Mike, Although I have only just come to the iPad party, I'm very happy with what I've seen so far. I have two apps that I use for "navigation. The first from Navionics and is nearly a dead ringer for the Navionics software in my Raymarine chart plotter. The second is called "Charts and Tides" (from Navimatics, I think). The Charts and Tides app is not as strong a navigation program as the Navionics but it does have Active Captain overlaid so its like having an interactive cruising guide with you at all times. That feature alone makes it worth the $25 cost of the app. It has excellent information imbedded in it, such as bridge names and clearances, anchorage locations, marina info and reviews. Have you ever wanted the phone number to the bridge you are waiting for? You can probably find it there. It won't allow you to post to Active Captain but Jeff told me that day is coming. The iPad's portability allows me to take it to another boat for a "chart briefing". One of the neatest uses for the iPad is at anchor. It was gusting over 30 a week ago when we anchored. We left the pilothouse once we felt the anchor was secure. I went below and marked our location using the iPad and the Navionics app. I was easily able to check our location and verify that we weren't dragging without getting up out of my chair to visit the pilothouse. The 3G iPad has an internal GPS and will fix your position without a cellular or WIFI connection. The WIFI-only model will not do this since it estimates its position from cellular towers and wifi hot-spots. I wouldn't want to run the length of the ICW with only an iPad, but you certainly could do it. Having said that, its sure a valuable and convenient tool to have in your bag of tricks. Regards, Randy Pickelmann MORNING STAR lying in Clearwater, FL

I use the following free app and charts on my net book: http://www.sping.com/seaclear/ http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/index.htm Not supper easy but works after you get the hang of it. I do not have GPS connected to it and just use it for headings, way points and estimating trip time and fuel. We don't go offshore and don't have the electronics on our boat; just sea clear printout, NOAA charts and the compass. However, radar would be nice on these foggy days! Mike On 1/10/2011 6:27 AM, Randy Pickelmann wrote: > Mike, > Although I have only just come to the iPad party, I'm very happy with what > I've seen so far. I have two apps that I use for "navigation. The first from > Navionics and is nearly a dead ringer for the Navionics software in my > Raymarine chart plotter. The second is called "Charts and Tides" (from > Navimatics, I think). The Charts and Tides app is not as strong a navigation > program as the Navionics but it does have Active Captain overlaid so its like > having an interactive cruising guide with you at all times. That feature > alone makes it worth the $25 cost of the app. It has excellent information > imbedded in it, such as bridge names and clearances, anchorage locations, > marina info and reviews. Have you ever wanted the phone number to the bridge > you are waiting for? You can probably find it there. It won't allow you to > post to Active Captain but Jeff told me that day is coming. > > The iPad's portability allows me to take it to another boat for a "chart > briefing". One of the neatest uses for the iPad is at anchor. It was gusting > over 30 a week ago when we anchored. We left the pilothouse once we felt the > anchor was secure. I went below and marked our location using the iPad and > the Navionics app. I was easily able to check our location and verify that we > weren't dragging without getting up out of my chair to visit the pilothouse. > > The 3G iPad has an internal GPS and will fix your position without a cellular > or WIFI connection. The WIFI-only model will not do this since it estimates > its position from cellular towers and wifi hot-spots. > > I wouldn't want to run the length of the ICW with only an iPad, but you > certainly could do it. Having said that, its sure a valuable and convenient > tool to have in your bag of tricks. > > Regards, > Randy Pickelmann > MORNING STAR > lying in Clearwater, FL > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering > > To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/options/trawlers-and-trawlering > > Trawlers& Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World > Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited. > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1191 / Virus Database: 1435/3370 - Release Date: 01/09/11

Is anyone using any Nav apps on an Android "pad" such as Samsungs Galaxy S Pad? I have an Android phone and love it. Android is playing catch up to Apple and the number of Apps available but is doing so pretty steadily, in the next few months we will see a flood of Android pads which should drive the price down.