Talking About Adventure In Small Boats
stripbuilder
Member
Recently I got an I Phone and I'm in another learning curve as a result. I believe some of you have taken I Phones with you on challenges. Could you share with me how your I Phone worked or didn't work? Could you get enough signal to make the maps, GPS function, and phone communication work through the whole EC?
Thanks, John
CleanSlate
Member
I can't comment on the EC since I haven't done it but there are apps for the iPhone where you can pre-download the maps before the trip. Then even if you are out of cell and data range, you can still see the maps. You just have to solve the battery issue since the GPS function on the iPhone eats the batteries. Have a way to re-charge while on route.
Best tip is when you're in a remote area with no coverage, put it into airplane mode. Otherwise, even when you turn it off, it's looking for a signal and will drain your battery quickly. If I'm out in the boonies and not listening for calls, I always put it into airplane mode to conserve battery power.
TideTraveller
Member
I carried an IPhone in my life jacket during this years EC. I had it in a LifeProof case. I used the Navionics US east app. The app works without cell signal. I kept my phone turned off most of the time until I wanted a better view of where I was headed. I would leave my Garmin zoomed out and use the iPhone to zoom in and pan around. Battery life is the biggest downfall of using the iPhone for a gps, but I managed to make it the whole challenge by only charging at checkpoints.
I brought the Iphone to the EC as a Emergency backup. I never thought that Emergency was day one. I did not know about the Airplane Mode so I only used the phone as a quick reference to reduce battery drain. The app that I had needed a cell tower to download charts. Once in the Everglades it only gave me a blank screen with GPS coordinates. The minutes and seconds were in decimal format and the paper chart was in degrees. During daylight I did mostly used deadreconing and visual navigation. Unfortunatelly all the islands in Florida Bay look all the same. The channel markings are poor and I made a few mistakes.
Scareman
Member
Touch screens can be an issue in waterproof bags, with gloves, wet hands, or fingers with low moisture.
A Fix for this is to use a "dead" battery as a a stylus.
DolphinGal was having an interface issue with the screen during this year's EC and then tried this battery stylus trick with success.
Badger
Member
My wife and I have a dirty little secret... we texted, emailed and even Facebooked while on the intercoastal waterway. With abandon.
I'd set up a solar panel recharging system for an autopilot using a gel battery, but only ended up using Otto for an hour or two... we had more than ample recharging capability and therefore we used our iPhones when conditions allowed. Signals were fine, we sent videos several times between Sarasota and Blackburn Bridge, and again while leaving Placida. It was handy for checking tides and backstopping weather channels.
We didn't pull them out much when in the gulf, but we did send a few emails to let our ride know where to pick us up after we had withdrawn.
I'd basically recommend bringing it along as a backup communications device and for information storage. Plus, the ability to use a search engine could help in any number of circumstances. I can say I'd never use it as a navigational device, or rely on its functions for my safety. Too fragile in the marine environment.
CaptJackOtter
Member
Autopilot, really!!!
When we use electronics to run our craft, why compete!! I have overused Google Earth to the point that I'm taking the Adventure out of the Adventure. Last year's NCC, a left turn around a big island with large bays, was dissected by me to the point that all my waypoints were in for the middle of the channel going back up to the finish line so that I would miss the fishing obstructions. During the event, I ended up hugging the shore to avoid the wind - paddlers do that kind of thing. I missed a turn near the end and had to drag my boat across the beach because of not monitoring my GPS. Did I know where I was, yes! Could I have made it easier on myself by buying a better electronic device, yes! This is supposed to be an Adventure. Adventure comes with surprises: a surprise with an unexpected beach, or bay, or even seafood place you have not Googled.
The night before I paddled with The Perfect and he just had compass headings written on the deck of his boat; we paddled from Harlowe canal to ICW, just north of Beaufort, and he was dead on. We missed the infamous island shortcut out of choice. He used dead reckoning. I couldn't find my light to use my GPS so I relied on him.
I'm going to try, note try, to put some of the Adventure back into the next NCC by using headings and my watch. The GPS will be stored. If in trouble, I can always pull it out.
Have a great Adventure!
CaptJackOtter
I mostly y uouse my gps to back up my ded reconIng, I fInd the screen to small to youse on my orIgon speed dIstance and tIme are handy I also log my trIps afterwords and In the future I am goIng to geo tag photoes
the new tablet I got wont suport navIonIcs ,I wold have lIked to have It fore map referance. Are ther eny other androyd platform maps out therth that can de yoused for free?
Uthred
Member
I had a solar powered charger that charged both my iphone and my goPro camera. It used a USB connection and did the charging by - charged AA batteries. You did not have to have it exposed to the sun to charge the devices just have charged batteries in the battery compartment. i.e. I charged my phone in a dry bag in the rear hatch, safe and secure. The solar part actually charges the batteries and the batteries charge your devices. I seem to have misplaced it though I know it cost around $90.00 at Mountain Equipment Coop http://www.mec.ca It worked great I used it for a week and changed the batteries 3 times. If I cant find it I will definately buy a new one.
Captain Jack,
I'm with you this year. Last year the GPS died at the beginning of the Harlow Canal so I was glad to have some compass headings written large. Small Charts, compass, headlamp, and trusty watch is all that is truly needed. The rest is nice to have along, but not critical to complete this race. I was going to buy an I-Phone before I read your post. Thank you.
DogPaddler
Member
One nice feature with these smart phones (assuming you're in range of a tower) is the weather apps. For real time data / radar showing storm cells or approaching fronts, and wind speeds and direction. Especially helpful if you're traveling at night.
One of my sailing friends has given me a quick tutorial with his i phone. although I'm just not ready to go with an expensive phone plan.
Jaybird
Member
I've used mine for an alarm clock during NCCs, that's about it. When the iPhone was AT&T only, coverage was pretty abysmal on the NCC route so I'm not sure it was usuable even if I wanted. I think coverage may have gotten better recently with AT&T, not sure about other providers. Getting a quick marine forecast vs. having to listen to the radio for half an hour might be helpful but certainly not essential.
I have two marine apps on my iphone and use both of them.
I also use the native Google maps app for the satellite images.
You don't need wireless coverage for Charts&Tides or iSailor. But you do to see satellite images for google maps.
In March I got great ATT 3G coverage from Beaufort up through the Core Sound. I don't know about the areas of Cedar Island through the Neuse River to Beaufort.
I use a an iSound portable charger that can charge my iphone 2 something like 9 times. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00439G3WS/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00
I'd like to have dedicated gps as well. I have an old GPSMap 76 from 2002 but I don't think I can get any maps for it because it is too old. I also have an eTrex Venture that I won at a party and I may try to install raster maps on it using Moagu (http://moagu.com/). If that doesn't work, probably get a DeLorme PN-60 with NOAA maps and satellite imagery or the more pricier Garmin GPSMap 78sc.
I also have paper charts - GMCO's North Carolina book is really great. Even though I am a complete techno geek, I use paper charts a lot.
Sharpie
ZeroTheHero
Member
for the upcoming EC I am planning on using my iphone 3G as backup gps. I have a chart app, isailgps, I think, that was about $9. Unlimmited chart downloads but storage is limited to something so far beyond reason I didn't bother to commit it. So far I have over 300 waypoints punched in(limit is something like 2000). The charts are great, the ap is user freindly and easy to undertand. The only draw back is setting a route using waypoints. You have to look at the chart, write them down, the select them from a list. It would be better if you could just grab them off the chart. So far I have three routes in (again limit is something like 200) , 1 for each stage, but I plan on having more, 3 at least. Inside, outside, and a combo or three. Just picked up the Solarmonkey Adventurer charger the other day. Weather resistant, charges an iphone in 3 hours if you beleive the box. Being in VT testing is a challenge but we have made a few trips to Lake Champlain and more are planned. The small lake is 50 feet from the house so some testing is easy, just not charts and navigation.
I have dry bags for everything, gps, iphone, Spot, etc. That airplane mode tip is awesome, thanks
mistermoon
Member
I basically operate with comparatively few waypoints on my GPS, only CPs and the location of the inlets, and only have routes plotted for some of the narrow shallow stuff on Florida Bay. I've seen other people plot routes for the whole challenge, but to be honest I don't see the point. I think it's better to keep your head out of the boat than it is to be focused on following the go-to arrow all day.
My charting GPS died south of Venice on the UM just as night fell. Having good charts and knowing how to read them was critical to making it to Placida. On that section if you get out of the ICW, you are are aground. Being able to understand the aids to navigation was the only thing that kept me out of the mud.
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