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8 Best Marine Navigation Apps For Boaters 2024 | iPhones & Androids

Your Ultimate Guide To The 8 Best Marine Navigation Apps For Boaters in 2024

Whether you’re an avid fisherman or weekend enthusiast, boaters of all types understand that an effective navigation app is an essential ingredient for safe and fulfilling days out on the water. Nautical charts can be confusing and difficult to read at glance, and there aren’t road signs on the water telling you where all the great afternoon destinations are. Having your friends and family out on the boat can be a great day on the water, and the last thing you want to do, is end up getting lost or running aground.

With that in mind, We’ve compiled a list of the best marine navigation apps to ensure you captain at your best every time you’re on the water. If you have a great suggestion to add to our list, please reach out to us or send an email to [email protected] so we can keep this helpful app selection as updated as possible.

• Table of Contents

Best Marine Navigation Apps

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Any time you are out on the water it’s a good idea to have a navigation app to help you avoid dangerous issues. These apps include everything from updated weather reports to nautical charts that directly relate to your excursion goals. These are the best map apps that give you all the features and reliability you need while on the water.

Wavve Boating :

This is undoubtedly the best marine navigation app available today. Wavve Boating helps boaters navigate and explore with ease, while connecting to their boating community. The app customizes nautical charts to the draft of the user’s vessel, and current water levels, to provide an intuitive and easy to read map. Boaters can see their friends on the water, share their favorite spots, and discover new restaurants, routes, and other great locations. Wavve Boating is fully compatible with both iOS and Android devices, and best of all, this is so easy to use. You don’t get the endless clutter with too many options on the screen, or confusing color schemes that can leave you overwhelmed when you just need clear guidance. We highly recommend giving Wavve a test run before trying any other mobile navigation app.

Price: a 14-day free trial with a fantastic annual plan that is $45.99 per year. Readers can get a free preview of the app …no sign up or account needed. Come see why it’s the preferred boating app.

This app is the grandfather to many of the apps on our list and is still used by sailors because of its extensive library of charts and ability to overlay multiple nautical maps simultaneously. Many people that enjoy fishing will find that feature particularly useful. The chart plotter screen can work with GRIB files or connect directly with NMEA instruments for quick displaying of critical boating and systems information. That makes iNavX more complex than other apps, but for seasoned mariners or those looking to integrate with on-board systems this may be the right choice

Price: $4.99 if you are an iOS user, a free basic version for Android, and a $19.99/year price for the enhanced version.

Navionics Boating App:

Navionics is a part of our best GPS app list because it has many of the same features you would expect from the competitors. The reason we like this particular company so much is because the app includes Navionics’ auto-routing capabilities, Active Captain Community data, Sonar Charts, and more. Navionics has a full set up features for your device ( https://www.navionics.com/usa/apps/navionics-boating ) to ensure you can utilize their custom overlays and map options.

Price: There is a free trial available, but then you will need to invest in a subscription. For example, the US & Canada maps are $24.99 per year.

Looking for the top boat navigation apps for iPhones? We’ve reviewed all the top options in the app store and did our iPhone research. Did you know that Apple users are well known for preferring high UI/UX features of their apps? It’s just one of the factors we consider in our list. That being said, if you’re an iPhone user and need a quality sampling of the best marine navigation apps, take a look at these choices:

As mentioned earlier, Wavve Boating is an excellent choice for iOS devices. It has one of the best map app designs with a highly user-friendly interface, accurate data points for navigation, and comprehensive features that are easy to find. Plus, you can mark your favorite destinations for revisiting based on goals like mooring, anchorage, fishing, and getting that fantastic tuna melt you tried at the local dock shack. Get a feel for the map with this in-app preview.

iNavX, available on iOS, is also a highly regarded marine navigation app It provides access to a vast library of charts, offers advanced waypoint management, and supports various external accessories, enhancing the overall boating experience.

Aqua Map is a user-friendly and reliable marine navigation app specifically designed for iPhones. It offers offline chart access, customizable features, and incorporates USACE data. Boaters traveling the ICW, or attempting the great loop , will want to consider checking this one out.

Don’t Worry; we know not everyone isn’t an Apple fan. We wanted to be sure to feature the best boat navigation apps for our Android readers as well. That way, you have all the options you want to find fuel, avoid sand bars, and reach those high target fishing spots you heard about at the local pub the night before. Check out this list of the best marine navigation apps for boating adventures with an Android phone/tablet:

Wavve Boating, available on Android devices, delivers the same exceptional features and reliability as its iOS counterpart. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive functionality, we believe Wavve Boating to be a top choice for Android users, especially with the hazard highlights that show up that help you proactively avoid any dangers. If you’re an android user, get a free in-app preview of Wavve Boating here .

C-Map features vector maps, which make customizing and zooming in a seamless experience for anyone. This best boat navigation app can get a little cluttered if you don’t change the layers when you first start it up (according to this review: https://casualnavigation.com/c-map-app-reviewed-by-a-professional-navigator/ ). However, once you have that default setting adjusted, you’ll get all the features you’d expect like smooth navigation, boating hotspots, updated maps, and more.

Navionics Boating:

Navionics Boating offers a more traditional approach to nautical charts, mixed with real-time weather updates, and optimized for Android devices. It provides a user-friendly interface and reliable navigation tools, making it a popular choice among Android users.

Being a better boater doesn’t mean you have to pay big dollars for a marine navigation tool. If you’re new to boating, or on a budget, it’s not a bad idea to try out some free options to get a feel for the features that mean most to you. If you’re looking for free boating maps, then consider some of these exceptional options:

Argo is a free marine navigation app that provides access to local charts, route planning tools, and a captain’s log to track routes. Although it offers in-app purchases for additional features, the free version is still helpful for basic navigation needs.

• Wavve Boating

When it comes to nautical chart apps, you need those tech resources that can work online as much as when you cannot find a signal far from the coastline. That way, you aren’t trying to explore Aruba while looking at a map of the Great Lakes in the USA. The following options provide comprehensive nautical chart coverage and advanced navigation features:

Wavve Boating excels in nautical chart capabilities, offering detailed and up-to-date access for over 15,000+ nautical charts. It’s seamless integration with thousands of community-sourced points of interest makes it a simple and super powerful chart-based navigation app. One of the best ways to get a feel for how easy this app is to use is by giving it a try. Check out this free preview to get started (no account needed).

iNavX provides access to a vast library of charts worldwide. With its ability to overlay multiple charts, support for raster and vector charts, and advanced navigation features, iNavX offers a comprehensive solution for boaters relying on nautical charts. Just watch out for the additional fees if you are a globetrotting sailor.

Navionics :

We wanted to include Navionics on our list because of the history of the company. They have been supporting nautical chart information for over 30 years, so you know you’ll get a strong blended mix of public and private map sources or surveys. (Ref: https://www.navionics.com/usa/charts/features/nautical-chart ).

Q: What is the best marine navigation app overall?

In our experience, the best marine navigation app overall is Wavve Boating. It offers comprehensive features, accurate data, and an intuitive interface, making it a top choice for boaters. Ease of use is the big kicker for our team because that cuts way down on confusion when you need data as quickly as possible. We also love Wavve’s free in-app preview , which gives you full access to the app…no account needed.

Q: Are there any free marine navigation apps?

Yes, there are free marine navigation apps available. Just keep in mind these tend to have a free trial period and then offer upgrades that require a monthly subscription. Some notable options include Navionics Boating, C-Map, and Argo, which provide essential navigation tools and limited chart access without requiring a purchase. If you’d like free access to premium features, then download Wavve Boating’s free preview .

Q: Can I use marine navigation apps on tablets?

Absolutely! Many marine navigation apps are optimized for tablets. Almost all the apps on our list are available for tablets, which is great if you require a larger screen or have a strong mount next to the helm.

Q: Do marine navigation apps work offline?

Yes, several marine navigation apps, including Wavve Boating, iNavX, and Navionics, offer offline functionality – especially for nautical charts. While you may not get the most updated tidal data, you will get plenty of details to safely navigate your next outing.

Q: Which marine navigation app provides the most extensive chart coverage?

Wavve Boating, iNavX, and Navionics are known for their extensive chart coverage. These apps provide access to charts from various public, private, and community-driven sources and ensure comprehensive coverage for boaters in different regions.

Please note that the availability and features of specific boat GPS apps may vary over time. Therefore, we always recommend checking the latest information and reviews before choosing a marine navigation app for your particular needs.

Wrapping it Up

If you’ve browsed our extensive list of the best marine navigation apps and still feel a bit overwhelmed, we strongly suggest starting with Wavve Boating . It’s sure to provide you a better boating experience with the easiest marine navigation app. If you’re interested in a more hands on preview, check out this month’s Top Boating Destination – Shell Key Island for a free preview with no strings attached. Happy boating!

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Best Marine and Boating Navigation Apps

Table of Contents

Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by Boatsetter Team

For almost everything you do today, there’s an app that will support, enhance or complement that activity. Recreational boating is no exception, and there are dozens of boating apps to help you enjoy time on the water.

Arguably, marine navigation apps are some of the most common—and the most useful—available to boaters today, with a range of options to suit different needs. Some boat GPS apps, for example, utilize NOAA raster charts, which are essentially scanned paper charts incorporated into their systems. Some apps offer vector charts, providing electronic charts that allow for scrolling and zooming in for enhanced detail.

The convenience of downloading these apps to your iPhone, Android, or tablet enables you to have them readily available regardless of the boat you’re on,  significantly enhancing your navigational capabilities.

Best marine navigation apps ( with GPS )

These are our top recommendations for boating apps that are great for marine navigation and offer GPS. Most of the apps are free to try.

1. Navionics

A perennial favorite is Navionics because it’s easy to use and comprehensive in scope. Navionics mimics a standard chartplotter experience and in some cases can connect to an onboard plotter via WiFi. Creating waypoints and routes, measuring distances and understanding depth contours and aids to navigation is pretty straight forward with this app.

Once downloaded, the charts stay on your device and can be used offline which is great when you’re cruising in areas with little coverage. Bonus functionality includes weather and tide information and dock-to-dock routing that helps you set a viable course based on your vessel’s parameters like draft.

• Price: Two-week free trial, then subscriptions starting at $14.99
• Click here to learn more and download.
• Get the app from Google Play Store or iOS store

Easy to confuse with Navionics (especially when downloading the app), iNavX is a whole different animal. There’s a $5 charge to download the app, and then you can download NOAA raster charts for free and vector charts (powered by Navionics and C-MAP) for a fee.

Beyond navigation, details on marinas, fuel docks and other facilities are also available. Weather data overlays and additional features like engine data and AIS collision avoidance information can also be viewed, but the app can get technical in a hurry and may take longer to learn.

• Price: $4.99, plus an annual subscription

C-MAP is the primary other choice besides Navionics for the underlying charting information that many apps use with their own user interface. The new C-MAP Embark was designed to be intuitive so after a few minutes, you won’t really be looking for the manual to manage the basics like waypoints, routes and nav aids.

A funky feature includes the app changing color based on your environment, so the charts are always easy to read regardless of the surrounding light. The basics include a free download, but chart additions and weather data will be in-app purchases.

• Price: Free, with available in-app purchases

4. SeaPilot

SeaPilot sets an ambitious agenda for itself: it’s a basic navigation app (which has a free three-day trial) but it ramps up from there. You’ll need to upgrade to the premium version so you can add various chart areas, weather forecasting and routing capabilities. Beyond that, you can connect to Facebook to find nearby boating friends.

For sailors, there’s a database of polar diagrams which are graphs of the theoretical top speeds attainable by over 300 kinds of sailboats.

• Price: Three-day free trial, then starting at $7.99

5. i Sail GPS:NOAA USA Charts

For barebones basics, iSail is a great choice because it’s inexpensive and you can skip sign-ups and pop-ups. Measure distances to your waypoint, upload waypoints and routes and get quick ETAs to your next intermediate or final point.

iSail uses NOAA raster charts which are downloaded to the device so they can be used without Wi-Fi or out of cell range. There are few advanced features, but this app gets the job done when you need the basics. It’s for iOS only.

• Price: $7.99, with available in-app purchases

6. KnowWake

The best way to describe KnowWake is to compare it to a road-based app you’re probably already familiar with–Waze. Like Waze, KnowWake is crowd-source and will provide information on congested waterfront locations–coastal and on 350 inland waterways.

On a bustling weekend, you can see how busy marinas, restaurants, boat ramps, fuel docks, and dive and snorkel sites are. You can use it in North America, on the Great Loop and in Canada as well as in parts of the Caribbean. The app uses real-time updates and it has location-sharing between users so you can find friends.

• Price: Free!

All the boating apps above vary in price, complexity and focus, and although some are free, advanced features generally come at a price. Some take a bit of time to learn, but they’ll all put some peace-of-mind in your pocket the next time you slip the dock lines.

Bonus Apps: Boatsetter

Did you know Boatsetter has an app? Make that two! We’re proud to offer the largest peer-to-peer boat rental app that connects boat owners and boat renters, so you can get on the water without committing to boat ownership. Rent one of over 17,000 boats in 600 locations. Boatsetter isn’t the only private boat rental app , but it offers an exclusive partnership with BoatUS and Geico for insurance.

• Price: Free! (Boat owners should also check out our Boatsetter Owner’s app , perfect for stress-free boat rental management and easy communication with renters).
• Click here to download for iOS ; or click here to download for Android .

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Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin. 

A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide. 

Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico. 

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These Are the Best Marine Navigation Apps, According to an Expert

30th mar 2024 by denelle balach.

Marine multifunction displays have revolutionized boat navigation thanks to their advanced yet easy-to-use systems. These machines combine navigation sonar, radar, weather, communication tools, and more into one convenient system. In 2009, multifunction displays took on a new face, integrated into smartphone apps for iPhones, tablets, and Androids, the first of which is iNavX.

Ever since, more apps have become available with enhanced software, making them a first choice for some and a reliable backup app for others. Why? It comes down to your boating preferences! Multifunction displays are usually installed in a fixed location on your boat, making them less portable than smartphones. However, multifunction displays offer larger screens and better visibility in sunlight. Multifunction displays are often waterproof and have more features but are a more expensive initial investment than smartphone apps with a robust number of features at a lower price.

Some smartphone apps have wireless integration that allows route planning on your smartphone or tablet, which will transfer to your MFD or can be used to synchronize waypoints, routes, and tracks with multifunction displays. Navionics and Garmin Blue Chart Mobile integrate with the Garmin MFD, while Ray Marine’s mobile app works with their MFD!

No matter your preference, we think it’s important to discuss what these smartphone apps offer, as they can be a valuable tool at sea. In this article, we will rank the best boat navigation apps with the most multifunctional features, the best app interfaces, the apps with the freest features, the apps with the best integration possibilities with other instruments, and our overall best pick.

Best Multifunctional Features Apps

Navionics is an excellent app due to its many features. It contains up-to-date detailed charts you can use offline wherever you go, including multiple overlays, port plans, anchorages, safety depth contours, navaids, and sonar charts. These charts are 1’/0.5m HD bathymetry map charts with detailed bottom contours that help you find new fishing areas. You can edit chart-overlay combinations to customize chart views, highlight shallow areas, and target multiple fishing ranges.

One of the most significant points is that Navionics includes daily updates worldwide. Not all apps update as frequently! This app contains real-time weather data with daily and hourly forecasts and wind, water, buoys, tides, and current data. It can place markers on anchorage spots or where you reel in a fish to save for next time. Navionics has an active community, including the Active Captain community, with thousands of boaters with information and first-hand experience. You can share and save data outside the app or transfer it to your chart plotter, including sharing marinas, repair shops, or other locations outside the app.

 Navionics is compatible with the Garmin chart plotter through the Navionics chart plotter card subscription. U.S. and Canadian lakes, rivers, and coastal marine maps cost $49.99 a year, which is average compared to the other apps listed. The biggest concern with this app is that in 2023, the price increased almost double, with no added features. It also has a somewhat problematic offline mode for users. Navionics official website .

Navionics chart by the water. Navionic photo.

iNavX has many features and claims to be the only smartphone app with worldwide coverage. It gives users access to marine charts and maps, including Theyr Premium, Professional+ Charts, Blue Latitude, CHS, Explorer, and Waterway Guide. It includes sailing routes with waypoints and route management with GRIB weather forecasts. It also includes AIS overlays that will integrate with your onboard systems.

iNavX has up-to-date boating conditions, including currents, winds, and swells. You can manage your boating equipment with nautical instrument integration, which saves boating routes to a shared track log. In the advanced chart plotter, you can plot your real-time position using its GPS, pan zoom, rotate charts, and print detailed charts to use with the app.

Your waypoints can be tracked and imported in KML or GPX format and will integrate with external GPS and AIS receivers, depth, speed, wind, engine, and battery instruments. Lastly, the app comes with anchor alarms and port/invalid search. iNavX has premium subscriptions ranging from $9.99 to $299 a year. The downside to iNavX is that their current raster charts are not quilted, customers state they have an overly complicated instrument feed, an annual subscription is required to update charts, and if you’re viewing Navionics charts, there is no access to the sonar charts in iNavX.  iNavX official website .

Handheld chart plotter. iNavX photo.

Best App Interfaces (Ease-of-Use)

Aqua map- mobile chartplotter.

Not only does Aqua Map have an excellent interface that can be quickly learned, but it also has many categorized features. Aqua Map has the latest charts you can use offline, including weather, tides, and POIs from ActiveCaptain and Waterway Guide. It can connect to your boat's AIS and GPS, making it cross-compatible with your other instruments. You can plan routes, record your tracks, and find friends on the water while sharing your data across the live-sharing community.

More features include vector and raster nautical charts for offline use, regular updates, satellite images, real-time route navigation, information on bridges and hazards, and the best fuel prices! Aqua Map has one of the best anchor alarms and AnchorLink with mirroring and email/telegram notifications with an excellent display.

Aqua Map has marine forecasts for wind, waves, currents, and worldwide weather information. It has 1800+ weather buoys to get real-time sea info, tide and current predictions and simulations, 14000+ vector lake maps, easy sharing and uploading of track markers and routes, real-time depth sounder, wind sensor, compass, and GPS display. Depending on the maps you download, you can buy a yearly subscription ranging from $4.99 to $69.99. The downside to this app is that reviewers state their depth boundaries, which can be confusing.  Aqua Map official website .

Real-time sea info on Aqua Map. Aqua Map photo. 

Savvy Navvy

The second you open your Savvy Navvy app, you will notice how easy it is to navigate and how modern the interface is! They have highly detailed nautical charts that aren’t cluttered and colored well. They have a premium subscription, including weather forecast graphs to scroll through to see weather conditions, wind strength, and direction, including their unique Course to Steer (CTA) automatic weather routing.

They have free local marina and anchorage information, including the VHF channel, mooring details, restaurants, bathrooms, toilets, fuel docks, and more. Savvy Navvy has only four buttons on the bottom with a small set of options on each page, making the menu easy to understand. Savvy Navvy’s premium price is $99 a year, making it one of our more expensive options. The drawback is that their free version does not give you as many features as some other apps, but if you pay the premium price, you will love it!  Savvy Navvy official website .

Various interfaces on Savvy Navvy app. Savvy Navvy photo.

Best App Integration Features

Active captain.

Garmin’s second app, Active Captain, connects your mobile device with their chart plotters! This app will plot charts, show charts and maps on your smartphone, and contact you with the boating community. You pair the app with your compatible chart plotter to transfer wirelessly and access charts and maps, software updates, routes, and waypoints. This was rated the best integration because this app is excellent but intended only for use with the Garmin chart plotter and is not recommended for stand-alone use.

Active Captain uses Garmin Navionics cartography featuring the same style, appearance, and advanced technology with a one-year subscription to daily updates. This app has exceptional coverage, clarity, and detail, plus the NOAA raster cartography (3) premium features.

The best part about this app is that you can monitor and control your switches, such as the top of your bilge or your doors, to turn them on or off through the app. Conversely, your chart plotter can receive calls, text messages, and more, so you can put your phone away where it is safe and dry! Active Captain is free to use and connect to your devices and community. The biggest issue with this app is its lack of compatibility with non-Garmin instruments and its relatively poor ability to be a stand-alone app for those who don’t have a Garmin chart plotter.  Active Captain official website .

Alerts and pins on the water. Active Captain photo. 

C-Map: Boating

C-Map is compatible with the Simrad NSX series, the B&G Zeus S series, and many other instruments, making them a top integration choice. Some of its best features include full planning and navigation, Auto Routing™ tracks, waypoints, and thousands of points of interest. It has a free chart viewer with access to the most up-to-date C-MAP charts. It has unlimited offline map downloads, GPS, and full navigation mode. You can import and export your GPX files to share your routes, tracks, and waypoints with friends!

It also includes a marine weather forecast, weather along the route, weather overlay, chart personalization, high-resolution bathymetry, custom depth shading, a measure distance tool, and shaded relief. This app is constantly updated with the most up-to-date maps and new features and functionalities.

The C-Map map browser and planning tools are free, and the premium subscription is only $14.00/year, which allows unlimited offline map downloads, viewing of your GPS position, and access to the full navigational features. However, lake boaters beware. Reviewers note that some local lakes are unavailable or have limited range despite C-Map stating that all are provided.  C-Map official website .

C-Map charts on iPhone, iPad and desktop. C-Map photo.

Best Free Navigation App

This is one of our favorite free boat navigation apps because it's high-quality and the only app that is free to download and completely free to use! You can find routes to new destinations anywhere in the United States, track your boat trips, see your friends on the water, and get information from other boaters through their online community.

Argo uses NOAA/USACE charts that auto and manually route to thousands of water destinations. You can save all your boat trips on your smartphone and see 7-day weather conditions, wind, and tide forecasts. Despite most of these apps locking away features behind premium, you can see offline charts, custom depth shading, captain's log reports, and import and export GPX files on ARGO for free. It truly is an excellent app, considering the price. The cons to this app are that it has limited features compared to Navionics and other paid subscription features and isn’t updated as frequently.  Argo official website .

New Argo web app unveiled. Argo photo.

Best Overall Marine Navigation App

Though you can’t go wrong with any of the apps, Navionics checks all the boxes regarding features, interface, integration with other devices, and price, making it our overall top choice. It is a great stand-alone app and pairs wonderfully with Garmin's other instruments, making it a trustworthy and dependable option no matter the adventure. We hope one of these apps will improve your planning and navigating the next time you’re on the water!

Written By: Denelle Balach

Denelle Balach is a lifelong boat enthusiast who has spent her days at Lake Erie on kayaks, speedboats, and anything in between. She channels her passion for boating and writing into concise, engaging content for boating and yachting publications and maritime agencies. She can be reached through her website:  www.denelle-balach.com .

More from: Denelle Balach

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• Navigating the Seas: The Best Navigation Apps and Charts

In today's digital age, sailing and marine navigation have been revolutionized by the advent of navigation apps and online charts. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a novice enthusiast, having access to the right tools can make all the difference in your nautical adventures. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the world of marine navigation and introduce you to the best tools available, including the Navionics Chart Viewer, Sat Nav apps, and free nautical charts.

Setting Sail with Navionics Chart Viewer

What is navionics chart viewer.

Navionics Chart Viewer is a powerful tool that has become a must-have for boaters and sailors. This app provides access to highly detailed nautical charts, making it easier to plan routes and navigate the open waters. With its user-friendly interface, even beginners can use it effectively.

Navionics Chart Viewer stands out with its impressive features, including:

• High-resolution charts : The app offers high-resolution charts that provide a detailed view of the waterways, helping you navigate even the most challenging areas.
• Advanced route planning : Plan your sailing routes with precision, taking into account tides, currents, and weather conditions.
• Weather updates : Stay informed about the latest weather conditions, ensuring a safe and enjoyable voyage.
• Community-sourced data : Benefit from the collective knowledge of the boating community by accessing user-generated data on hazards, points of interest, and more.
• Compatibility with various devices : Navionics Chart Viewer is compatible with a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and chart plotters, ensuring you have access wherever you go.

Sat Nav Apps: Your GPS on the Water

The advantages of sat nav apps.

Satellite navigation apps are not just for land-based travel. They are equally important for boaters, offering precise GPS positioning, even when you're miles away from the shore. Let's delve into the advantages of using sat nav apps for marine navigation:

• Accuracy : Sat nav apps use advanced GPS technology to provide highly accurate position data, helping you stay on course and avoid hazards.
• Real-time updates : These apps continuously update your position, making it easier to navigate in changing conditions.
• Cost-effectiveness : Using a sat nav app eliminates the need for expensive dedicated marine GPS devices.
• Ease of use : Most sat nav apps feature intuitive interfaces that make them accessible to sailors of all levels of experience.

Free Sat Nav Apps

In the world of marine navigation, there are options for every budget. Here are some noteworthy free sat nav apps:

• Navionics Web App : This web-based application offers a user-friendly interface and access to charts online. It's a great tool for planning your next voyage and is compatible with a wide range of devices.
• Navigation App for Android : Android users can rejoice with a plethora of navigation apps available on the Google Play Store. These apps provide real-time information, including tide and weather updates, enhancing the safety and enjoyment of your journey.

Read our top notch articles on topics such as sailing, sailing tips and destinations in our Magazine .

Check out our latest sailing content:

Smooth sailing with marine navigation apps, the versatility of marine navigation apps.

Modern sailors rely on marine navigation apps to streamline their journeys. These apps offer convenience and efficiency, ensuring you stay on course no matter where you sail. Let's explore their versatility:

• Essential Features : Marine navigation apps typically include features like route planning, waypoint marking, and real-time tracking.
• Integration : Many of these apps can integrate with other marine electronics, such as radar and sonar, providing a comprehensive navigation solution.
• Offline Use : Some apps allow you to download charts for offline use, ensuring you have access to crucial information even when you're out of cellular or Wi-Fi range.

Exploring Navionics Apps

Navionics, a leading name in marine navigation, offers a range of apps tailored to different regions and needs:

• Navionics UK App : Specifically tailored for the UK waters, this app provides comprehensive charts and up-to-date information for British sailors. Whether you're planning a leisurely cruise or a challenging offshore passage, this app has you covered.
• Navionics US App : If you're sailing in the United States, the Navionics US App is your go-to resource. It offers detailed charts, including data from official hydrographic offices, making it a reliable choice for navigating American waters.

Online Chart Plotters: Charting Your Course on the Web

Online chart plotters - a boon for sailors.

Online chart plotters have gained popularity for their accessibility. They allow you to plan routes and analyze charts from any device with internet access. Here's why they are becoming a preferred choice for many sailors:

• Convenience : You can access online chart plotters from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, making them incredibly convenient for planning your voyages.
• Collaboration : Online chart plotters often support collaborative planning, allowing multiple crew members to contribute to route planning and navigation.
• Regular Updates : These platforms typically provide regularly updated charts, ensuring you have the latest information about navigational hazards and coastal areas.

Unlocking the Power of Free Nautical Charts

Why choose free nautical charts.

Navigating the seas can be costly, but free nautical charts are a budget-friendly alternative. These charts provide essential information without breaking the bank. Let's dive into the advantages of using free nautical charts:

• Affordability : As the name suggests, these charts are available at no cost, making them accessible to sailors on a budget.
• Comprehensive Coverage : Many organizations provide free nautical charts that cover a wide range of regions, so you can sail in various waters without purchasing multiple charts.
• Regularity of Updates : Free nautical charts are often updated regularly, ensuring you have access to accurate and current information.

Online Charts for Mariners

Online marine charts are a treasure trove of valuable information for sailors. They are often maintained by government agencies and organizations committed to maritime safety. Here's what you can expect from online marine charts:

• Detailed Information : Online charts provide comprehensive details about coastlines, water depths, navigational aids, and potential hazards.
• Ease of Access : You can access these charts from your computer or mobile device, allowing you to plan your routes from the comfort of your home or boat.
• Interactive Features : Some online marine charts offer interactive features, allowing you to measure distances, plan routes, and overlay weather information for better voyage planning.

Navigational Assistance on Your Device

Exploring navigation apps for iphone.

iPhone users can take advantage of a wide array of navigation apps available on the App Store. These apps offer intuitive interfaces and essential tools for sailors. Here are some noteworthy options:

• iNavX Marine Navigation : iNavX is a feature-rich navigation app that provides access to a wide range of charts and maps, including NOAA raster charts. It also offers advanced features like AIS integration and anchor alarms.
• SeaPilot : SeaPilot is a user-friendly navigation app that provides real-time AIS information, route planning, and tracking. It's an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced sailors.

Unlocking the World of Navionics

Navionics App for Android is a powerful tool that caters to Android users. It offers seamless navigation and access to a wealth of data. With features like SonarChart Live and Community Edits, you can contribute to the improvement of nautical charts and benefit from the collective knowledge of the boating community.

Savvy Navvy Reviews: What the Community Says

Savvy Navvy is gaining popularity among sailors. Reviews from the boating community highlight its user-friendly features and reliability. Many users appreciate its integration with other navigation tools. Here are some insights from sailors who have used Savvy Navvy:

• "Savvy Navvy has simplified our sailing trips. The app's intuitive interface and real-time updates have made navigation a breeze."
• "I love how Savvy Navvy integrates with my chart plotter and provides me with up-to-date information on hazards and weather conditions."
• "As a solo sailor, Savvy Navvy is my trusted companion. It gives me the confidence to navigate challenging waters on my own."

In conclusion, the world of marine navigation has undergone a remarkable transformation with the advent of navigation apps and online charts. Whether you're using the Navionics Chart Viewer, exploring sat nav apps, or relying on free nautical charts, these tools make your sailing adventures safer and more enjoyable. Embrace the power of technology and navigate the seas with confidence.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our range of charter boats and head to some of our favourite  sailing destinations.

I am ready to help you with booking a boat for your dream vacation. Contact me.

Denisa Kliner Nguyenová

16 Of The Best Boating Apps

Most boaters know cell phone coverage can be hit-or-miss (and often is miss) when out on the water. We would never recommend depending solely on your phone and its apps when on the water. However, many boating apps can make life better for boaters. 

These days, just about everyone has a phone at the helm and USB ports scattered throughout the boat. Let's look at a few popular choices from five categories of boating apps.

Marine Navigation Apps

1. KnowWake

Almost everyone has a go-to GPS and navigation app they like to use in the car - whether that's Google Maps or a crowdsourcing tool like Waze. And the same is true for many boaters. 

KnowWake delivers reliable GPS and more by creating a real-time community of boaters across North America, Canada, parts of the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand, covering coastal waterways and more than 350 inland lakes and rivers.

KnowWake provides its users with an easy way to explore dockside and waterfront locations available by boat. Features include:

• See What's Ahead In Real-Time
• Plan And Route Your Trip With Point To Point Navigation
• Find Friends And Share Your Location
• Local Depth, Wake Zones, And Channel Markers
• Report Hazards, Marine Life, And Other Information
• See, Save, And Share Your Trips

Users will find everything from local restaurants, marinas , fuel docks, boat ramps, dive sites, snorkel areas, and more.

Price: Free

A powerful marine navigation app designed for sailors, cruisers, and fishermen, iNavX stands out for its robust features and the ability to integrate with various chart providers, making it a favorite among boating enthusiasts worldwide. Features include:

• Extensive Chart Coverage
• Advanced Navigation Tools
• AIS Integration
• Weather Overlays For Wind, Wave, And Weather Forecasts
• GPS Tracking For Accurate Location Data
• Customizable Interface
• NMEA Data Integration
• Offline Functionality
• Active User Community And Customer Support

Price: Free with In-App Purchases

3.  Navionics

Navionics is one of the most popular and comprehensive marine navigation apps available. Loved for its detailed nautical charts and user-friendly interface, it is a top choice for boaters, sailors, and fishermen alike.

Navionics offers numerous features that cater to all your navigational needs, making it easier to plan trips, navigate waters, and discover new destinations. Features include:

• Detailed Nautical Charts
• Sonarchart™: High-Definition Bathymetric Maps 
• Dock-To-Dock Autorouting
• Customizable Map Display With Overlays
• Real-Time Updates From Fellow Boaters
• Sync Data Across Multiple Devices
• Connect App With Compatible Plotters
• Detailed Weather Forecasts & Tide Predictions

Price: Free with In-App Purchases (for additional charts and features)

Learn More: Marine Navigation: How to Navigate a Boat

4. Argo - Boating Navigation 

Argo is a comprehensive boating navigation app designed to enhance your boating experience by providing reliable navigation tools and a vibrant boating community. It offers a range of features to help you navigate safely and discover new destinations.

Features include:

• Navigation and Routing
• Community Sharing
• Points of Interest
• Real-Time Weather
• Tide Information
• Automatic Logbook.

Argo combines advanced navigation tools with a social platform, making it a valuable app for both navigation and community engagement.

Fishing Apps

5.  fishbrain.

With over 14 million verified catches, Fishbrain is a must-have app for fishing enthusiasts, offering a social platform combined with advanced fishing tools. It helps anglers of all levels discover new fishing spots, track their catches, and connect with a community of over 12 million users worldwide. Features include:

• Detailed Maps
• Community Interaction
• Ai-Powered Fish Species Recognition
• Weather And Tides
• Fishing Forecasts
• Gear Recommendations
• Challenges And Tournaments

Fishbrain enhances your fishing experience by combining practical tools with an active community. 

Price: Free with In-App Purchases (for additional features like depth maps, advanced forecasts, and more.)

6.  FishTrack 

FishTrack is an essential app for serious anglers who want to maximize their chances of a successful catch. It provides advanced tools and data to help you find the best fishing spots and plan your trips efficiently. Features include:

• Sea Surface Temperature Charts
• Chlorophyll Charts
• Detailed Weather Forecasts
• Ocean Currents
• Waypoints And Routes.
• Offline Mode
• Custom Overlays

FishTrack provides anglers with strategic information to improve their fishing strategy and increase their catch rates. With its comprehensive data and user-friendly interface, FishTrack is a valuable tool for any fishing trip.

Price: Free with In-App Purchases (for additional features and premium content)

7. Terrafin

Terrafin is an app for anglers looking to enhance their fishing strategy with advanced satellite imagery and oceanographic data. It provides valuable insights to help locate productive fishing spots and improve catch rates. Features include:

• High-Resolution Satellite Images
• Temperature Breaks
• Chlorophyll Maps
• Daily Updates
• Waypoints And Routes
• Offline Access
• Weather Data

8. ANGLR 

ANGLR is a comprehensive fishing app designed for serious anglers. It offers tools for planning, recording, and analyzing fishing trips. By providing detailed insights and data, it helps you keep track of your fishing activities and improve your strategies.

• GPS Trip Tracking
• Custom Waypoints
• ANGLR Bullseye Integration 
• Gear Management

ANGLR enhances your fishing experience by combining practical tools with detailed analytics, helping you become a more successful angler.

Apps for Sailing

9. asa sailing challenge.

The ASA Sailing Challenge app is designed by the American Sailing Association to help sailors improve their skills through interactive simulations. It's ideal for both novice and experienced sailors. Features include:

• Interactive Simulations
• Sailing Learning Modules
• Realistic Scenarios
• Skill Challenges
• Progress Tracking
• Certification Prep

The ASA Sailing Challenge app combines fun and education to enhance your sailing skills , making it an excellent tool for all levels of sailors.

10 . SailFlow

This app gets rave reviews from sailors who want to monitor wind speeds in specific locations. SailFlow  is a premier weather app designed specifically for sailors, providing accurate and reliable wind forecasts to ensure safe and efficient sailing. 

It offers many tools and features essential for planning your trips and navigating waters. Features include:

• Detailed Real-Time Wind Forecasts.
• Interactive Maps
• Custom Alerts And Notifications
• Live Wind Reports From Over 50,000 Weather Stations Worldwide.
• Customizable Settings

SailFlow provides sailors with the critical weather information needed to make informed decisions on the water, making it a valuable tool for both casual and professional sailors.

Weather Apps

11. weather channel.

The Weather Channel app is a classic comprehensive weather tool that provides detailed forecasts and weather information to help you confidently plan your boating trips. It's a trusted source for accurate and up-to-date weather data. Features include:

• Hourly, Daily, And 15-Day Forecasts.
• Interactive Radar
• Severe Weather Alerts
• Tide Information.
• Customizable Weather Reports
• Video Forecasts

The Weather Channel app will keep you informed about the weather conditions, making it an essential tool for safe and enjoyable boating.

12. WeatherBug 

Another top-rated weather app is WeatherBug . It's a reliable weather app that provides detailed and accurate weather information, making it an excellent tool for boaters who must stay informed about current and upcoming weather conditions. Features include:

• Current, Hourly, And 10-Day Forecasts
• Lightning Alerts
• Live Weather Cameras

WeatherBug helps boaters make informed decisions by providing comprehensive weather data, ensuring safer and more enjoyable trips.

General Boating Apps

The BoatUS app is an essential tool for boaters. It offers a range of features to enhance your boating experience and ensure your safety on the water. Developed by the Boat Owners Association of the United States, it provides access to vital services and information. 

• 24/7 Towing Assistance
• Weather and Tides
• Location Services
• GPS Tracking
• Trip Planning
• BoatUS Membership

The BoatUS app is designed to keep you safe and connected, offering valuable resources and assistance whenever you need it.

14. Sea Tow

A must-have for adventurous boaters, SeaTow  has some basic tide and weather data, but the primary purpose is to be able to signal for a tow. Developed by Sea Tow Services International, it offers peace of mind with reliable assistance and useful tools. Features include:

• 24/7 on-water towing and assistance
• GPS Location
• Weather Reports
• Navigation Tools
• Locate Services
• Membership Benefits

The Sea Tow app gives boaters access to vital services and information, keeping them safe and prepared for any situation on the water.

Price: Free with Membership

15. Waterway Guide Marinas

The Waterway Guide Marinas app is a simple resource for boaters. It offers comprehensive information on marinas and waterfront services. It helps you find the best marinas, plan your trips, and access essential details for a smooth boating experience.  Features include:

• Marina Directory of the U.S., Bahamas, & Caribbean
• User Reviews
• Fuel Prices
• Marina Amenities Search
• Marina Contact Information

The Waterway Guide Marinas app helps boaters find the best marinas and plan their trips efficiently, providing detailed and up-to-date information at their fingertips.

16. Ramp Assist 

Simplify your boat launching experience with Ramp Assist, an innovative app designed to help boaters of all experience levels navigate the often challenging task of launching and retrieving boats at ramps. With a focus on ease of use and safety, Ramp Assist offers features that make ramp usage more efficient and stress-free. Ramp Assist offers the following key features:

• Ramp Locator : Find and save the best ramps nationwide, with satellite views and daily updates.
• Ramp Details : Access ratings on cleanliness, challenge level, and available services like parking and restrooms.
• Ramp Traffic : View daily boat ramp traffic and occupancy levels using satellite data and AI.
• Weather & Tide Monitoring : Receive alerts for weather conditions and tide levels at any ramp.
• Trailering Assist : Get AI-driven guidance for safely loading your boat with real-time feedback on distance, angle, and speed.

Conclusion: Use Boating Apps to Enhance Your Day on the Water

We must stress that boaters should never rely 100 percent on a cell phone for tasks like navigation and communications at sea. However, every one of these apps can make your day of boating a better experience.

Read Next: Best Fishing Apps

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The Best Navigation Apps for Sailors

Staying on course when you’re sailing.

It’s no secret that tablets and smartphones have transformed the way that sailors navigate. Before marine navigation apps were widely available, most sailors relied on a chartplotter or their MFD, and before that, compasses and paper maps. But today, the use of this technology is largely eclipsed by the more convenient modern alternatives.

Using a marine navigation app is just one of the precautions you can take to help you stay on course when you’re sailing. You can also look into downloading the TotalTide app if necessary, and make sure that you’re properly covered for any accidents and damages that might occur. Thankfully, we offer a wide range of bespoke yacht and boat insurance policies, including sailing yacht insurance .

Best Marine Navigation Apps to Download

There’s a huge range of marine navigation apps to choose from, including several options that are completely free, premium paid apps, and those free to download but with optional in-app purchases. If you are wondering “What is the best boat navigation app?”, don’t worry. We round up the best boat navigation apps in more detail below, including the best free boat navigation app. 

#1 Navionics

Available for iOS and Android

Navionics Boating Marine & Lakes  is undoubtedly one of the best navigation apps out there, and its wide selection of features makes it a great choice for fishing and water sports too.

The auto-zooming function is a frontrunner compared to other sailing apps on the market, and according to app store reviews the GPS is far more accurate than Google Maps. Plus, you can share your live location direct from the app, so your contacts can track your whereabouts. Navionics isn’t free to download, but the tech you get is well worth the investment.

Available for iOS

This is one of the cheapest navigation software apps available, with the premium subscription starting from just $4. iSailor has all the standard features you’d expect – like AIS Live and data overlay – but also offers NMEA integration, and several other features which can be purchased separately, so you only need to pay for what you actually use.

If you’re looking for detailed charts, automatic routing and a super intuitive interface, C-MAP is a great choice. This app offers worldwide coverage and a high level of accuracy, with charts fed by regularly updated precision data from several different sources. The only downside is that C-MAP isn’t currently able to connect directly to an AIS device, which is a dealbreaker for some sailors.  

#4 Seapilot

Seapilot is arguably the best free marine navigation app for the UK – it costs nothing to download, but you can upgrade with a subscription to get access to additional features. You can download charts for offline use, use the route tracker, and get real-time positioning data – plus Seapilot also functions as a sailing weather app with accurate forecast information.

Lastly, iNavX had to make the list of best map apps for boating. As well as all the necessary functions, there are some advanced features too, like the opportunity to use charts from different providers – including several that aren’t available on other similar apps. The display is also very customisable, so you can see the data you need fast. The only downside with iNavX is the complex user interface, which can be tricky to find your way around.

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What’s the best marine navigation app for iPads?

For use on an iPad, the best marine navigation apps on the market are Navionics, i-Boating, C-MAP and TX iBoat. All these apps offer a user experience compatible with the bigger interface of an iPad.

How do marine navigation apps work?

Marine navigation apps use a combination of pre-downloaded charts and GPS to provide functions like real-time positioning data, route tracking and live location sharing, even when a mobile device is offline.

What’s the best marine navigation app for Android?

There are plenty of different marine navigation apps available on Android devices, but according to reviews from sailors, the best options are C-MAP, Navionics and iNavX. You can explore other apps on the Google Play Store.

What’s the best marine navigation app for iPhones?

There are several different high-quality marine navigation apps available for download on iPhones, but according to reviews, some of the top-rated are C-MAP, Navionics, Seapilot and iSailor.

Is there a marine navigation app for a Mac?

There’s a range of marine navigation apps available for Macs, including i-Boating and several others. You can discover your options by searching in the Mac app store.

How do sailing apps get updates at sea?

Many smartphone sailing apps offer direct integration into AIS Live, so boats sailing inside the range of the MarineTraffic network can get updates via AIS receiving stations.

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Admiral Marine is a trading name of Admiral Marine Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 306002) for general insurance business. Registered in England and Wales Company No. 02666794 at 1st Floor, One The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6DG

If you wish to register a complaint, please contact the Compliance and Training Manager on  [email protected] .  If you are unsatisfied with how your complaint has been dealt with, you may be able to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).  The FOS website is  www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

+44 (0)1722 416106 | [email protected] | Blakey Road, Salisbury, SP1 2LP, United Kingdom

Part of the Hayes Parsons Group

It's like Google Maps for boats.

Charts, weather, tides... Everything you need in one place.

Over 2 Million Downloads

4.7 out of 5 Over 5,000 5 Star Reviews

RAD NAV APP

I use Savvy Navvy daily for all my inshore fishing here in south Texas. Great for current conditions, including tides and wind direction. It’s like Google maps for boaters. Plan routes, mark your fishing spots and return to the dock in one piece. Every time! Great App 5 stars.

2 weeks ago during the heatwave, we were on the Solent and the temperature fried all our instruments including the GPS plotter. Thank god we had Savvy Navvy as it worked perfectly for the entire weekend and allowed us to do everything we wanted. People say these kind of apps aren’t meant to replace the instruments on board, well I can confirm that when they instruments on board all fail, this was an absolute lifesaver. Can’t wait to test it in other countries.

Great and simple to use

I sail with friends and families and this app is a great way to illustrate “dads” boring chart work through a much more teenage friendly platform. I use both for cross reference and find it pretty accurate. Considering the price of charts it is extremely good value.

Award winning navigation app

British Marine Excellence in Exporting Award 2024

Tech SouthWest MarineTech Business of the Year 2023

British Marine Business of the Year 2023

Great British Entrepreneur Awards Scale-Up of the Year 2022

Seedrs Entrepreneur of the Year 2019

It's free.

No credit card required., powerful tools to supercharge your navigation., savvy charts.

We licence UKHO, NOAA and other official hydrographic office charts from around the globe. Our designers build savvy charts from the ground up to show essential marine information with a clean and easy-to-view interface .

Over the Horizon AIS (OHA)

Enhance safety with greater awareness of vessel movements around you. Using your phone’s internet connection we stream vessel data such as speed, distance, MMSI, position, COG and destination.

GPS Active Tracking

View your live position and check your Course Over Ground (COG) and Speed Over Ground (SOG) in real time. Concentric circles around your position quickly show the distance between you and key features around you.

Marine Weather Forecast

We don’t expect you to be a metrologist to get the most out of your weather data. That’s why we use ECMWF technology to combine multiple weather forecasts for a more comprehensive forecast. Scroll through the coming days to view the changing wind direction, intensity and weather conditions.

Clouds and Rain Overlay

Use this overlay to view changing weather patterns within your area. This handy tool helps you avoid those pesky squalls and rain showers.

Intelligent Route Planning

Easily cross-check traditional navigation for greater peace of mind. We plan your route based on your departure time, boat details, chart data, wind, weather and tidal data, giving you a comprehensive passage plan.

Estimate Your Arrival Time

For those who don’t like to be late! Plot a route from A to B to get a quick and easy estimation of your distance to travel, fuel requirements and time of arrival. You can then share your chosen route with friends and family so they know when to expect you.

Fuel Efficiency

No one likes that feeling of potentially running out of fuel. That’s why our custom boat settings let you estimate fuel usage for your intended route based on your engine cruising speed and boat fuel efficiency.

Schedule departure time

Pick the best time to leave the dock for a better day on the water. Simply plot your route and scroll through the departure times to see the effect on your route, then choose the one you like best! Check out the demo .

And Many More Amazing Features!

Import markers.

Import your markers from other navigational tools to view all your saved locations within your savvy app. This ensures your valuable data will continue enhancing your boating experience while enjoying the savvy features you love most! Boat smarter, not harder.

Course To Steer

Savvy routing provides you with an automatic Course to Steer, taking into account tide, weather and chart data. Thanks to preview mode you can also review every stage of your journey before you set off.

Marina & Anchorage Information

Boat like a local with key information on tap! Select the marina and anchorage icons to view essential information on seabeds, weather protection, amenities, number of berths, maximum boat length, contact information, and more. Boat global, think local.

Save Your Favourite Locations

Love that secluded bay? Got a restaurant on that island you just don’t want to forget? Save pins at your favourite locations so you never forget those special places.

Anchor Alarm

Sleep like a baby with the savvy anchor alarm. This easy-to-use tool lets you set your safety parameters and happily sets off an alarm should you drift outside your comfort zone.

Satellite Mode

Get nosy when investigating the perfect spot with satellite mode. This handy overlay lets you take a more detailed look at marinas and anchorages so you can be sure you pick the best one.

Offline Charts & Weather

Wander where the WiFi’s weak with savvy offline. Download chart packs and weather data to your device so you can continue to use the features you love, even when you’re off-grid.

Export Routes

Plot your route with savvy navvy then export your route to a GPX file. This can be used with your onboard chart plotter for active navigation.

Share Routes with Friends

If you’d like your friends and family to meet you at your destination, or boat alongside, why not share your route so they can come along too? Sharing is caring as they say.

Dedicated Customer Support

We have a dedicated team on-call within the savvy navvy app to answer any questions you have, wherever and whenever you need us. We are not robots, our team love to help!

Discover How savvy navvy Makes Navigation Simple.

Watch our quick demo video of the main features of savvy navvy.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Have questions? We’ve answers. If you can’t find what you're looking for? Check out our knowledge base or feel free to get in touch

Chart Coverage.

Get access to all savvy charts, without paying anything extra. Check whether we have coverage in your boating area.

We partner with industry experts who share our passion and values. Get in touch if you'd like to collaborate.

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It.

Hear from our users, professionals and leisure boaters alike.

I’m learning navigation and after i’ve plotted my route I check with savvy navvy and can see whether there’s a big difference. It’s like having someone check your homework!

The main theme behind our conversation today has been around unravelling some of the mystique behind trips out into the maritime and coastal environment and the more tools that people are able to pick up and use to help them understand that environment the better.

Tools like the savvy navvy app, and the information provided through the application is unbelievably useful to help people on that journey.

An excellent way forward and definitely my number one planning and checking tool.

I signed up as a Founding Member as I could see the great benefits of savvy navvy. The data is out there and I believe this application will bring it together to provide a useful route planning tool.

Savvy navvy has the weather, it has the tide, it has the charts, it just does it for me.

Already a must-have navigation tool for sailors!

It’s a great idea to have an app like savvy navvy that enables people to cross-check their plans to ensure they haven’t made any mistakes.

A potential life-saving app. The product creation and subsequent business model development has been inspiring.

savvy navvy is hands down the best in the market, I have been using it since it first came out as Beta and that is why as soon I knew you guys were opening paid subscribers, I jumped in.

savvy navvy simplifies a whole range of different tasks that, as a skipper, you need to do. As soon as you test it, you just realise how easy it is to use, and how valuable it is!

I love it! First I do normal navigation on charts, then I use savvy navvy as a second check to give me a good idea of the best tacks to do, subject to tide, which I understand is coming soon! I even use it just to see the wind direction at home to assess what the mooring is like!

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Top 5 Marine Navigation Apps For Android

If you own a boat, and an Android phone or tablet, there is a good chance you have come across marine navigation apps in Google’s Play Store.

There are a lot of them to look through, so to save you considerable time and energy I have compiled a list of my top 5.

• Navionics (Overall Winner)
• iSailor (Very Close Second)
• C-Map (Best Worldwide Value)
• iNavX (Most Comprehensive)

Naturally, the top apps for Android are actually the same as the top apps for iOS, and they all feature in my list of the Top 8 Marine Navigation Apps .

During my testing, it became apparent that the best and most popular ones are available cross-platform, presumably so that they reach the widest possible audience.

I tested a few that are specific to Android, but I found that none of them could compete with the ones on this list.

Cost: Free app, with in-app purchases for charts. Chart subscriptions include advanced app features.

Well designed and reasonably priced, Navionics was the overall winner in my tests. It was clear why this is the most popular boating app, with 1,000,000+ downloads from the Play Store.

The app includes features like route planning & monitoring, currents & tides, NMEA integration and unique data overlays.

The vast Navionics community contributes edits to their charts, giving an extra dimension to your sailing experience through local knowledge.

Navigating using Navionics an easy and intuitive, and has clearly been optimised for use by recreational boaters.

I was particularly impressed with the way Navionics displays just the right amount of information around the edge of the screen in a very unobtrusive way.

Its main weakness is that there are fewer customisations available in comparison to other apps. Given the design of Navionics, however, you probably won’t feel like you need to customise anything anyway.

Read my full Navionics review: Navionics App: Reviewed By A Professional Navigator

Cost: Free app, with in-app purchases for charts and advanced features.

Created by Transas (now Wärtsilä), iSailor is based on one of the most popular commercial navigation systems. The app itself is very popular in the Play Store, with over 100,000 downloads.

iSailor was probably the most advanced app that I tested, with passage planning features including cross-track-distance (XTD) and turn radius available as standard.

Navigating with iSailor is great, with its sliding sidebar to display all the navigational information you need for your passage.

The main weakness with iSailor on Android is that it requires a modern phone to be able to download.

Read my full iSailor review: iSailor: Reviewed By A Professional Navigator .

Cost: Free app, with an in-app purchase to save charts to your device and activate Premium features.

Recognised across the industry, the C-Map app is a great adaptation of an already successful commercial navigation system.

The app itself is incredibly popular, with over 500,000 downloads from the Play Store.

C-Map uniquely offers free worldwide charts, as long as you have an internet connection. Once you activate Premium, you gain the ability to download up to 1000 charts to your device.

Chart customisation in C-Map is brilliant, with a vast array of layer controls. You can instantly de-clutter the screen if it starts to look busy.

Navigation in C-Map is incredibly easy, with intuitive manual or automatic route creation and a simple way of following your track.

C-Map’s main weakness is that some navigational information can be hard to read on the screen, especially if you are using a small tablet.

Read my full C-Map review: C-Map: Reviewed By A Professional Navigator .

Cost: Free app, with in-app purchases for charts. US charts are free.

With over 100,000 downloads from the Play Store, iNavX is a popular app, and easily the most customisable one that I tested.

iNavX is capable of drawing on almost every NMEA data type imaginable and displaying it directly on your navigational screen.

Users in the US can benefit from free raster charts from NOAA, and everyone else will get access to easily the most extensive app-based chart store. iNavX can run charts from many different providers.

The navigation experience within iNavX is very much subject to the customisations you make. As you gain experience with the app, you’ll find navigation easy and fun.

The main weakness of iNavX is its complexity because even simple actions seem more complicated than they do in other apps. With regular use, however, you will grow to love iNavX.

Read my full iNavX review: iNavX: Reviewed By A Professional Navigator .

Cost: Free basic app, with an in-app purchase for the Premium app. Charts are available as additional in-app purchases.

One of my favourite apps on test, Seapilot from Raymarine is a popular boating app with over 100,000 downloads from the Play Store.

The charts in Seapilot were the closest match to the commercial systems that I am used to, making the entire app feel very familiar.

Its menu system gives you access to a whole range of controls, and its customisable navigation screen places the data you need in easy sight.

The main weakness with Seapilot is that it feels a bit more like a computer program rather than an app. The menu system, while functional, is not the most efficient for use in a touch screen device.

Read my full Seapilot review: Seapilot: Reviewed By A Professional Navigator .

What To Look For With Android Marine Navigation Apps

If you are considering purchasing a marine navigation app for Android, there are a few things you should look out for.

Check compatibility with your devices

Android is different to iOS in that there is a huge variance in the versions of Android that are prevalent in the community.

Over time, marine navigation apps get updated and no longer work on older versions of Android. This is especially true with navigation apps that use modern features on phones.

I found that some apps would not even load on my phone, despite only being 2 years old.

Check the total price

All marine navigation apps have a different pricing structure. Most of them will offer a free app, then charge you for the charts.

You can check their websites to find out the price that you can expect to pay for charts before you become attached to an app.

Check compatibility

Some people will use their app as a stand-alone device, using the phone’s internal GPS. Others will want to integrate with their boat’s NMEA network.

Not all apps offer full NMEA connectivity. Be sure to check the app that you are considering.

Form your own opinion

After testing so many different apps, I couldn’t believe how different my view was compared to other reviews that I had read.

Most apps offer a free trial, so make use of it and put a few to the test yourself.

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Best Navigation apps for sailors: Navionics Boating app

• November 16, 2021

Best Navigation apps for sailors tested. This time we take a look at Navionics + and compare its pros and cons.

navionics app on a phone

Modern sailing increasingly relies on apps on your phone or tablet to find your way. We have tested the latest and best navigation apps on the market.

Navionics Boating app

This app is intuitive and easy to use. Charts are quick to render and auto zooming of detail is probably best in class. Text is used to good effect and tells you when you need to zoom in to get more information about hazards (one of the dangers of vector charts). Arrows showing current are animated to show strength, direction and whether the tide is on the ebb or flood. Frustratingly, you have to access a different window to get GRIB/wind data, when it should surely just be an option on screen.

The Navionics Sonar option allows charts to be adapted to show depths based on real time user data from thousands of vessels, but the company sensibly warns that many other factors (such as barometric pressure) will have a considerable affect on depths.

Its automatic routing application is simple and intuitive. You can enter your boat settings such as LOA, beam, draught, height and cruising speed and it adapts partially to this: while it avoids shallows on the chart it does not, for example, calculate your clearance under a bridge. It also does not take into account wind or current, making its calculations too basic for those looking to sail.

It can be linked to a WiFi-enabled AIS device, and I really like the ability to overlay satellite pictures onto the land for easy identification of key features.

Navionics Boating app Pros

Fast to render charts Very intuitive Good wind and tide information Distance and bearing tool Satellite image overlays Syncs with compatible plotters Connects to onboard AIS device

Navionics Boating app Cons

Auto routing is basic Wind data shown in different window

Get Navionics+ app from the Apple App Store Get Navionics+ app from the Google Play Store

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

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‘That was amazing': Drexel rowing community celebrates Justin Best's rowing gold

Drexel university alum justin best helped push the u.s. men's four boat to gold at the 2024 paris olympics, by dan stamm • published august 1, 2024 • updated on august 8, 2024 at 7:16 am.

A couple of Pennsylvania guys can now call themselves gold medalists as they pushed for gold in rowing at the Paris Olympics while those who know them back home cheered them on.

The U.S. men's four boat featuring Justin Best, Nick Mead, Liam Corrigan and Michael Grady took gold in the men's four Thursday morning at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. Their time of 5:49:03 beat out silver medalists New Zealand and bronze medalists Great Britain.

Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are

As Mead -- a Stratford, Chester County, native who went to Princeton University -- and Best -- a Kennett Square native who rowed for Drexel University -- splashed the water in victorious joy, chants of "U-S-A" roared from a watch party at the Drexel Boathouse along Kelly Drive in Philadelphia.

Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.

Simone Biles clinches another gold in individual all-around; Team USA wins gold in men's four rowing

Team USA earns men's four rowing gold for first time since 1960

"We had the confidence that we could do this," Mead said after the race. He said that the team had just "clicked."

pic.twitter.com/eze5FCjhUb — NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) August 1, 2024

"We were focused, we were locked in, we built that trust," Best said while expressing "love" for his teammates.

Gathered along the Schuylkill River where Best has rowed for years were former Drexel classmates, teammates and even his former Drexel coach.

"We are so proud of Justin, we are so happy," Drexel rowing coach Paul Savell told NBC10's Brenna Weick as he watched Best receive his gold medal. "What a finish to the race, that was amazing."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Drexel's LeBow College (@lebowcollege)

The win was the first American gold in the men's four since the 1960 Games in Rome, Italy.

"Just so excited for this day and for it all to come through," Savell said.

Might Best be back to defend his gold in 2028 in Los Angeles? It was his high school yearbook dream.

"It would be great to represent the U.S. in the U.S.," Best said after the race. "We'll make that decision when the time's right."

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This article tagged under:

i-Boating: Marine Charts & Gps 4+

Lake maps & fishing spots, designed for ipad.

• #183 in Navigation
• 4.5 • 11.9K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

Marine Chartplotter for your iPhone/iPad. Detailed Marine Charts & Fishing Maps for US, Canada, Europe, and Australasia. Depth contour maps with Aids to Navigation. This App offers access to Marine Charts for USA,Canada,UK/Ireland,Germany,Netherlands/Holland & Europe Rivers (Danube,Drava,Rhein etc). Coverage includes NOAA marine vector charts,freshwater lake maps,USACE inland river maps (HD/1ft/3ft bathymetry included where available),charts derived from UKHO & CHS data. First marine GPS app to have route assistance with Voice Prompts for marine navigation. You can create new boating routes or import existing GPX/KML routes. It supports Nautical Charts course up orientation. Includes Tide & Currents prediction. ►FEATURES √ Beautiful & detailed Hardware/GPU accelerated vector charts (text stays upright on rotation) √ Long press to query the details of Marine object (Buoy,Lights,Obstruction etc). √ Customizable depth(Ft/Fathom/Meter) & distance units(km/mi/NM) √ Customizable Shallow Depth. √ Record tracks,Autofollow with real-time track overlay & predicted path vector. √ Voice Prompts for marine navigation (requires GPS ) √ 1ft / 3ft depth contour maps for anglers for selected lake maps. √ Supports GPX/KML for boating route editing/import. √ Tide & Currents prediction. √ Seamless chart quilting of marine charts √ Enter or import Waypoints. ► MAPS It includes unlimited updates for 1 year. √USA: The maps include coverage of all NOAA marine vector charts (ENC),USACE inland river maps,freshwater lake maps for more than 7K lakes. The charts include HD/1ft/3ft bathymetry where available.Incl. NOAA raster where ENC not available. √Canada:Incl. CHS data(incl. major Lakes). √UK/Ireland: Derived from UKHO charts. √Australia √Germany: derived from BSH data √Europe Inland Rivers:Donau/Dunaja,Rhine,Garonne,Moselle,Drava,Sava,etc √Norway √Finland √Sweden √Croatia √Ukraine(Black Sea) √Caribbean √New Zealand √Spain √Brazil √Argentina √Cyprus √Falklands √Seychelles& Mauritius √Denmark √Malta,Cyprus & S. Mediterranean √S. China&Malaysia √South Africa ►ROUTE MANAGEMENT / TRIP PLANNING √ Create New Route/Edit Existing Routes √ Move Points √ Add points to an existing route leg √ Delete / Rename points √ Import GPX,KML & KMZ files √ Plot/Edit Routes √ Enter Waypoints √ Share/Export Routes,Tracks&Markers √ Reverse Routes ►SLIP TO SLIP AUTO ROUTING ►GPS FEATURES √ Auto Follow * Real Time Track Overlay * Predicted Path Vector * Course Up(Text stays upright) * Speed & Heading √ Route Assistance With Voice Prompts * Prompts when approaching a boating route marker * Continous distance & ETA updates * Alerts when sailing/boating off route * Alerts when boating in wrong direction √ Record Tracks ►TIDE & CURRENTS * For US,Canada,UK,Germany & New Zealand * High/Low Tides * Tidal Current Prediction * Active Current Stations ►Instrumentation √ Marine AIS & (NMEA AIS and GPS over TCP/UDP) √ Wind direction & Speed,Marine Sonar depth,Water temperature √ Auto Pilot ► SHARING * Share tracks/routes/markers on Facebook & Twitter * Export tracks/routes/markers as GPX files. SUGARLOAF KEY-KEY WEST PORT RICHEY TAMPA BAY - CLEARWATER HBR EAST BAY-WEST BAY FLORIDA INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY MATECUMBE-GRASSY KEY CHESAPEAKE BAY CAPE CHARLES-NORFOLK HARBOR ANCLOTE KEYS-CRYSTAL RIVER ST JOSEPH SOUND MIAMI HARBOR Minnesota lakes - Kabetogama,Minnetonka,Waconia,Leech,Mille Lacs Lake Keowee,Jocassee,Hartwell,Greenwood,Lake Murray Mark Twain,Ozarks,Table Rock Lake St.Clair Lake Kentucky KEY WEST-THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER SAN PEDRO CHANNEL LAKE MICHIGAN STONY LAKE-POINT BETSIE APALACHICOLA BAY-CAPE SAN BLAS EAST CAPE-MORMON KEY CAPE HENLOPEN-INDIAN RIVER CHESAPEAKE BAY CAPE HENRY-THIMBLE SHOAL DULUTH-SUPERIOR MONHEGAN ISLAND-CAPE ELIZABETH ONTARIO - CLAYTON-FALSE DUCKS Winnipesaukee MIAMI-MARATHON,FLORIDA CAPE MAY-FENWICK ISLAND MISSISSIPPI RIVER-GALVESTON CAPE CANAVERAL-KEY DELAWARE RIVER WILMINGTON-PHILADELPHIA FLORIDA KEYS SOMBRERO KEY-SAND KEY SAN PABLO BAY RAINY LAKE BIG ISLAND MINN-OAKPOINT INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY-BISCAYNE BAY EVERGLADES NTL PARK HURON TAHOE CHESAPEAKE DELAWARE CANAL BACKGROUND GPS CAN DECREASE BATTERY LIFE

Version 149.0.0

- More Improvements in the backend algorithm that powers Fishing AI - Lake depth / bathymetry updates for inland lakes as well as offshore - Relief Shading Improvements - Improved compatibility with older devices - Compiled with latest version of Xcode.

Ratings and Reviews

11.9K Ratings

Have used this app for years now. Have used it to travel from Texas City Texas to New Bedford Mass. and In Between. I’m a commercial fisherman and I’m all the time traveling, fishing different areas, and it’s my go to app at all times. 99.5% of the time it is dead accurate and I have had to navigate solely using this in dead of night with no other means to see navigational aids or water depths after my electronics were knocked out by a storm. I came in just using the app and a compass, nothing more. Did so accurately and safely. Week later after repairs I retraced the track I had taken based on the app information and it was exact on time, course, and marker position of all aids, and water depth was within 1.0ft average of the area. Very impressed and highly recommend as a backup system or even a primary navigation aid for experienced mariners who need a compact application. I will say not all movable cans will be 100% accurate at all times. That’s why I say it’s 99.5% accurate overall but the recommended channel and route has always been marked accurately or well enough I haven’t been grounded. But, as usual, always use precautions and read addendums regularly in any new area. I can also add that I have been in 4 hurricanes since I’ve had this app and after each hurricane it marked locations of potential hazards such as sunk vessels, logs, debris, navigational hazards, etc. within hours of the storm. Good luck and safe boating.

Marine and lake GPS

I’ve used this marine charting program a few times on both the coast as well as inland lakes. It’s one of the few apps on my phone that includes excellent ENC charts for both offshore and inland navigation. Works very well with phones GPS even when outside of cellular coverage. Clearly shows where my boat is, how it got there and where it’s headed. I used to have this app as a backup to our onboard plotter. But I keep coming back to it since maps are more detailed and I am able to pull all the data from our boats NMEA network onto the app. Will post more updates as I investigate it’s more advanced toolset. Update: after 100s of miles and an year I find this app pretty reliable and useful. It keeps getting regular updates. Tide and currents plus wind overlay have been very useful. One thing I would recommend adding is support for auto routing. Aug21: Got an email from their tech support today to try out automatic routing in the application. Have been playing with it and it seems to work okay. I had to adjust the min depth to get the route I wanted. Definitely a good route planning aid. Edit: The latest update is very useful if you cruise the Tombigbee waterway. More detailed depths and more accurate. Tried hooking up this app today with our boats Ais transceiver over Wi-Fi. It worked well and showed all AIS targets around us.

Best Nav App I’ve Tried

I have a Garmin UHD Fish Finder / Chartplotter, but prefer to dedicate that to the sonar & use an iPad for navigation. I downloaded quite a few different apps to test their functionality and ease of use. I-Boating won easily. I’m fishing the lower Chesapeake Bay & coastal VA, and this app gives me all I need and then some. Very intuitive & simple to use, but highly detailed for navigation, routing, contours etc. That being said, there are a couple tweaks that would make it even better. First, the icons to identify waypoints or destinations are severely limited. I fish a lot of wrecks, but there’s no icon for wrecks or obstructions so I have to use the Fishing Reef icon for everything. Second, I sometimes use a different iPad or iPhone, and the data saved to one doesn’t transfer to the others. I thought maybe when I bought the US Maps it would remedy that but no luck. Last, in a perfect world you could draw/outline & identify a custom area. For instance I have a particular area of the York River that I like to drift over for flounder when the wind & tides are ideal. I wish I could circle that area & label it. But all in all still the best nav app I’ve seen.

App Privacy

The developer, Bist LLC , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian Bokmål, Russian, Swedish

• USA - Marine Charts / Fishing $23.99
• USA - Marine Charts $19.99
• USA : Marine Charts / Fishing $19.99
• USA - Marine Charts / Fishing $21.99
• USA - Marine Charts / Fishing $20.99
• USA - Fishing / Marine Charts $19.99
• USA - Marine Charts & Fishing $19.99
• USA - Boating & Fishing Maps $19.99
• Canada & USA - Marine Charts $27.99
• GPS Nautical Charts - USA $19.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

Fishing Points - Lake Maps

i-Hunting : GPS Maps App

Marine Navigation - Lake Depth Maps - USA - Offline Gps Nautical Charts for Fishing, Sailing and Boating

i-Boating: USA Marine Charts

i-Boating: Canada & USA - Marine / Nautical Navigation Charts for fishing & sailing

Marine Navigation - Canada

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