IPad For Second Helm Station

[Yyjdennis]

I have a new boat on order (Woot!) but I haven't got it yet. I want to add a display at my second helm station to display charts and sonar. It will have a 9" Garmin 943xsv at the helm and apparently I can mirror this to an iPad using Active Captain. Has anyone tried this? Does it work ok or will I need to bite the bullet and install a second chartplotter?

Thanks,
Dennis

 

[tbeatm]

On my old boat I used the mirror function on my iPad to my lowrance unit. It killed the iPad battery pretty quick unfortunately, if I do it again I will definitely have a fast charge USB port nearby. Might just be a Lowrance app issue, maybe Garmin/others have better battery performance when mirroring with an iPad.

 

[JWS]

I have a new boat on order (Woot!) but I haven't got it yet. I want to add a display at my second helm station to display charts and sonar. It will have a 9" Garmin 943xsv at the helm and apparently I can mirror this to an iPad using Active Captain. Has anyone tried this? Does it work ok or will I need to bite the bullet and install a second chartplotter?

Thanks,
Dennis

A friend has an iPad mounted on the outside of cabin, for use with his rear helm. His works without issue

 

[Sttr]

I have a new boat on order (Woot!) but I haven't got it yet. I want to add a display at my second helm station to display charts and sonar. It will have a 9" Garmin 943xsv at the helm and apparently I can mirror this to an iPad using Active Captain. Has anyone tried this? Does it work ok or will I need to bite the bullet and install a second chartplotter?

Thanks,
Dennis

Sorry a bit off topic, congrats! what boat did you order,

 

[Yyjdennis]

Sorry a bit off topic, congrats! what boat did you order,

Cutwater 248. It's a compromise between the fishing features I wanted and the comfort my wife wants. I'm currently trying to figure out how to wedge an aft control station into the cockpit.

 

[Sttr]

Cutwater 248. It's a compromise between the fishing features I wanted and the comfort my wife wants. I'm currently trying to figure out how to wedge an aft control station into the cockpit.

Right on your wife will love it, that boat is loaded for a 24 footer, Congrats!!!

 

[kaelc]

Nice move, the 2026?

I'd really encourage you to find a 7 inch wired screen rather than run an ipad. You'll still need to power the ipad, if you mirror it and if something goes wrong you could end up on the rocks, pretty quickly. https://www.gpscentral.ca/product/garmin-gpsmap-743-gn

 

[Yyjdennis]

Nice move, the 2026?

I'd really encourage you to find a 7 inch wired screen rather than run an ipad. You'll still need to power the ipad, if you mirror it and if something goes wrong you could end up on the rocks, pretty quickly. https://www.gpscentral.ca/product/garmin-gpsmap-743-gn

Yep, brand new. There were a couple of layout changes in the new model year that we really liked.

I hear you on the chart plotter. I've never been too comfortable with using an iPad for navigation. Having said that, we will have our main control station with a chart plotter on about 5 steps away, so we'll be there quick when things go sideways, and we'll only be using it for trolling or setting & retrieving traps, but yeah it still makes me a little uncomfortable.

 

[kaelc]

Wicked, the enclosed head is a game changer for that boat. Nice they have the right size gas tank too, 116gallons gives you tons of range. The fuel tanks on the ranger tug and axopars, are not big enough

 

[AndrewH]

I used one long ago but it was difficult to see the screen with the sun glare and viewing the screen from the side was also difficult.

 

[shuter]

I used one long ago but it was difficult to see the screen with the sun glare and viewing the screen from the side was also difficult.

Seconded- did the same thing when I first had my boat, ended up wiring another mfd to the back. It’s better

 

[Rain City]

This works great but only if you have cover from direct sunlight, mine was under the rear awning and mounted up high. And if it has a high speed charging cable right next to it, I added one after the first day of using it. And lastly, it has to have some protection from the inevitable salt water spray. It was nice to have regular internet and apps available back there for watching sports or accessing music and all kinds of other things on top of linking the head unit. I say go for it if you can check those boxes.