| A lot of marine enthusiasts are exploring capability | | | | among others. It can also act as a repeater to |
| on their iPhone these days for charting, GPS and | | | | support NMEA data over TCP/IP. That means |
| marine weather apps. iPhone apps are usually low | | | | you can use it to connect with other devices that |
| priced and often quite effective, especially for | | | | use NMEA standard including Mac compatible |
| casual boaters who don't have the budget for | | | | applications such as MacENC™. iNavX retails for |
| fancy marine electronics. One of the things people | | | | $49.99 at the Apple store. There are also |
| love most about iPhone marine apps is the ability | | | | versions available for 3G and 3GS. Navionics |
| to use charts for planning purposes even when | | | | Marine Charting Software Navionics won awards |
| you are not on the boat or out on the water. | | | | for their innovative marine and lake charts iPhone |
| Many iPhone marine charting apps also run on iPod | | | | app in 2009. The 2010 version is a little more |
| Touch and the newest in the Apple line of | | | | pricey (up from $9.99 to $24.99) but lets you do |
| electronic wizardry, the iPad. Check before you | | | | even more. As well as keeping you on track with |
| purchase. Many apps are very low cost, so even | | | | the GPS and Charting applications you can check |
| if you have high end electronics on board, a few | | | | tides and currents, sun and moon phases and |
| inexpensive iPhone charts can provide a great | | | | interface directly to Facebook to post pics of |
| backup in case something goes wrong with your | | | | your travels for friends and family to view |
| primary marine equipment for some inexplicable | | | | instantly. You can also send tracks and routes to |
| reason. | | | | Google Earth. You can even use the app offline |
| Here is the run down on a few of the more | | | | (where there is no wi-fi coverage) to plan routes |
| popular iPhone apps that might interest boaters | | | | and create a travelogue. You buy Navionics Marine |
| and fishermen: Marine Charts for iPod, iPhone and | | | | charts for specific regions so you can buy Marine: |
| iPad: iNavX™ This app includes NOAA RNC | | | | US West, Marine: US East, etc. Using apps for |
| raster marine charts for the United States. The | | | | your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or 3G wireless phone |
| app allows you to leverage GPS to plot your | | | | is a convenient and inexpensive way to try out |
| position and gives you access to thousands of | | | | various software and see if you like it enough to |
| charts for Canada, U.S. Coastal waters, Alaska, | | | | invest in a boat-mountable marine chart system. |
| Hawaii and the US Virgin Islands. It allows you to | | | | It is also a useful backup to your primary |
| set waypoints and plot routes using the GPS | | | | electronics and may free you up from the need |
| tracker, and interfaces with Google Earth, GPX | | | | to lug a laptop on board with you. |
| import/export, and GRIB weather forecast | | | | |