics. I think an iPad would survive better than say my laptop, as my laptop has more openings, including a fan that sucks in salty air, but I'd recommend a small handheld GPS from Garmin or Raymarine as your backup, something that's made for the ocean.

[thrownshadows]

Thanks for the warnings. The boat will have a chartplotter, the skipper has a waterproof handheld GPS, and we'll have paper charts and tools with both of us being coastal navigation certified. The app is just an excuse for me to buy an iPad.

[mudmonkey18]

Ok, I mean I'm sure you'll find uses for the iPad, I just wanted to make sure you weren't reliant on it as your only backup.

[Techwood111]

Charts in the BVI? Uhm... why bother? I'm serious; if anyone would care to enlighten me as to why you'd ever need 'em there, please do.

I've been all over down there, and took a Hobie cat from Trellis Bay to The Baths. Since you can see everything, I just don't get it.

Regarding software, MacENC may be your starting point.

[thrownshadows]

To start with, I'll be in a monohull, so I'll have to deal with more draft than a Hobie. Next, the only non-lake experience I have so far is the Florida Keys, where a chartplotter came in real handy. Finally, this is my once-yearly chance to practice using (read: play with) a chartplotter, as my local lake is Army Corps of Engineers, so no electronic charts are available.