Using iPad As Chartplotter (Is it a Good Idea?)

When I was looking for Chartplotter options for my boat, I discovered that some people were using and recommending an iPad as a Chartplotter. Beeing that I’m a technology fan but mostly Apple fan, I had to try using my iPad to guide my boat. So I did a lot of research and testing on the subject and want to share with you what I learned.

So is it a good idea to use an iPad as a Chartplotter? The short and broad answer is yes, your iPad can replace a regular Chartplotter without issue. The long and more accurate answer is that it depends on your specific needs when boating.

People use boats for a lot of different activities, this is why using an iPad as a Chartplotter might work for me but not for you. In this article, I’m going to provide you with the information you need to decide if using an iPad as a Chartplotter is a good idea for you or not.

Using An Ipad As Chartplotter Real Life Experience

In the last couple of years, I have been testing using my iPhone and an iPad as chartplotters. So far, they have performed very well, I have used both iPhone and iPad multiple occasions on the east and west coasts of Florida without any issues. I have even used my iPad on 2 different times to take my boat from Florida to the Bahamas, totaling over 600 nautical miles.

I have experienced great success using both my iPad and iPhone as chartplotters over the past couple of years. I have also talked to other boaters and done a lot of research. It is definite that the opinion is split among boaters. Some are very content using the technology while others firmly refuse.

Here are the experience and opinion of a seasoned sailor.

Last year we sailed around 700 miles using an iPad Pro and Transas iSailor as our only plotter (we do also have onboard GPS and charts). It served us absolutely perfectly on two Scillies trips and various other coastal jaunts, I literally couldn’t find fault.

For this year, I was toying with splashing out on a dedicated plotter, but after assessing the functionality features and price, I can’t really see why. The way I see it, the benefits ultimately outweigh the negatives.

Benefits:

The plotter apps (iSailor or Navionics) appear to be excellent and are very regularly updated
You’ve a 9-10 inch touchscreen display right out of the box
You’ve got a mobile computer with a host of other apps and uses (sailing orientated or otherwise)
You’ve a great backup power supply – the battery. With an inbuilt unit, if you lose power, you’ve lost your plotter
Detachable mounts mean that the potential for theft is eliminated

Negatives:

You could lose it overboard (but not with a decent mount)

There’s potential for other apps to crash the system (but inevitably any inbuilt plotter runs the same risk?)
It’s not waterproof (unless it’s wrapped in a waterproof case)
It won’t interact with other instruments (but is that really a big deal?)

On the other hand, here is the opinion of a seasoned boater with over 18 of experience on the water.

The tablet is not very practical on an open boat. You’ll be MUCH happier with a Chartplotter

you can see it in daylight (can’t see the tablet)

easier to mount (comes with a bail or flush mount it)
waterproof without an additional cover/enclosure
proper N2k and NMEA0183 connectivity
more durable, shock-resistant, etc.

While a tablet might be fun to use, it’s probably only practical on an enclosed pilot house boat.

As you can see, the opinions are clearly divided on this matter. I hope that all my research and testing will be useful to you and help you realize if using an iPad as a Chartplotter is what’s best for you. Stick with me as I present all the points.

https://youtu.be/aN7zu64Zcvw

Advantages Of Using An iPad As Chartplotter

An iPad is a powerful piece of technology capable of amazing things. It’s mani features can definitely bring a lot of advantages at the time of operating your vessel. I have put this list together to better illustrate these advantages

Big screen– The Ipad’s screen size is definitely an advantage for the amount of money that you pay. Here are the measurements of all of the models available. iPad mini 7.4 inc, iPad 10.2 inch, iPad air 10.5 inch and iPad pro 11 inches or 12.9 inch
Portability– Because the iPad it’s not permanently mounted to the boat but instead placed on a holding base, you can easily remove and take it with you. This not only allows you to plan your route from home or browse the web but also eliminates the possibility of getting stolen.
Battery– You can obviously connect your iPad to an AC source in your boat, but you are not married to it. Ipads are equipped with a long-lasting battery that could get you up to 10 hours on specific models.
Easy to use– The iPad interface is very intuitive and easy to use. If you can operate a traditional Chartplotter, you should be able to run an iPad with no trouble. Even if you never used a Chartplotter before, the iPad is so easy to use that you should be able to figure it our within hours if not minutes.
Can connect devices– There are a lot of external devices that can be connected to your iPad to enhance your navigation capabilities. For example, if using the Navionics app, a wireless transduces as well as a wireless AIS receivers are available
Can do more than just chartplotting– Keep in mind that an iPad is a very capable portable computer. You can surf the web, play music over Bluetooth on your boat, check your emails, upload to Facebook, and so much more.
Price– You have options from $399 on the iPad mini to $1150+ on the iPad Pro and everything in between.
Reliability– In my experience as well as the experience of many boaters, the iPad proved to be very reliable and dependable. There were occasions while boating that my traditional Chartplotter lost GPS signal while the iPad did not.

Disadvantages Of Using An iPad As Chartplotter

Not waterproof– None of the current Ipad models have an IP rating (certifying water and dust resistance), which means that you must keep it in a waterproof case to protect it from the water.
Visibility– The screen of the iPad was not designed to be viewed at direct sunlight as opposed to a traditional Chartplotter. Tablets tend to have problems with glare and reflections because they don’t have the same anti-glare screen coatings as traditional chartplotters.
Wet fingers– Touch screen only devices can be challenging to operate in the rain or with wet fingers.
Integration– It can be a challenge to integrate the iPad with other navigation systems.

WiFi iPad Vs. Cellular Ipad for Navigation

WiFi-only iPads are not equipped with a GPS chip. What this means is that, unfortunately, you cant use a WiFi-only Ipad for navigation without connecting it to an external GPS.

Although there are many options out there for external GPS chips, the better option will be to get a cellular Ipad. This way, you’ll be able to use your IPad whiteout depending on any third-party devices.

Cellular iPads come equipped with GPS chips. These GPS chips have been proven to work great, they can pinpoint your location as accurately as most traditional charting devices.

Cellular Ipads don’t rely on the internet or cellular connection to triangulate its location, its GPS chip gets signal via satellite.

Although a cellular Ipad would be ideal, if you already have a WiFi iPad and wish to use it as a Chartplotter, you can still do so. Like I mentioned above, an external GPS receiver will be needed. The Garmin GLO 2 Bluetooth GPS Receiver is a good option if you decide to go this route.

What Is The Best Navigation App For The iPad?

As we have already covered in the previous paragraph, there is quite a variety of apps for navigation available to Apple devices, the iPad to be precise. This is beneficial because now you have lots of options, but that can also prove to be a problem because it is difficult to make a choice when faced with so many. This is why I’m going to narrow down those choices to the three best-recommended apps so you won’t feel overwhelmed but can still make the best decision for you.

The best three apps that made the cut include:

Navionics
iNavx
Navimatics Charts and Tides

Navionics– This app has been popular for providing some of the best services in navigation on both Android and Apple devices. It works by integrating the outstanding Navionics Gold vector charts with map, satellite, and terrain overlays for free.

Its user interface automatically pans and zooms, and you can tap on the chart to open up a cross-hair indicator that you can choose to be a waypoint or show local information on the weather and tides, currents, and wind forecasts.

You can simply create and edit a route on the app by placing and moving or deleting marks. You can also share your tracks with friends over email or on social media. For some extra features such as sonar charts and auto-routing to upgrade the app for advanced navigation, you will have to purchase in-app.

Navionics Boating is an improvement over the older version of the app, and it features additions like Plotter Sync via which users can wirelessly send routes and waypoints from the app to a chart plotter as well as integrates a large group of users who frequently contribute to a directory of marine services, magazine articles, waterfront restaurants, and travel guides while still retaining the benefits offered in the older version.

Although the app itself is free, you will have to purchase chart regions and some of its upgrades.

iNavX– The iNavX app is one of the best-known apps for navigation. It features free US NOAA raster charts in addition to a lot of other charts and maps that you can purchase separately.

After installing the app, you’ll find the charts saved in a traditional chart table menu, which has charts grouped by regions.

Your position is shown to you once you select a chart with the means to pan and zoom in and out and then choose a suitable scale chart.

Some of the app’s features are GPXimport/export, waypoint and route management, tides and currents, GRIB weather forecasts, and port/navaid search.

iNavX’s user interface may be its biggest drawback as it isn’t the easiest to use. Still, the price for it is not bad, and it is fully featured in a way most apps aren’t, which is probably the reason why many boaters prefer it.

Navimatics Charts and Tides- Also, another well-known app that makes use of standard NOAA vector charts. This app is free, although it sells chart regions separately.

Navimatics features chart-quilting for a smooth display along with a built-in search function for locating any area, marina, or navigational item. During sailing, a Horizontal Situation Indicator graphically displays your current route, cross-track, and desired track details.

You can also find information like current weather through National Data Buoy Center stations, tides and currents, sun and moon positions, and community guidebook information via ActiveCaptain, all available on the app.

Ipad Boat Mount

This topic is often overlooked, but none the less it is extremely important. Before you go and buy an iPad to use as Chartplotter, you also need to consider where and how you are going to mount it on your boat.

The good news is that there are mounts for almost any application out there. When searching for a mount for your iPad, keep in mind that the boating environment can be very demanding, so whatever mount you choose should be marine grade.

It needs to be water-resistant, have a strong grip on the iPad, sturdy construction, and should be bolt or screw mounted. The last thing you want is to drop your iPad in the middle of a boating trip and have to stop and re-mount it or even worst brake it.

Keep in mind the iPad size and the shape and space available on your boat’s console. You want to find a mount that will allow for mounting your iPad securely while not interfering with the visibility or operation of your other devices. You can check out a lot of different marine-grade iPad mounts on this link to amazon

Third-Party Devises To Expand Your Ipad Capabilities

The following is a list of optional devices that can be connected to your iPad to enhance its functionalities. I’m sure that as technology advances and more people embrace using iPads as boating navigation devices, this list will grow. I will keep this list up to date and ad more accessories as they become available.

Garmin GLO 2 Bluetooth GPS Receiver (link to amazon)

Navigate with Garmin caliber GPS data on the mobile device of your choice. The GLO 2 receiver brings you the best of both worlds by combining GPS and GLONASS receivers with Bluetooth® wireless technology so you can enjoy precise position information on your iPad®, iPhone®, or Android™ device.
Garmin

Digital Yacht iAIS f-iPhone & iPad

The world’s first wireless AIS receiver that links wirelessly with the latest iPhone, iPad, and iTouch devices. Consisting of a high-performance dual-channel AIS receiver, an integrated 802.11b+g wireless access point plus a free app downloadable from the Apple App Store, the iAIS brings AIS data to a whole new generation of mobile devices. iAIS also multiplexes any other NMEA data that is available onboard the boat – for instance, GPS, depth, speed, and wind, etc.
Digital Yacht

Vexilar SP200 SonarPhone T-Box (link to amazon)

turns your smartphone or tablet into a fully functional sonar system that will rival any high-end sonar on the market today. Using Patented WiFi signal technology to transmit to smartphones or tablets. You don’t need cell phone coverage to use it, the SonarPhone will work anywhere in the world. The SonarPhone T-BOX creates its own WiFi hotspot, and you can share your signal with as many people as you wish, the software app is downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play and works with both Android and IOS systems.
Vexilar

Furuno 260369 Defender DRS4W 4 KW Wireless Radar Antenna (link to amazon)

The FURUNO DRS4W is the first radar antenna in the world that allows you to wirelessly access radar images on your iOS devices, combining ease of use with great flexibility. After installing and setting up the application available from the Apple store for free, you can watch radar images directly on your iPad or iPhone. You are free to move around on your boat while still having complete information about your surroundings.
Furuno

Mercury VesselView Mobile – Connected Boat Engine System (link to amazon)

Mercury VesselView allows you to display engine information, genset, sounder, and much more. It has more information and data on boat and engine functions than any other system in the boating industry: rpm, speed, fuel flow, and efficiency, temperature, trim, and more.
Mercury