Navigation Redundency

[Ecoaster]

Looking for info on what is the best app or marine chart software to us with a Ipad to use in the event my chartplotter bites the dust

[StuM]

Being a boot and braces type, I carry multiple levels:

1. Navionics on a tablet
2. Garmin GPSMap78SC
3. Paper

If I have to chose between #1 and #2, it would be #2 - I would NOT rely on any sort of tablet/phone as the only backup.

[svrevelations]

We have a Furuno chart plotter and MaxSea as our main navigation. As redundancy we have;

2 x Laptops loaded with Maxsea v12 with CM93 v3 charts and OpenCPN with CM93 v2 charts,
2 x Tablets with Navionics,
Paper charts.

[barnakiel]

Use search on the threads will return longer earlier threads on same subject.

Navionics seems OK for many.

b.

[seacap]

You must have a non electronic backup.

[Jammer Six]

iPad, iNavX, then paper, done.

[Adelie]

OpenCPN on a netbook. - $350

3 Casio watches - $15/each
Davis Mark3 - $60
Long Term Almanac by Kolbe -$40

[ksanders]

I have maxsea on my ipad and think it would function as a great backup.

The App is free and charts for most of the US were something around $50

[Jammer Six]

Last week, we had the boat's plotter, 3 iPads, 4 iPhones and a laptop all with plotting software.

We weren't going to have a problem with navigation, and if we ran out of fuel we could start trading GPS systems for five gallon cans of diesel.

[Time2Go]

On my last long trip NJ to FLA I used Seaclear on a laptop
Seaclear is a free download and you can also download free charts from NOAA
However this program does not seem to be as popular as it was 2 years ago.
That said I also had a full set of paper charts for our route and a relatively
Inexpensive handheld gps. Two or three times day a day I would turn it on
Get our position and plot it on the paper chart.
Pretty old school but very simple and a few extra double A's and you are good.
An added benefit is that sometimes it's fun to roll out the charts and be able to retrace your trip. I also kept a steno book of notes tied to the gps marks.
Maybe it's just me But I wouldn't go anywhere without good old papers charts.
I have found that zooming out on a chart plotter distorts my sense of distance and time.

[letsgetsailing3]

Paper charts

[noelex 77]

I have Navionics on the iPad and it is reasonably good performance and amazingly good value. (Most of Europe for $60) I have not tried iNavX, but most users report it similar.
One of the advantages of electronic mapping is that multiple systems can be used.

Originally Posted by seacap

You must have a non electronic backup.

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

Paper charts

This is the traditional view, but with many boats having multiple devices with electronic mapping, many with their own battery supply, views are gradually changing.
You do need to take some precautions such as having multiple backups and one system in a faraday cage is a good idea. With the low cost of both the software and hardware this is now quite feasible.

In many ways it is not a black and white issue with some boats carrying a small number of small scale (or out of date) paper charts.

Check the legal requirements if you do plan to do this.

[Jammer Six]

One of the things I've noticed is that everything still comes back to the boat's electrical system.

Never been offshore, or even beyond Puget Sound, but I have been out on the Sound with low device batteries. When that happens, you either charge them from the boat or you do without.

So if you're out in the ocean, you have 24-36 hours from the time you lose the ability to re-charge an iPhone or an iPad, and then you're done with electronic navigation.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by Jammer Six

So if you're out in the ocean, you have 24-36 hours from the time you lose the ability to re-charge an iPhone or an iPad, and then you're done with electronic navigation.

Not quite as bad as that, out in the ocean there's not much need for navigation. If in an extreme event you can't charge then all you need is a few minutes to get a gps fix once or twice a day. Then turn on close to the coast if you feel the need.

[StuM]

< So if you're out in the ocean, you have 24-36 hours from the time you lose the ability to re-charge an iPhone or an iPad, and then you're done with electronic navigation.

That's why I have a Garmin handheld and lots of AA batteries in a waterproof container as backup. One set of batteries will last for many days, or even weeks, if you are just switching it on periodically for a fix. A 12 pack should be good enough for almost any passage.