www.iFourWinns.com

It even works on IPad that could be my ticket to getting one.....

Will have to look up see if I can tether my iPhone to an iPad to access the web?? That would be sweet

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97 258 vista 7.4 VP/DP......... 2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali


96 sundowner 5.7 vp/sx (SOLD)

You would need an iPad 3G with the GPS antenna to be able to use it out of cell range...

The iPad WiFi does NOT have a GPS antenna.

In that case there would be no need to tether...

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

What if I have a 3G iPad but no data plan on it? Load it up at home at home before you head out? Tethering would be nice in the case your don't have a plan for it and you need to update something.

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97 258 vista 7.4 VP/DP......... 2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali


96 sundowner 5.7 vp/sx (SOLD)

You need the 3G to work the GPS on the program. It will work if you get a Sprint Overdrive or Verizon mifi, but you will have a data plan tied to it.

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2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

I misread you question. Thought you only had the wifi iPad. The cheaper option is to just get a plan on the 3g iPad, and you will be set.

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2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

Or pickup a used 3G and don't bother activating it. That way you'd get GPS.

Bear in mind some cell networks have very crappy data coverage out on the water. AT&T is absolutely miserable out on the Chesapeake. Voice is spotty but data was non-existent just about everywhere we regularly go. So I went with Verizon and have had total and reliable coverage everywhere we go on the Chesapeake.

Also consider using a mapping app that has it's own downloaded charts. The last thing you want is to get stuck in a dead zone with no coverage and no ability to get online mapping data. I had Active Captain loaded on my old Windows phone and it was a pretty nice app. I haven't looked into current stuff. I use a Droid 2 on verizon now and will probably load up a couple of the apps for a look-see next spring.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Navionics loads all the chart data right to the phone/device. That is why you DON"T need cell/data coverage for it work...just GPS.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

True dat. One reason I really like the app. AT&T's cell coverage is gawd-awful in the Ozark mountains of MO where I do all of my boating.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Here's an article explaining it. I wasn't aware of that.
http://orb-of-knowledge.blogspot.com/20 ... s-and.html

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2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

Which isn't a product I mentioned, one way or the other. One upside to online mapping is the presumption of fresh data. Offline apps tend to have stale data, or at least not as fresh. The state of marine charts is not one of up to the minute information though, some are woefully out of date. And getting any info about what has or hasn't been updated is pretty much non-existent. So it's hard to argue one or the other on just the charts alone. One that uses offline charts is more likely to at least be usable when coverage is lacking. That and constantly viewing online charts tends to chew through data plan bytes.

For wifi access on the boat I like to use my verizon air card in a linksys router. That way I can use the unlimited plan on the card for everything on the boat.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Also, in the two years I've had it, Navionics does frequent updates to their app. I presume some of it is software related and some of it is chart updating.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

The trouble is they don't publicize chart changes. Given the low cost of the phone app it's less of a problem. But for the chip charts it's a lot more expensive. So I think most folks don't bother shelling out 'just because'.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I bought a chartplotter. Too difficult looking at iPhone screen, pinching and expanding screen, looking at in the sun and driving the boat ( especially at speed). Maybe it will suffice on lakes, but in the gulf and icw, chartplotter is much better in my opinion.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

Navionics is available for Android as well. Price depends on which geographic region you want. Southern US is $15.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Abundance good to know available Navionics accepted for Android the appearance US $15 Southern obstacle is.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy