I love my iPad. I love it so much that I don't want it to have an untimely death. As a planning and research tool it is outstanding. Within cell phone range you can get weather forecasts, book flight tickets and get e-mail for a reasonable fee, which you can cancel and leave dormant at any time (I HATE monthly fees). Must have apps include;
Navionics HD
and
Charts & Tides WITH Active Captain.
If you haven't seen Active Captain you need to. The Charts and Tides app, while not perfect, allows you to download AC onto your iPad for offline use. The content is excellent and getting better all the time. I wonder how long it will be before they (or whoever purchases it) starts charging.
BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At 3am, when the seas get up and you get hit by a squall your iPad (and laptop) should be safely tucked up asleep in its bunk. In the cockpit should be your trusty Garmin (or whatever) plotter which is bolted on and is somewhat weather proof. You can go to all the effort of encasing the iPad in a plexiglass covered case but that defeats the touch screen benefit of the unit. My iPad will be secured at the chart station and only venture up on fine days or at anchor.
Just my 2 cents worth.
3 comments:
?? iPod, or iPad ???
Heard good things about the iPhone and iPad w/ nav programs, but not the iPod. Just curious.
iPad, iPad, iPad... Sorry Deb, English isn't my first language. Damn, and I re-read the post several times, this Cruise-heimers thing sucks!!!
Gerry, Great job on your Electrical System. I totally agree about Active Captain. Jeff is partners with PolarView and PolarCom Nav software. Grib, AC, and NOAA charts all together seemlessly. We have it on a new Panasonic Toughbook CF31. Same as used my Military, Cops, Police, Paramedics etc. Very tough. Has built in GPS, webcam (for Skype)
Keep it in Microwave during Thunderstorms. In case primary chartplotter is fried. Handheld is Garmon Oregon 400c. Patrick on Gaia a Whitby 42
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