Greetings again folks!

A couple of queries about Tablets/iPads for navigation.

1. Which operating system works best with common Navigation programs and apps?

2. How sturdy do you want it to be? (Waterproof, impact resistant or just shove it in a pouch and treat it gentle?)

3. Location/GPS interoperability? Are there Tab's with good enough inbuilt GPS or what options are there for connecting with an external (larger) unit?

I'm keen on redundancy, I'd like to be able to load my charts and passage plans onto both chart plotter and tablet. But because they're separate, I'll be better able to pick anomalies/errors and have a backup if one unit craps out.

I'm keen to hear anecdotes, horror stories, personal preferences and professional opinions (but only on this topic, so let's keep it PG13) ;)

Cheers in advance

D

I've put Navionics on a pad and it works really well. Not free but cheap and I haven't got lost in Pittwater at all.

We have iSailor on an ipad. As you say, it's good to have charts too, so you can avoid zoom problems such as the one that put a Volvo race boat on the rocks and simply because of their physical size.

iSailor is generally good enough in my experience, after about 300 offshore miles and plenty of inshore sailing with it, but there issues where charts join and with the fact that the scale plans of small harbours are not included.

Isailor can also go on a phone, which gives you a handy backup. I'm not sure if that's normal. Our ipad has a waterproof cover and a long power cord so it can be used up on deck or on the chart table.

I use an iPad with navionics for plotting a course (, you can download and save the charts when you have internet for later use ) then transfer that to paper charts just to check . Use the iPad in the cockpit in a waterproof cover with the course on it just follow the line. Then have my raymarine plotter running zoomed up quite a bit with no course plotted normally. That way I can get some sleep by telling Who ever is on watch to wake me if we move to far from the line or if something comes up in front of us on the plotter. I feel safer that way.

I use Navionics on iPhone and iPad, plus a gps plotter running G2 Vision, with back up paper charts, ma8nly for planning. iPhone is great for a quick glance anywhere on the boat. iPad screen is way bigger than the chart plotter. Phones seem to have much better reception than tablets, so it's handy for weather data etc when off the coast. Both work fine for chartplotting without reception as long as you've downloaded maps. For clear info about iPad gps, try the following link... ipadpilotnews.com/2015/12/ipad-real-gps/

I use navionics on samsung galaxy tablet. Just did 800nm found it very accurate and reliable. I have a cheap waterproof case but never used it, gets tucked in spray dodger when it rains. Also dont leave them in hot sun as mine over heats and the apps shuts down untill it cools down - not very long

Charging is important as the tablets have a habit of going flat just as you need them i.e when entering an unfamiliar port at the end of a long day sail.

Also remember tablet and phone touch screens dont work in the rain.

I also use a garmin etrex2 which tells you how far to next waypoint, how long to get there, current speed, and ETA. It also has an arrow that constantly points to the waypoint. For coastal passages with no obstructions this is all you need.

I think good practice is to plot your position on a chart every hour so that if the electronics fail you still know where you are.

Cisco it obviously depends on the voyage. The OP doesnt refer to the length of the voyage.

I am not aware of any legal requirement to plot a postion on a paper chart every hour. Feel free to enlighten me.