Best Apps for Sailing, Boating, Cruising

[svHannabel]

Now that the off-season is upon some of us, I'm updating my iPad with useful sailing apps for next season. Anyone have favorites to share?

My top 7 sailing apps are given here: Sailing s/v Island Bound: Best Apps for Sailing and Boating

[Noname]

Very Good! Hopefully, the wind is not apparent wind but only localized wind conditions???

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by svHannabel

Now that the off-season is upon some of us, I'm updating my iPad with useful sailing apps for next season. Anyone have favorites to share?

My top 7 sailing apps are given here: Sailing s/v Island Bound: Best Apps for Sailing and Boating

SailboatPro is a fun game. Not a sailing simulator but a fun diversion that I got hooked on.

SailingKnots has a visual animated description of the basic sailing knots.

Many of the apps you link seem to require a data hook up. Depending on jow this is effected could be pricey.

So far Navionics is my favorite. I might try the boat data one.

[GeoPowers]

Here's the ones on my iphone/ipad:

Google Earth- for planning

Knot Guide- for remembering those vague knots

iGrib- Grib files to download worldwide (need 3G or Wifi to update)

WindAlert- my new favorite, great wind forecasting app that shows several different models. It is very good. (requires 3G or Wifi)

tideApp- The tide/current calulator I use (requires 3G or Wifi)

Ship Finder- poor man's AIS receiver (need 3G or Wifi)

Chesapeake Bay Watch- buoy data system that gives near-real time air/water temp, along with wind, waves, etc., at data buoys in the bay (need 3G or Wifi)

Navionics- I've used BC, Canada and US East versions and thought both were great.

eSeaChart- raster charts with Active Captain input (requires 3G or Wifi to update/upload new charts you haven't already downloaded, and to refresh AC reviews)

I also like Sailboat Pro for a fun sailing game.

Stars- for ID'ing constellations

Cruisers Forum!


Slightly off-topic, but not too much- I'm looking for an app that calculates true wind from apparent wind speed/angle and SOG. My ST60 speed log doesn't show me as moving until about 5 knots or so (5 knots SOG=0.1 knots, 6 knots SOG=1 knot, etc), and since the raymarine true wind value is based on the speed log input, the true wind speed/angle shown is junk. It's on my boat list, but pretty far down as I've tried all the easy stuff.

Thanks,

Frank

[Bash]

My favorite iPad app is called "Fireplace."

Makes the boat way cozy.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by GeoPowers

Stars- for ID'ing constellations

That sounds interesting.

Originally Posted by GeoPowers

Slightly off-topic, but not too much- I'm looking for an app that calculates true wind from apparent wind speed/angle and SOG. My ST60 speed log doesn't show me as moving until about 5 knots or so (5 knots SOG=0.1 knots, 6 knots SOG=1 knot, etc), and since the raymarine true wind value is based on the speed log input, the true wind speed/angle shown is junk. It's on my boat list, but pretty far down as I've tried all the easy stuff.

That sounds like a PITA. Did the speed log ever work right? Presuming you've done all the easy stuff - not fouled, aligned correctly, in a "good" location. Isa it "responsive" when manipulated by hand? I spin mine slowly and it registers as low as .5kt. I've also motored both ways between two buoys (known distance) and it's pretty accurate.

I finally gave in though and remove my log at the end of every sail. It just fouls up too quickly to be left in the water.

[Noname]

. My ST60 speed log doesn't show me as moving until about 5 knots

The impeller may need cleaned well; or the contact is poor. My first ST50+ started coming apart just above the impeller housing. The replacement held up well for years and always worked at very low speed, i.e. 1 knot or less. Just a thought...

[GeoPowers]

Yep, worked fine for years, reading down to below a knot. I cleaned the hell out of it, soaked in vinegar, etc. It is spotless! I don't think it is electrical because it does give readings, and the orientation worked for years, so don't think that's the problem. There is a way to calibrate it, but the calibration factor doesn't go high enough to correct the speed error. I suspect one or more of the speed sensor elements is faulty, but need to break out the multimeter and check it out. I found this from on SN:

Troubleshooting Raymarine ST-60 speed - SailNet Community

From the Raymarine FAQ:

Testing the Speed Sensor:

Verify that the transducer’s paddle wheel is free of marine growth and rotates freely on its shaft
Power down the instrument
Disconnect the GREEN and SHIELD transducer leads from the instrument display or instrument pod.
Connect a multimeter to the GREEN and SHIELD transducer leads and configure the multimeter to measure continuity or resistance.
Slowly rotate the transducer paddle wheel by hand. Note that as the paddlewheel is rotated, the multimeter should alternate between an open circuit and a closed circuit with each quarter turn. As such one complete revolution of the paddle wheel should open and close the circuit four times.

Should the multimeter respond as indicated above, then the speed sensor element of the transducer would be deemed functional. If not, then the transducer has failed and should be replaced.

Seaduction, when you say impellor do you mean the paddlewheel at the base of the transducer?




Sorry to the OP for the thread drift. By the way, Slocum's book is available for download for free on iBooks.

Frank

[Noname]

Yes. Sorry to be so late, but I had to leave for some appointments.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by GeoPowers

Yep, worked fine for years, reading down to below a knot. I cleaned the hell out of it, soaked in vinegar, etc. It is spotless! I don't think it is electrical because it does give readings, and the orientation worked for years, so don't think that's the problem. There is a way to calibrate it, but the calibration factor doesn't go high enough to correct the speed error. I suspect one or more of the speed sensor elements is faulty, but need to break out the multimeter and check it out. I found this from on SN:

Troubleshooting Raymarine ST-60 speed - SailNet Community

From the Raymarine FAQ:

Testing the Speed Sensor:

Verify that the transducer’s paddle wheel is free of marine growth and rotates freely on its shaft
Power down the instrument
Disconnect the GREEN and SHIELD transducer leads from the instrument display or instrument pod.
Connect a multimeter to the GREEN and SHIELD transducer leads and configure the multimeter to measure continuity or resistance.
Slowly rotate the transducer paddle wheel by hand. Note that as the paddlewheel is rotated, the multimeter should alternate between an open circuit and a closed circuit with each quarter turn. As such one complete revolution of the paddle wheel should open and close the circuit four times.

Should the multimeter respond as indicated above, then the speed sensor element of the transducer would be deemed functional. If not, then the transducer has failed and should be replaced.

Seaduction, when you say impellor do you mean the paddlewheel at the base of the transducer?

Sorry to the OP for the thread drift. By the way, Slocum's book is available for download for free on iBooks.

Frank

Yup - that's the next step. Good luck with it.

In regards to calculating true wind from apparent - here's the math... The caveat of course is you still need boat speed.

Don't know of an app for that but it would be cool if someone wrote one for all the sailling calcs. How useful would that be!

[Coolruns]

+1 on Navionics.

Have it on my I-phone and really enjoy the accuracy.

We regularly sail in the Chesapeake and have found it to be very accurate.

[jackdale]

Paper charts

[Dkdoyle]

Love my apps.
Windalert
Bouydata
Navionics
Shipfinder
Weather.com

I have seen two different anchor alarm apps. Anybody have a review on them?

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Dkdoyle

Love my apps.
Windalert
Bouydata
Navionics
Shipfinder
Weather.com

I have seen two different anchor alarm apps. Anybody have a review on them?

I installed Anchor Alert. Could use better instructions but worked as advertised. Not sure I did the offset programming or range setting correctly.

You need to have the ipad, iphone plugged into power as the first night drained my iphone completely.

[Coolruns]

I use Anchor Alert on my Iphone and have had no problems with it so far.

When we first used the app, we were in a blow of around 20-30 knots through the entire night and it notified us when we slipped a little at anchor.