When we bought our boat, it came with an out dated GPS. With hopes of cruising through the Bahamas we knew that this was one upgrade we were going to have to make. But at the same time, we are just a couple of kids with a limited budget. We did some research and found out that we could use our personal IPad as a navigation station. Below is a list of our set up and how it works!
IPad mini: There are two iPad mini models available for purchase, a Wi-Fi only model and a Wi-Fi + 3G/4G. The Wi-Fi only model does not have a GPS receiver so you will need the Wi-Fi + 3G/4G model. We have our IPad (3G/4G model) connected to our data plan because it also doubles as our internet hotspot. However, according to apple support a data plan is not required to use the GPS.
Using an IPad as a GPS on a boat
Navionics: The app we use to track our position, course, and speed is Navionics. This has worked extremely well for us. We have used it traveling through the Bahamas as far as the Exuma’s and up the east coast as far as Massachusetts. We have never had any problems with it giving us our position and a map of the surrounding area. It is important to make sure maps are loaded and updated while you still have service or wifi. Navionics is also a great source to find anchorages, marinas, and fuel docks.
There is an option to leave notes for yourself that you can share with other users if desired. These notes can include places that are a must see, underwater obstructions, or possibly a fuel dock that is no longer in service. We have found in a few instances on the ICW where shoaling is known to occur that depths were incorrect. With frequent storms and changing sands it is almost impossible to have 100 percent accuracy on bottom depth. Therefore, you should always also use your depth finder and seek local knowledge in shoaling areas.
Using Navionics to track speed
IPad Protection: We ALWAYS have our iPad in a lifeproof NUUD case. We picked this case because it is waterproof, dirt/sand proof, snow proof, and drop proof and while being so durable it is also screenless. We found that cases with screens do not have as accurate of a touch.
Using an IPad as a GPS on our tender
Mounting system: The IPad in its case then sits inside the lifeproof mini cradle. This cradle is compatible with AMPS universal mounting systems. To mount our setup in different places we then have a Ram mount double socket arm and multiple 1 inch ram mount balls mounted in different locations. We have a ram mount ball located in the upper helm, lower helm, and on the console of our tender. This way we can have our navigation system in perfect view from wherever we are steering.
Using Navionics on an IPad
If using an IPad as your GPS always make sure your navigation app is updated and charts are appearing properly. Using an app for multiple hours can drain a battery quickly so having a charging system near the mounting brackets is a good idea. If this is not possible a spare charging block is a good back up.
Glare from the sun can make the screen of an IPad a tad difficult to see so take shade into consideration when mounting your system. We use Navionics on our IPad as our primary navigation system however, it is recommended by some marine professionals to only use this system as a supplementary navigation system. Our system has always worked great for us but we also always carry a backup hand help GPS and paper charts on board.. Just in case!!
We use an IPad as well, although we have Garmin Bluecharts as our nav app, with the Active Captain overlay. We also have a Garmin chart plotter as a back up, but I almost never even look at it.
Nice to be able to look at it in bed at anchor and know you’re not dragging.
How do you keep the iPad powered for long periods of time? Can you fit a charging cable with the LIfeproof cover?
Very well done Capt. Bill! I’ve been on the fence about replacing my Raymarine…it’s just an older unit…works fine. I love this idea about using the iPad! Your videos were extremely informative and helpful. What do you use as a shade in the sun? Thanks Capt Chuck
Thanks, I went to an Apple store to get an explanation of how the gps was setup and they didn’t know much about it and claimed it couldn’t work offline.
I recommend bad elf gps. It’s a small lightning port plug in that will recive something like 5 satellites at all times. Turns non cellular iPad models into viable chart plotters. I have watched and enjoyed your YouTube videos by the way, thanks for all the entertainment and showing how life over there is. And I believe those women are quacks, nuts, I liveaboard in Hawaii and sail these waters. Their story doesn’t make any sense. Bad elf is something like 90 bucks, a solid back up. Attaches to any device with lightning port or any system with an adapter.
A wonder if anything will change now that Navionics been purchased by Garmin ?? What do you think Capt ! I use my ipad going from Annapolis all the way home to Long Island New York and just my ipad With navionics And it works perfect the entire trip .Like you said you have to make sure you download your maps before you leave cellular service area…It works perfectly the entire trip and the only time I turned on my chartplotter was to check to make sure that Navionics was working the way it should and it was perfect !! Love it….
Thanks Captain Bill. As always your insight will prove priceless when it comes time for me to make the move on the boat.
Is the 16GB iPad mini 3 adequate for this? Thanks!