Popular Navigation Apps for Nautical Navigation

We began by searching the apps on the market to review against those we use on a day to-day basis , from Navigation to Weather and Tidal data.

At this point we ran into a problem! A little investigation revealed the immense amount of data available for you to download, literally hundreds of tools! Therefore, we have decided to break the topic down and look at different areas.

We have reviewed all the apps as a team and have also sought the thoughts of other users.

HEALTH WARNING

Please remember that you should always take your navigation information from more than one place, check where the data is being sourced and that it remains your responsibility to navigate the vessel safely. Never trust just one app!

Over the coming weeks we will review apps that look at:

• Navigation
• Weather
• Tidal data
• Aids to learning
• Collision avoidance
• And finally, boat maintenance

Navionics

The Navionics app, is a popular choice for marine navigation, it offers detailed charts, sonar charts, and routing features, but it has some drawbacks like price increases and potential for data loss.

Pros:

• Detailed Charts: Provides detailed nautical charts and high-definition bathymetry (patterns in the seabed).
• Sonar Charts: Offers user-contributed sonar data for improved depth accuracy.
• Routing: Includes auto-routing features that consider draft and obstructions.
• Allows sharing of waypoints and routes with compatible chartplotters.
• Updates: Offers automatic updates to charts, ensuring the latest information.
• Generally considered easy to use, particularly for day sailors or those in familiar waters.

Cons:

• We have seen a significant increase in subscription costs.
• Users have reported unexpected removals of the app from devices. We only experienced this on an older model phone.
• 3D views may not be available on all devices and are often reserved for higher-tier versions.
• The auto-routing feature can be a little ‘clunky’ and can struggle with some calculations, particularly in sailing scenarios.
• Created marks may not have names displayed, and returning to the same mark in a route can be challenging.
• Requires external devices for features like SonarChart Live.
• Reports of inaccuracies in chart data, particularly in areas undergoing development but, we did not experience this.

Conclusion

The Navionics app, which is probably the most widely used, offers excellent features and is pretty easy to use, we particularly like being able to attach to the plotter and the ability to share with others onboard. We have seen a price rise recently, but we still paid it!

C-MAP: Worldwide Nautical Charts for Navigation

The C-MAP app is a popular navigation tool for many boaters, offering detailed charts, route planning, and various features like AIS overlay and points of interest. However, it has some downsides, including occasional performance issues, especially on older devices, and a lack of certain features like tidal and current overlays.

Pros:

• C-MAP charts are known for their high resolution, accurate bathymetry, and clear presentation of navigational marks.
• The app offers features like automatic routing, distance and bearing measurements, AIS overlay, and the ability to save favourite locations and routes.
• You can plan routes on your computer and then synchronise them to your tablet or smartphone, ensuring a consistent experience.
• The app is generally considered easy to use, with a clean and intuitive design.
• The app includes a wealth of points of interest, such as marinas, harbours, beaches, and fuel docks, providing valuable information.
• The app features high-resolution bathymetry, helping users identify shallows, drop-offs, and other underwater features.
• Users can customise depth shading to enhance visibility and safety.
• The app provides an anchoring alert feature, notifying users if their anchor starts to drag.
• Premium subscribers can access offline maps, allowing navigation even without a mobile signal.
• Premium subscribers can overlay weather data on the maps, providing valuable information for planning and navigation.

Cons:

• Some users have reported slow loading times and occasional crashes, particularly on older devices.
• The app lacks a tidal and current overlay, which can be a significant drawback for sailors.
• Occasional issues with the automatic routing system, for example it sometimes suggested routes that violate set depth limits.
• We needed to restart the app a couple of times when we experienced problems with the real-time position updates during navigation
• The AIS data overlay relies on an internet connection, which may not always be available.
• Some inconsistency with waypoints not displaying on the map on the desktop web version of the app.

Conclusion

C-MAP is a well-regarded navigation app with high-quality charts, a user-friendly interface, and useful features like automatic routing, points of interest, and detailed bathymetry; however, some users report issues with loading times, occasional crashes, the lack of tidal and current overlays, and potential inconsistencies with the desktop version. Certain features, like offline access and weather data overlays, are only available to premium subscribers.

Savvy Navvy

SAVVY NAVVY - It's like google Maps for Boats!

Savvy Navvy is one of our personal favourites for navigation It is super easy to use and has a quite simple interface, comprehensive routing, and the ability to integrate weather and tide data, making it a powerful tool for planning and executing nautical trips. However, some users find the app's chart detail lacking compared to alternatives like Navionics.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface:
• Savvy Navvy is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even for those new to electronic navigation.
• The app's routing algorithm considers wind and current, offering optimised routes that can save time and fuel.
• Savvy Navvy provides real-time weather forecasts, tidal streams, and other relevant information, allowing users to plan their trips accordingly.
• Users can download charts and weather data for offline use, ensuring navigation even without internet access.
• The app can automatically avoid Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) and other hazards.
• Savvy Navvy offers an anchor alarm feature to help prevent anchor dragging.

Cons:

• Some users find the app's charts to be less detailed than alternatives like Navionics, though Savvy Navvy argues this is intentional to maintain a clear and uncluttered display.
• Savvy Navvy's premium features require a subscription, which can be a cost consideration for some users.
• While the routing algorithm is sophisticated, it may not fully account for real-world seamanship considerations, potentially leading to inaccurate or unsafe routes.
• Some users have reported performance issues on older or less powerful devices, particularly with the passage planning function.

Conclusion

We love the ease of use of the Savvy Navvy app and its ability to work out routes taking in external elements and providing the most efficient option. Although you still need to check!