The Future of Navigation? // $4.99
The Navionics Boating app has emerged as one of the most popular ones on the market and offers an impressive array of features for the casual or serious boater alike. The free version starts you off with the exact same U.S. Government charts you’d get from a chartplotter card. You can also record your travel route and snap geotagged photos. Additionally, you can plot routes, measure the distance between points, add your own customizable markers, and pull up wind data.
And those aren’t even all the features of the free version of the app! How about the upgraded version? One can upgrade to Navionics+ for access to the community-driven Sonarcharts, which provide a new level of detail to the basic government charts using aggregated user-produced bathymetry data. Community Edits continues the crowd-source theme with on-site information from fellow boaters who have been there, complete with georeferenced pictures and more. One can even synch the app with Raymarine Wi-Fi MFDs.
You can even get a two-week free trial of Navionics+ to see if you like it. Navionics is compatible with iOS 7.0 or higher and Android devices. Navionics+ USA is $4.99 on iTunes.
The Universe is Yours // Free For iOS
The saying goes that there are more stars in the sky that grains of sand on the Earth. Wouldn’t it be nice to know which ones you’re looking at? SkyView Free is a stargazing app that’s easy to use with your iPhone and iPad.
Simply point your device at the sky, take a screenshot, and the app will tell you what constellations and stars you’re looking at. Neat!
Photographers reportedly use it to calculate the sunset for optimal lighting and you can learn about the constellations, stars, planet, and whatever celestial bodies you find with included information. There is a reason this app was award iTunes “Best of 2011” and “Best of 2012” for apps. Best of all? It’s free! Requires iOS 8.0 or later.
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” – Carl Sagan
“Where’s the…?” // iOS 9.0+, $4.99
Do you know where everything is on your boat? Really? Whether we’re talking about the wine opener or emergency EPIRB, a skipper really should know where everything is. What’s on my Boat? is an app that was made to help the skipper with a lot on his or her mind. Simply take a photo of your secondary handheld compass, save where you store it, and categorize it into lists. What’s on my Boat? helps you managed your many maritime items so you can find anything with a quick search of your saved items on your phone. No more spelunking into lazarettes looking for that kid’s life jacket!
What’s on my Boat? is compatible with iOS 9.0 or later and costs $4.99.
