iPad GPS charts

[Matsutake]

Hey guys, any thoughts on the best iPad app for nautical charts of the west coast? Just browsing but can't pull the trigger on either the Navionics or another I can't recall right now. Both descriptions sounded great but I have no idea what other users think of their functionality.
Thanks!

 

[eriks]

Navionics is great. The map area you select is downloaded to your device, so you can still use it effectively out of cell/data range. And for $15, it's the best app I have.

 

[ziggy]

I had Marine Nautical on my Android. Not sure if Navionics is the same but Marine Nautical is only good for a year. Waste of money IMHO!

 

[Rustyb103]

Hi Matsutake - I have used Navionics but settled on iNavx for our boat... It had the "course up" navigation I was looking for, and uses (I believe) the same Navionics maps. It was a little more $$$ than Navionics, but it has really worked well for us, even well out of cell range. Accuracy is excellent, too! I bought a ram mount for the ipad and just clip it in every time we head out.

 

[Matsutake]

INavx, that's the one I couldn't remember. So it sounds like either one is a good bet and user friendly. Next, finding a good waterproof case.

 

[lenardobc]

Navionics works well for me.

 

[Pippen]

Yup.....Navionics but unless I did something wrong it cost me $50ish.

I have the Boatng HD icon which is really basic and the USA and Canada which has all the detail.

 

[ThreePer]

$50ish for iPad, $10ish for iPhone. I have it for iPhone and it kicks butt. Definitely getting it for the iPad when I get a boat that has a cabin/canvas to keep the sun/rain of the iPad mini.

 

[Oceanmaster]

I use the Nobletec app it is a copy of the paper charts.around 30 bucks,also get a Bluetooth gps puck. I use a Dual Universal GPS Receiver, works great.

 

[Oglthorpe]

Lifeproof Nuud is a great case. Pricey but worth it in my opinion.

 

[Matsutake]

Life proof. Yep that's exactly what I need!
I'll google it up, Thanks.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

$50ish for iPad, $10ish for iPhone. I have it for iPhone and it kicks butt. Definitely getting it for the iPad when I get a boat that has a cabin/canvas to keep the sun/rain of the iPad mini.

I have an IPad, however it does not have GPS, lots of cell phone do.

 

[Fish Nutz]

You can buy an external Bluetooth antenna for iPads without 3G that will get you up and running. I think you can pick them up for around 100 bucks. There are also 2 versions of then avionics app for tablets. The cheaper option is the same one used for Apple/android phones, and the 50 dollar app which is supposed to be HD. I'm not sure there is much difference between the two versions.

 

[Fish Assassin]

Got to have a way to charge your iPad. Cig lighter didn't give a charge for my iPad. Would need a good inverter I think. I love using it though as a stand alone plotter. I got my charts for $20 on my iPhone the linked it to my iPad for free. I later bought the sonar charts which I think is well worth the $15 upgrade.

 

[Hali killer]

weird, i charge my ipad with my cig lighter and a simple plug in inverter from crappy tire.its worked for years now and its fine.

Got to have a way to charge your iPad. Cig lighter didn't give a charge for my iPad. Would need a good inverter I think. I love using it though as a stand alone plotter. I got my charts for $20 on my iPhone the linked it to my iPad for free. I later bought the sonar charts which I think is well worth the $15 upgrade.

 

[ThreePer]

Fish Assassin
Go to Cambodian Tire and grab a cig lighter/usb thingy. I have one for the truck for just this reason. Then you just plug in the iphone/ipad wire to that. They charge at a really tiny amperage and voltage so no problem running it from the boat or truck.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/duracell-dual-usb-12v-car-charger-0355064p.html#.U62lwfldV8E

I recently was working on a floatplane that had an iPad mini recessed into the dash that looked really slick. They ran the white charging wire from behind the dash (coming from a 12V source like the one above) out through a little grommet from behind the dash with about 4" sticking through, then bolted a quick release Ram Mount into the recessed dash. Really professional looking. For marine applications where you want to put the iPad into a Lifeproof Case or something weatherproof you would want to install an applicable universal mount that is case compatible like this:
http://www.rammount.com/Products/AppleMounts/iPadAirMounts/RAMHOLTAB20U/tabid/5114/Default.aspx

And if you are like me and have the non-3G (wifi only) iPad, you need the GPS reciever to plug in. Bad Elf makes an awesome tiny reciever that plugs in and so doesn't require any more batteries. It comes with its own power cable too so everything runs off the boat/truck power:
http://bad-elf.com/pages/be-gps-1008-detail

 

[Fishtank]

I have an IPad, however it does not have GPS, lots of cell phone do.

Got to have a way to charge your iPad. Cig lighter didn't give a charge for my iPad. Would need a good inverter I think. I love using it though as a stand alone plotter. I got my charts for $20 on my iPhone the linked it to my iPad for free. I later bought the sonar charts which I think is well worth the $15 upgrade.

Just get a more expensive cigarette carger look at the amps it puts out some only put out 2amps and others put out 5 or more, I use a belkin

 

[tincan]

Good advice by all. If I had an ipad I'd get Navionics on it for sure. I have Navionics on my iphone and it's the best fishing app out there IMO. Decent detail (contour lines) and great tide/current info. Easy to mark your spots as well. Keeping your phone charged is of course key as well. I use the Lifeproof iphone case when out in snotty weather and it's 100% waterproof and you're still able to use the phone quite easily. There are decent iPad mounts out there as well that could work nicely though I probably wouldn't run with my ipad in the mount in case it falls out. Best backup GPS (or primary GPS) out there.

 

[RageWelding]

Got to have a way to charge your iPad. Cig lighter didn't give a charge for my iPad. Would need a good inverter I think. I love using it though as a stand alone plotter. I got my charts for $20 on my iPhone the linked it to my iPad for free. I later bought the sonar charts which I think is well worth the $15 upgrade.

Strange, Just charged up the GF's kids Ipad off the cig lighter no problem

 

[Fish Assassin]

I tried both cig ports..... Buying an inverter