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1. 

   ClamCounter
   Member

   The past few years Water Tribers have posted the apps they've found helpful to supplement their on the water experience. So, what's the latest and greatest apps you've utilized this year for marine navigation, weather forecasting, etc.? Here are a few of my favorite apps:

   Navionics - charts that are easy to read and manuever, app works without cellular service

   Windalert - provides current wind observations and forecasts in graph format at various weather stations

   RadarCast - quick access weather radar with Future-cast

   NOAA Buoys - another app showing current wind observations, air temerature, water tenperatures and wave heights where available

   Marine Traffic - shows vessels with AIS transponders (You'll want to steer clear of these big fellas)

   SeaTow - aside from the obvious, this app also has an easy access weather radar, tide chartsnd GPS/compass

   Posted 7 years ago #
2. 

   JoeVanGeaux
   Member

   ClamCounter, these last few days (while too heavy to move due to turkey, dressing, etc.) I have been searching the same topic.

   I came across a site (below) that lists at least two of those you mention.  I can't say, at all, that I am a user of any of these products since I was always (well, mostly always) able to see land and wasn't going anywhere I hadn't been many times before and didn't care so much what the weather was going to be doing... and tides weren't any more of a challenge than your local community swimming pool.

   Some look promising but I will be following this thread to get Triber's input who may have given such products at least one "EC test".  I plan on using a Panasonic Toughbook (because I already traded something for one sometime back) and I'll have my smartaleck cell phone for backup.  Of course, I have been following discussion of some GPS units, too.

   http://www.cruiserswiki.org/wiki/Nautical_Software

   JoeVanGeaux

   Posted 7 years ago #
3. 

   Paddlemaker
   Member

   Do you use the frree version or the 9.99 version of Navionics

   Posted 7 years ago #
4. 

   JoeVanGeaux
   Member

   Paddlemaker,  I know your question is for ClamCounter, but I didn't know Navionics had a free version.  I didn't see any on their website.  In fact, all I saw was a download for a $99.00 version.

   I could be entirely missing something, here, too.

   JVG

   Posted 7 years ago #
5. 

   ClamCounter
   Member

   JoeVanGeaux,

   That's a pretty comprehensive list, thanks for sharing. I'll have to look into a few of the apps I don't recognize.

   Paddlemaker,

   I can't remember the exact price of the Navionics App for iphone. But I can tell you, I doubt I would have spent more than $20 on an App. Even though it is a great App. I did end up buying a few upgrades for $2 to $3 here and there for added features for route planning and navigation analytics.

   Hope to see you on the beach!

   Posted 7 years ago #
6. 

   ZeroTheHero
   Member

   I used a few apps over the 2 EC's I have done.  

   isailGPS; free app as a back up to GPS.  Worked okay.  A little basic but it can get you out of a jam.  Can enter in waypoints and make route, tracks, etc.  I bet Navionics is better but this one was free!  (the irony of possibly having to rely on a free app isn't lost on me!)  We used this app for a few minutes in Sarasota Bay when our Garmin had an "issue" for a few minutes and took a nap.  For free I'd recommend it.

   Tides/gulf of mexico; pretty good app.  Has a google earth overlay, shows nearby tides.  Has some pretty good features.  Used it a lot in both races. Recommended

   Florida Tide Times; pretty good.  Used it a few times.  

   MyRadar; weather app, nice graphics.  Pretty good for spotting the "black wall of death" before it hits.  Has a few different screens for weather. Recommended

   Windcompass; weather app, not that great.  Basic and dull.  Didn't use that much, probably better apps out there

   weatherunderground; Forcasting and weather.  Pretty good.  I'd recomend it.

   Marine Trafic; pretty good but only really useful for a few small portions of the start.  Interestingly Per and I didn't use it at the '14 start when that ship came through.  We went ahead of it but I was super nervous.  If I was on the tiller I would probably have gone behind.  We made it and there were others much closer than us.  Fun app, recommended.  I still use it all the time and I'm in VT.  Just fun.

   Google earth;  Backup to a GPS.  Can help out making sense of where you are.

   Skype; Great for talking to the kids while we were racing.  Used it a few times.  Had a great 

   IHG; International Hotel Group, you never know where you might have to stop.

   Another side topic here, what else did people use/load on their phones?  I had a bunch of phone numbers preloaded.  Hospitals, rent a car locations along the route, West Marine, Havanah Cafe, tow boat, hotels at the finish, checkpoint people, Chief, Paula, marinas, etc.

   Posted 7 years ago #
7. 

   DonKeyHoTey
   Member

   Thanks for that comprehensive list, ZTH.  You definitely were "well plugged in" -- invaluable.

   I'd forgotten about that ship....  I guess if it had bit us or at least laid on its horn, I'd remember it well... ;) 

   DKHT

   Posted 7 years ago #
8. 

   NautiCal
   Member

   I am very pleased with Navionics and hope to use it on my LG phone in a waterproof bag with a lanyard hanging on my neck. It can also still take good pics and video.

   I also like the ap SailDroid. I have been using it while learning how to sail my AI better. It has a very large display for speed over gound, heading and course over ground.

   I also use

   Radar Now

   Marine Weather

   Marine Traffic

   Tide Chart Free

   Bouys

   PocketGribLite.

   Posted 7 years ago #

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