boating navigation apps for android 2016

Boating navigation apps for android 2016 free#

There is a bewildering array of products out there.

But given a good waterproof case – and a fall-back system if the tablet fails – they are extremely useful to have on board. For one thing, most are not waterproof (the exception being the Sony Xperia Z range, which is waterproof and ruggedised), and their screens aren’t optimised for viewing in sunlight. After all, most tablets aren’t designed for the rough-and-tumble of life on board a boat. There are more apps available for iPad, but Android tablets are available more cheaply – a consideration if you’ll be using it near water. Users of iPad and Android seem to divide into two camps. Others are all-inclusive, while some allow you to use charts of your choice downloaded from elsewhere – so check you know what you’re getting.

When looking to use navigation apps, don’t take the advertised price as read: some sailing apps are free to download, but then require in-app purchases of the relevant charting. Since we last took a look at boating apps in February 2012 the number of them has increased tenfold, helped partly by the recent release of UKHO data in Vector chart format. For significantly less than the cost of one of the best chartplotters you can use your tablet computer as a fully-functioned plotter and navigation tool.

Tablet computers have become increasingly popular in all walks of life, so it’s perhaps inevitable that sailors would find a use for them on board their boats.

Boating navigation apps for android 2016 free#