NavigationGo on a cruise with the app

Andreas Fritsch

 · 14.04.2014

Navigation: Go on a cruise with the appPhoto: YACHT/ N. Günter
Trip planning in the evening in the cockpit
Navigation apps for iPad and tablets are booming, three new apps, many new features. We tested seven apps. Results

The programmes for normal consumer devices can do more and more: while they were initially very slimmed-down versions of electronic plotters and charts, the boundaries to "real" yacht electronics are becoming increasingly blurred. Even the MOB function and harbour plans, which were left out for a long time, can now be found more frequently.

  Apps and tablets during the test outside Mallorca. We also tested various Android devices, for which three apps are now availablePhoto: YACHT/ N. Günter Apps and tablets during the test outside Mallorca. We also tested various Android devices, for which three apps are now available

We travelled with the apps from Navionics, C-Map (Plan2Nav), iSailor, Garmin (Blu Chart Mobile), MaxSea (Zime Zero), NV Verlag and Imray. All of them are now almost fully-fledged plotter backups, but there are still big differences in terms of features and details. Tip: Download the coat app that looks interesting to you from the Apple or Android Store; almost every provider has trial cards that you can use to check out the functions free of charge. If you like the app, you can then buy the card set, if not, simply delete it.

  Readability in sunlight: difficult to recognise in the photo, but in practice the modern displays are sufficient if they are set to maximum brightnessPhoto: YACHT/ N. Günter Readability in sunlight: difficult to recognise in the photo, but in practice the modern displays are sufficient if they are set to maximum brightness

Some of the screenshots that did not make it into the YACHT test report in issue 9/2014 are shown here to make it easier to pre-select the apps.

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Comparison of the main bay of Cabrera in the presentation at iSailor. The essentials are there, there is no detailed information
Photo: Yacht

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