Hi Bob, Great article. The Vesper XB-8000 has apparently been discontinued, can you recommend a suitable replacement? Thank you!

I went up from Huron, down Trent, etc to US canals, Hudson etc to Daytona. And everyone may already be doing it; but I purchased an ipad that went straight to GPS, did not work on cell towers. Cost a little more, but I was out of range of cell towers and  purchased a waterproof floating case. Ran naviinics, the North America version. Great!

one thing I noticed, and the boat in front of me ran aground and said their GPS broke. But in extreme heavy fog I noticed a different colir on the boat line on Ipad, like boat was behind the line. I slowed way down. Anyway, Ipad that finds GPS not paid, out of range cell. 

What runs your autopilot?  For many, many reasons I think it essential to have your autopilot driven by your chartplotter.  I did not read about any interface between the iPad and autopilot. The ability to have all your electronics talk to each other and behave properly also makes my life easier.  I have better things to do than set up a fan to keep my iPad cool.

I do have an iPad which I keep in the cockpit in a waterproof case, but my chartplotter is the primary tool.

Bob Mersereau 

S/V Grand Cru

Bob, you bring out great points. I love the Ipad with Aquamap and Navionics. I keep them both open and often toggle back and forth. I do constantly keep it plugged in and the thing I want to add and recommend is to buy a 48W to 96W cube charger to plug the USB-C into. As you mentioned there is a constant draw with these apps and I have the 96W made by ANKER. You will never have the problem again. Get in on Amazon for $18.99.

Will,

Re If I had only one app...
I use two apps because they complement each other, each does something the other doesn't - and they are so inexpensive that cost is not a factor. Aqua Map offers USACE surveys, real time updates to buoy changes (relocation, damaged, daymark replaced with buoy, etc.), LNMs. Navionics has SonarChart which produces a contour chart based on user readings which is useful when the USACE surveys become outdated in places or for where USACE surveys are not done. 

So for me, it's never one or the other - why would you not want to use both? Certainly not due to cost. I see no need to limit my access to nautical information since they both run in parallel on both Apple and Android devices without conflicts. I see no reason to run just one app so I don't. On the other hand, when Ann's at the helm, I switch to only Aqua Map since she don't like the dual screen display.

Re smaller screen impacting slide over... 
I've run Slide Over on my old iPad Air and although the screen is smaller, it's still big enough for navigation with both Navionics and Aqua Map running. 

You have a good setup. There are many ways to get NMEA data into the iPad

 

How do you get depth to display in the navionics app on the iPad?

I cannot get it to display even when the iPad is connected to a Raymarine MDF via WiFi. But that may be a limitation of Raymarine not transmitting depth data where as NEMA 2000 does. 

Another great article Bob - you continue to make the ditch a safe and fun place.  While I'm an Android type, like you I run Navionics and Aqua Map (with a Vesper 8000) to supliment my MFD using Navionic sonar live charts and user entered LNM alerts.  The overlay radar, ease of changing zoom level and autopilot integration keeps the MFD as my primary nav tool.  In tight waters the CoE Surveys (as long as their 'current' - which is different for each area) are indespensable.    

Thank you for this article. If you had only one app as primary navigation which would you choose and why? Or do the pros/cons of each, combined with the ability to run slide over, make Aquamaps and Navionics about equal?

I have been using a 3rd generation iPad Air with Aquamaps.  I installed a 12-volt USB C charger at both helm stations which keeps the iPad charged. I was not familiar with and have not tried slide over or split screen but thanks to your article I will although the usefulness will be impacted by the smaller screen. While I have not transited the entire ICW, this setup has worked very well from Charleston, SC north to Annapolis, MD and the Chesapeake. I have no regrets in relying on the iPad exclusively for navigation.

I have a Actisense W2K-1 for NMEA2000 data via WiFi including GPS, AIS, depth, etc. As you do, I also have the iPad on my cellular account so external data is not a problem.

The boat is kept on the Chesapeake so there are many opportunities for autopilot use. After I plan my route on Aquamaps I can export the .gpx to the Garmin 7612xsv and then use the route on the chartplotter to interface with the autopilot.  Generally, however, I just use the heading hold function of the autopilot to hold the course as displayed on Aquamaps and don't hassle with adding the 7612 to the mix.

As an aside, thanks to having the iPad for primary navigation, I now use the 7612xsv as a digital display for engine information.  I have installed an Actisense EMU-1 which feeds the analog engine data into the NMEA2000 network which displays on the 7612.

Frank, I didn't see a PIVOT case offered for the iPad Pro 12.9. Do they offer one but it's not on their webpage?

Frank, I didn't see a PIVOT case offered for the iPad Pro 12.9. Do they offer one but it's not on their webpage?

I use an older iPad as a second chart plotter to my GARMIN 8612xsv and have found it indespensible.  

In addition to the navionics and aqua map apps, I use the ActiveCaptain app to download GARMIN software and chart updates onto the iPad when I have a robust internet connection, typically at home.  I then sync the iPad to the chart plotter using the Wi-Fi in the chart plotter.  The iPad is very useful in updating my charts and the software on the plotter, sonar, radar andVHF/AIS devices.

With respect to mounting the iPad, a pilot friend introduced me to a device called PIVOT.  No more leather satchels stuffed with maps in the cockpit, pilots use their iPads much like we boaters do.  The FAA and military have approved PIVOT for use in the cockpit.  The PIVOT protects the iPad from water (resistant not proof), inadvertent drops and best of all I can lock the iPad in-place exactly where I want it.  The PIVOT cover that fits over the iPad has vents in all the right places, over heating has never been an issue.  With the cover on the iPad literally snaps in wherever I need it using a wide-variety of mounting options. 

We're looping and run the exact same set up with great success. Only difference being we use the Sea Sucker mount. Great mount, but have run into heat/display issues. 

Great article.  Thanks!  We have bought a boat and are awaiting upgrades to be completed.  We will run it north from Cortez, FL to Knoxville, TN later this spring.  I have had several boats but nothing that was ocean worthy or loop worthy.  We typically float in the Knoxville area, so I'm confident, yet cautious at the same time having never run a boat that distance.  Our semi-local broker will be on the ride north, so he can keep me from getting into deep sh--, or rather shallow sh--!  We have plenty of electronics onboard, but having my 12.9 iPad along with Navionics and Aqua Maps will bring added ease (less stress).  Thanks again for your article.  MUCH appreciated.