I've been using Navionics for many years. It is very polished, and the charts are accurate.

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OpenCPN is free and has a gazillion features which makes it popular, but charts are not included. NOAA charts are also free, but this does not apply to the rest of the world.

Navionics is extremely popular and is dirt simple to use, but it is not free, the price varies depending on the charts you want included. It has limited features, but is great for an all-in-one phone/tablet solution. Now that it includes Active Captain, it is also useful for finding reviews of places.

 

OpenCPN is free and has a gazillion features which makes it popular, but charts are not included. NOAA charts are also free, but this does not apply to the rest of the world.

Navionics is extremely popular and is dirt simple to use, but it is not free, the price varies depending on the charts you want included. It has limited features, but is great for an all-in-one phone/tablet solution. Now that it includes Active Captain, it is also useful for finding reviews of places.

It is true that there is a paid version, but it was originally free. I don't pay to use mine. You don't get all the user added content, but I don't really care about that. It does everything I want it to,and doesn't cost me anything.

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OpenCPN doesn't have an IOS port and the Android port is almost always an older version ( play store says the version is from 2015!! that's very very old), works better on PC than android.
for Ipads I really think one of the best ones out there is Aqua maps really easy to use, has access to all the charts you need access to both Active captain and waterways.

 

Hello,

As mentioned, the Navionics Boating app is very good. It runs on Android and iOS. it's cheap ($10 or so) and you can use it on multiple devices and operating systems.

Be aware that that if you want to run the Boating App as a chartplotter (and not just a planning device) that the device running Navionics really does need a GPS. I run on it on my IPhone (w GPS) IPad (No GPS - trip planning and review only) ) and Samsung Tablet (GPS). I can plan routes on my IPad, and they automatically get to my phone and tablet for use on the boat. It's also very easy to transfer a route from Navionics to my B&G plotter.

Barry

 

Be aware that that if you want to run the Boating App as a chartplotter (and not just a planning device) that the device running Navionics really does need a GPS. I run on it on my IPhone (w GPS) IPad (No GPS - trip planning and review only) ) and Samsung Tablet (GPS).

Yeah, if you haven't yet bought your device, it's important to know which ones come with a GPS.

• Most phones come with GPS. Really old ones may have AGPS, which use the assistance of the tower (for processor speed and battery life reasons). But I believe all modern phones can do GPS by themselves.
• Most Android tablets come with GPS
  • Notable exception is the Amazon Fire tablets - no GPS on those
  • You can look up your tablet model on gsmarena.com or phonearena.com for detailed spec
• iPads are a bit counter-intuitive
  • WiFi-only iPads don't have GPS
  • Cellular iPads have GPS

If your tablet doesn't have GPS, you can usually piggy-back it off an external GPS unit or your phone's GPS (via Bluetooth or USB). But I try to advise against that since it means your backup navigation is not self-contained. It's dependent on multiple pieces of equipment working. And the last thing you want when you have to resort to your backup navigation aid is to be stuck troubleshooting why it isn't connecting with an external GPS receiver.

 

Yes, the PC version of OpenCPN is better than the Android version, but that doesn't equate to Android version being not good. I use both and really like the Android version. (Last update for Dave Register version -- the ONLY version to use -- Android was August, 2022, not "2015".)

Navionics app is almost a joke. Yes, it IS simpler/easier than OpenCPN, but it is also extremely limited in everything it does. And being limited to only Navionics charts is a serious limitation (especially given that, here in Canada at least, charts are not kept up-to-date relative to official CHS charts/corrections).

 

no worries, the play store says that the latest revision date is 2015. guess the developer isn't updating the playstore data

 

You are looking at old not-updated version of OpenCPN from Maison Automatique. Indeed not updated since 2015 and is NOT the version that one should use!!!

The Dave Register (paid) version of OpenCPN is THE version to use, and Play Store correctly indicates this is a 2022 version.

 

OK. Related to this. Are Navionics charts proprietary? Does that mean they can't use other chart formats. Like I said, I am new to this. When I charter a boat everything is turn-key. To me a chart is a chart and it is loaded in to the chart plotter when I get there.. I have learned that NOAA is just American-ish waters. For example, I sailed USVI and printed out some free NOAA pdf charts from noaa.charts.gov. However, now I am planning a Grenadines charter and there are no NOAA charts for there. Who provides those?

How many chart (ENC data) providers are there? Do they all pull together the raw data from the same sources and put together the charts in their specific format. Meaning, there is pretty much no difference in chart providers if they use the same raw data? Or do some charts have not only proprietary electronic formats, but also proprietary raw data that gives them an advantage?

I guess what I want is...
1) Reliable (non buggy)
2) Easy to Use
3) RELIABLE chart availability at reasonable cost

I may be overthinking this.

 

Hello,

If you want to see what the Navionics charts look like, and have a computer, go here:

Navionics Charts and Maps | Marine Cartography

Navionics mapping offers integrated marine content that details coastal features plus thousands of rivers, bays and lakes around the world.

www.navionics.com

then select
Viewers | Chart Viewer

Now scroll around, see the area you are interested, zoom in, out, You can even play with the route function. Be sure to set your boat specs for draft and cruising speed.

Barry

OK. Related to this. Are Navionics charts proprietary? Does that mean they can't use other chart formats. Like I said, I am new to this. When I charter a boat everything is turn-key. To me a chart is a chart and it is loaded in to the chart plotter when I get there.. I have learned that NOAA is just American-ish waters. For example, I sailed USVI and printed out some free NOAA pdf charts from noaa.charts.gov. However, now I am planning a Grenadines charter and there are no NOAA charts for there. Who provides those?

I may be overthinking this.

 

In most cases, when outside of USA waters, NOAA is not the chart provider. Each country has its own Hydrographic (chart) provider. Few countries provide charts for free (USA is notable exception), others at some cost (e.g., Canada).

The original data for charts comes from each country's Hydrographic office. Navionics, CMAP, O-Chartsm etc obtain license to use chart data from the various hydrographic authorities and sell packages to users. Each reseller packages the chart data in different ways, at different costs to end user, and with different update schedules. There are some differences in the "look" of the charts between resellers and between them and the official hydrographic office charts. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. Sometines a matter of personal preference.

For Canada, we have found O-Charts (works only with OpenCPN) to be identical to official CHS ENC charts, with updates the same as CHS charts. This has definitely not been the case for Navionics (new found rocks (on CHS and O-Charts charts) take 6 mos and more (I'm still waiting for some for 12 mos) to be shown on Navionics).

I can't say for other locations (although I am monitoring west coast of Mexico).

 

I went through this question about nine months ago, but focused on iThing. I initially settled on TZ iBoat*, but once I bought into the platform I discovered their chart offering was less than what is available through CHS or Navionics. So I went to the Navionics app (Boating).

I've been very pleased with Navionics. I sail Canada east coast, mostly Newfoundland these days.

*As I understand it, TZ uses C-Maps. It's clear that the chart offering in my area is only using the lower resolution (large area) charts. When I zoom into some harbours that have detailed CHS and Navionics coverage, I see no information. I really like TZ for its integrated weather, but was sorely disappointed with their chart offering. I'm further disappointed because, when contacted, they acknowledged the problem and promised to fix it. It's been nine months now, with no indication that their promise means anything real.

 

Unless you are sailing in new locations packed with hazards etc... There's not much "involved" in
"navigation" with Navionics.

What you want is:
Decent charts showing depths, ATNs and current (varies of course)
Sailing is slow and for the most part you can "navigate' on the fly without spending a lot of time planning.
YES look over the chart (paper works great for this)
MAYBE pre mark a few way points
USE the heading/course line extended as long as you can

Watch for land features/buoys etc.

The only use for a way point for me is to get an estimate of arrival time or time to go. I use the heading line to set the AP for the course I need.

 

Aqua Maps - It is free if you only need one (60nm X 60nm) tile. Otherwise, you can pay by the year, or buy all the charts that you need. I have purchased all the US charts for ~$40USD. If you have a WiFi router, then you can overlay AIS and Depth on the chart.

 

One thing to know about Aqua Maps is that you must maintain an active license to use the charts on your device. The charts are removed without an active account.

I was surprised to learn this, so confirmed it directly with Aqua Maps owners.

 

I use iNavX on ipad
Navionics in Android Phone
And OPENCpn on PC.
As far as I'm concerned anything is a toy compared to a PC & mouse 🖱 based system. I use it as my main NAV system on the boat. Yep, it's circumnavigated nearly twice with me.
It's fabby.
If you are chartering you will likely be taking your laptop anyway, so you may as well have the best charting system and that IMHO needs a mouse/or/trackball 🖲

Mark

 

I use iNavX on ipad
Navionics in Android Phone
And OPENCpn on PC.
As far as I'm concerned anything is a toy compared to a PC & mouse 🖱 based system. I use it as my main NAV system on the boat. Yep, it's circumnavigated nearly twice with me.
It's fabby.
If you are chartering you will likely be taking your laptop anyway, so you may as well have the best charting system and that IMHO needs a mouse/or/trackball 🖲

Mark

What kind of laptop are you using? I assume it has GPS.

 

I use AquaMaps on an Android 10" inch tablet. It works very well. Active Captain is installed on top of it. I also have Aquamap on my cell phone as back up.

 

I also use AquaMaps as my backup nav system to my 22 year old chartplotter. It becomes my primary device when I get in a close view requirement as it is a much more dtailed and zoom in device than my old C-Map chartplotter.

 

I've tried several. Between C-Map, iNavX, Aqua Map and Navionics I far prefer Navionics. For those who say charts are not updated, this is not true in my experience. I've sailed the Pacific coasts of California and Mexico. New hazards (and anchorages) are updated by the user base. I provide updates and reviews of most achorages. I also love user ratings of points of interest, including anchorages, marinas and dive spots. Exporting GPX files (routes and tracks) is super easy. We use Navionics on our iOS devices. Navionics on our iPad is now our primary chart plotter, with Furuno running as secondary. Why? I've found the charts more accurate (especially in Mexico) and ease of use super compelling.

 

As a backup, I've used a Samsung tablet (GPS model, not all have it, with 32 mg memory, cost about $150), with Argonav (free chartplotter), worked well, and probably less cumbersome than a laptop. Also, fwiw, I think Garmin owns Navionics since about 2017.

 

I have a garmin 86sci GPSMAP® 86sci | Handheld Marine GPS | GARMIN it's portable, waterproof, floats and can have satellite communication / weather etc.

 

For the US I run SEAiq, but keep Navionics around as a second source. Many proprietary charts seem from a rough glance to be an unknown subset of the official charts, with an unknown update frequency. In contrast, Navionics appears to incorporate additional sources and thus can provide more detail in places where NOAA charts lack data. I don't consider the app to be a proper navigational tool (more of an Easy-Bake Oven than a Viking), which is why I don't use it as primary. My workflow is to do the planning on my laptop, export the chart mark-up and routes, and transfer them to phone and tablet using AirDrop.

 

I think sailors should also look at SailGrib WR which prvides reasonable maps but primarily provides a method for plotting a couse for a sailboat based on actual wind readings and predictions. I got it from te google play store for andriod (Galaxy A8 tsblet)
Most nav apps just provide routing based on waypoint to waypoint, which is not always a possible route, or even the best route when taking into consideration the wind direction and strength. It is a planning tool, not really a navigation chart, but also useful under sail.

 

So based on your recommendations I downloaded the Navionics "Boating App" onto my android tablet. It is pretty cool. The free trial just ran out, so all I have is crappy maps now. I also downloaded ActiveCaptain to the same android, which also has charts, but appear to need a download. So, now I am confused. On the "Boating App" it asks if I want a subscription for a region. For MX and Caribbean To Brazil charts it is a $25.99 subscription. However, on the ActiveCaptain Android app it is also nagging me to buy charts. The same area is $199.99 on that app and appears to come on a SIM card. To make things more confusing, on the ActiveCaptain web site I access with my windows computer, I DO have charts when I log in.

The web ActiveCaptain appears quite different than the Android one.

So here are my questions. I don't have my own yacht. I charter. The ActiveCaptain appears to be more for integration with your Garmin equipment installed on the yacht. It allows you to share these expensive charts. True?

The Boating App seems great as a handheld stand alone chart plotter.

I use the same active captain login credentials for all apps. If I activate the android Boating App and download an area using the 25.99 subscription, does that cause anything more to work on Android ActiveCaptain? Or are they completely separate.

I wish Garmin would explain the relationships here so I don't have to fumble around with Android/Windows apps trying to figure it out by trial and error. I would be grateful for any clarification.

It appears to me I just need the Boating App for a backup chart plotter. I would like to have access to the ActiveCaptain community information, though.

I hope this rambling all makes sense.

 

With active Navionics subscription, you DO get access to Active Captain community information in the Navionics app.

(NOT that I am a fan of either Navionics or AC community edits... take them with a major "grain of salt"....)