I’m an Android man myself…I’ll have to ask my talented iThing-equipped Navagear readers to let us know how these new apps stack up. Let us hear your thoughts in the comments below! —Tim

London, UK – (Jan, 2012) Saild.com, the online sailing log book site, announced today the launch of their first iPhone/iPad app. The site wants to be the simplest and easiest way for sailors to keep a personal log book.

"Sailors wanted an extremely simple and easy to use tool that they could turn on and leave running, and most of the options out there are quite complicated", said Duncan Malcolm, Founder of Saild. "This new app makes it extremely easy and simple, anyone with an iPhone or iPad can keep a log of how far they’ve sailed, who with and exactly where."

With most other apps, if you lose or change your phone, you lose your log. Sailors have to try to manually upload gps tracks from their phone or gps plotter to their computer. Most find this complicated and not worth the work. The app solves this by doing all the hard work for the user.

The app is currently free making it the only free log book app available on the app store. Saild.com itself has both free accounts which allow users to log up to 3 trips for free after that, if they want to keep full functionality they need to upgrade to a paid account which start from (USD) $15/yr ($1.67/m equiv).

The iPhone/iPad app features include:

• Keeping a track of the route – The exact GPS track of where you’ve sailed, is saved to your log so that you can see on a map where you’ve been.
• Photos – Add photos to your log book
• Wind Speed – At then end of the trip the user can enter the range of the wind from the day.
• Trip description – You can enter a description of the overall trip.
• Runs in Background – You can use other sailing/gps at the same time

"Saild.com came from personal frustrations of forgetting my log book and wanting more detail on where I’d been sailing. As a skipper, my crew often didn’t have or also forgot their log books but always remembered their phones. Saild is the sailing log book that we all wanted."

While there are other ways to log your sailing online, Saild is an easy route that the majority of sailors could use to keep a log of their sailing. You can create a free account to get started at Saild.com

The crew of s/v Eolian recently had an exciting experience in the fog here in Puget Sound. Reminds me of my experience a few weeks back. Just as we did aboard Two Lucky Fish, Eolian made use of AIS data available over the internet on a smart phone. Read on…

A while back, we were in a position that required us to traverse Puget Sound from Port Madison to Shilshole in heavy fog. […] Puget Sound has a lot of shipping traffic, and an active and professionally run VTS system.  And we have radar on Eolian.  So I was not particularly worried…  focused and intense, yes, but not really worried.

As we started across, I notified VTS giving our speed and that we were going to be crossing the lanes.  They, in turn notified us of shipping in the area.  It looked good for us – a northbound freighter would be past us before we got to the northbound side of the Sound, and a southbound freighter would pass behind us as we entered the northbound lanes.

But just for grins, I fired up my iPhone and ran the "Ship Finder" AIS app.  [Editor’s note: I use Marine Traffic on my Android phone. —Tim] This app does not actually have a receiver in it – it takes advantage of information on the Internet somehow (don’t ask me how it works).  Sure enough, there were our two freighters, with their courses and speed vectors shown.  And their names.

About the time we entered the separation zone (the "median" between the traffic lanes, if you will), a problem developed.  We heard Manolo (the southbound freighter) complaining of a whole bunch of fishing boats out in the traffic lanes a couple of miles to the north of us, and then he said that he might have to veer into the northbound lanes to clear them.

I watched as Manolo‘s vector on the AIS display swung until it pointed right at us!  Crap.

Keep reading, by all means.

BUT, then go over and read Captain Richard Rodriguez’s commentary on the inherent limitations of smart phone-based AIS:

Why your AIS app isn’t approved for navigation

To wit: It’s “historical”. Maybe by a minute or two. Maybe by fifteen minutes. Maybe by an hour, which in navigational terms is an eternity…

I love the little AIS app on my phone, but I have no illusions that it is either complete or current!

Captain Richard Rodriguez has some screen captures and a quick review of Aye Tides for iDevices over at his BitterEnd blog:

While in Seattle a few weeks ago, Capt. Doug Pine introduced me to Aye Tides.  I’m a fan and have dumped my other iPhone and iPad products in favor of this great product.

The program also works with iNavX which I also have a copy of on each machine.  You can save favorites and sort by location. The program is $9.99 and is well worth the cost.

The Aye Tides product page is here.   AyeTides and AyeTides XL show the tides and currents for over 9,914 locations around the world.

Read more

Captain Richard Rodriguez of BitterEnd fame indicates that he’s happy with the recent software upgrade on the Navionics iPhone app:

New icons on Chart Page:

Current conditions from the “i” button:

Articles! This one from BE reader Mary South of Yachting Magazine.

Navionics Mobile products info: here.

Captain Richard Rodriguez at BitterEnd reminded me about this service, which I have been using on my Android phone for a couple months now. It’s far superior to the other AIS app I had been using. Here’s Richard’s screen capture from his operational area:

As Richard reminds us, “it does not meet the requirements for real time navigation.” Why not? It relies on a network of AIS receivers, attached to the internet, attached to a server, attached to the cellular grid to get the info to your device. Too many potential weak links in that chain, plus too much delay from the time an AIS position report was transmitted and the time it appears on your device.

Even so, it can be handy if you’re wondering what ship that is, or when the ferry will arrive.

Click through to MarineTraffic.com’s page about MarineTraffic Services to see all their offerings, including:

My Fleet, My Notifications, My Points

Subscribe to create your own fleet and get e-mail alerts for vessel arrivals, departures and other events. Enter your own Points of Interest to be displayed on the map!

NEW: Get SMS alerts directly into your mobile phone! Configure your alerts accordingly and make sure you have entered your mobile phone number in your profile and that you have sufficient SMS credits in your account.

MarineTraffic app for iPhone

MarineTraffic application is available for iPhone devices. Open the App Store and search for ‘marinetraffic’ or just follow the link:http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/marinetraffic/id421227715?mt=8

MarineTraffic app for Android

MarineTraffic application is available for Android devices. Open the Android Market on your mobile device and search for ‘marinetraffic’. Alternatively, open the current page in the web browser of your mobile device and click on the following link:market://search?q=pname:com.marinetraffic

MarineTraffic on Mobile

Access the webpages of MarineTraffic from the browser of your mobile phone. Visit www.marinetraffic.com/m from the browser of your mobile device (tested on Opera and Safari browsers)

Captain Richard Rodriguez  posted about this app for the iPhone and Droid.

I haven’t had a chance to play with it, but I can IMAGINE it could be very useful. I’ve just installed it. We’ll see what it does.

The promotional text is…um…somewhat ”promotional” in tone. :

BoatUS offers an easy GPS locating service app for your boating tool bag

Get the App that revs up the fun factor in your boating lifestyle!

• Text or Email your boat’s location to other boaters
• Share your raft up anchorage or favorite fishing hole
• Show your boat’s near shore location on Google Maps
• Displays your Latitude & Longitude (even out of cell range)
• Call for a tow and BoatUS will know where you are
• Access 25 BoatUS Services for your boat’s tool bag
• Get the hottest boating news from BoatUS Press Room

BoatUS – Boat Owners Association of The United States knows boaters like to:

• Share breathtaking cruising destinations
• Keep a log of where they’ve been on the water
• Warn others of where to avoid ‘Uh Oh’ grounding spots
• Have the comfort knowing they can call 24/7 for a tow

Use the BoatUS App to easily send your phone’s GPS Latitude and Longitude with a Google map link.

Even use it to notify friends on shore when and where you begin and end your float plan!

BoatUS also knows boats break down, go aground and trailer tires blow out when least expected. Who wants to fork out over $600 for a tow? That’s why this App also has similar features to a vehicles automatic locator.

Press the “Call for a Tow” option on the home screen and a 24/7 crew mate of BoatUS will answer, knowing who you are, what boat you’re on and where you are. A key feature, since tens of thousands of the boaters who call for a tow unfortunately don’t know exactly where they are located.

Even though this app doesn’t replace good seamanship and navigation skills, it is a nice addition to add to your boats tool bag.

And it’s free.

The BoatUS App not only displays the phones latest nautical Latitude and Longitude right in front of you, it’s GPS function should still work even when out of cell phone range.

What a perk if you need to relay it over VHF radio in times of need!

BoatUS Members who choose to buy Unlimited Towing are also prepared when the unexpected engine breakdown, non emergency tow, soft ungrounding, battery jump, fuel delivery and or trailer roadside assistance is needed.

BoatUS can pay the bill on the spot so you don’t have to!

BoatUS is the biggest, the best and the most trusted boat towing program available providing:

• Representation for recreational boaters on Capitol Hill
• Top Rated Boat Insurance policies for sail, power & fishing
• 24 Hour Insurance Claims Service
• Marina repair and fuel discounts at 900 locations nationwide
• Rewards at West Marine boating equipment stores
• Magazines- BoatUS, Seaworthy, Trailering & Angler
• Over 26 key services for boaters needs

Download the free BoatUS App and try it out today.
At Sea. On the Bay. On a Lake. On the River. On the Road.

[It’s a press release. I look forward to putting the new release of VNS through its paces at the upcoming Seattle Boat Show. —Tim]

Beaverton, OR, USA, January 11, 2011—Nobeltec® announces the launch of VNS™ (Visual Navigation Suite) 11 and Admiral™ 11, the newest versions of Nobeltec’s award-winning PC-based marine navigation software.

Nobeltec has added useful new features, an improved installation process, and more complete hardware integration capabilities to make VNS 11 and Admiral 11 the most advanced and featured-filled versions of the software to date. The software now supports NMEA 2000, the new Nobeltec IR2-HD2 radar and can also more fully integrate with Furuno AIS receivers and chart plotters. New fuel flow technology and the added Nobeltec Weather Service will help make every boater more aware, conscious and informed.

"We’re very excited about the release of the new products," Nobeltec Product Manager Bill Washburn said. "This release is an example of the big developments you should continue to expect from Nobeltec this year."

As this latest release of VNS and Admiral now supports NMEA 2000, Nobeltec systems can receive data directly and natively into the software. Nobeltec has also partnered with Actisense to create a USB gateway device, the Nobeltec NEMA 2000 PC Gateway, available for purchase from Nobeltec or any of its authorized dealers. This device promises to vastly expand the range and depth of data available to the VNS and Admiral Software suites.

VNS 11 and Admiral 11 also introduce new Fuel Flow Monitoring technology in partnership with FloScan, the leader in fuel flow meters. Nobeltec software is now able to read real-time engine fuel consumption rates and fuel tank levels, enabling mariners to save money and maximize fuel efficiency. Customizable displays and multiple view options enhance a boater’s ability to monitor and control their vessel’s fuel consumption.

Hardware integration of the Furuno FA30 and FA50 AIS receivers has been added. Nobeltec can now directly and seamlessly interface with these devices, as well as listen to navigation data from Furuno Ethernet chart plotters. This will greatly improve and simplify the installation, configuration and maintenance of Furuno and Nobeltec systems that customers want to link together.

More features include the new complimentary Nobeltec Weather Service which incorporates worldwide weather data, PlanView NavBar configuration options, and support for Nobeltec’s newest radar—the InSight IR2-HD2 Radome.

The latest Nobeltec software products are available for sale this month. These are the newest releases since VNS 10.7 and Admiral 10.7 came out in May 2010. VNS 11 and Admiral 11 work with C-MAP MAX Pro charts by Jeppesen and are optimized for safe and accurate navigation on recreational boats, commercial vessels, and mega yachts.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love Rose Point Coastal Explorer. I got a chance to see some of the firm’s new products in action during the NMEA conference last week here in Seattle. I’ll be writing a bit more about that soon.

Today I want to share a recent press release from Rose Point about their new NT-500 analog engine interface product. Very cool!

Rose Point announces a new Engine Interface Add-On for customers who want to display and monitor engine performance data onboard. The system is specifically designed to interface existing diesel and gasoline engines. The product includes both hardware and software for connecting to the engine and displaying information on the screen.

There have been many past attempts by others to create cost-effective engine monitoring systems for older engines. None have been widely accepted. This product has the right combination of features; it includes both the hardware and software, uses existing sending units, is based on NMEA 2000 standards, and can be installed in the wheelhouse or on the engine. This unique combination of features will make this device succeed where others have failed.

The hardware is very unique, extremely flexible, and is ideal for a number of different installation modes. The system is based on NMEA 2000 and includes a USB gateway to transfer the information to the PC and to calibrate the hardware. The device can also be calibrated using proprietary PGN’s on the network. Unlike other devices that send only one pre-defined message, the device can be programmed to output the type of data the user wants by selecting from a list of typical engine data types. One person might care about fuel pressure while another is looking for transmission oil pressure. There are four analog inputs, including but not limited to: oil pressure, engine temperature, fuel pressure, and engine tilt/trim. The software can be used to configure alarms for many of the supported data types, and has an interface for RPM and for monitoring system voltages for two battery banks and the alternator. These unique features make the product suitable for different types of installations.

The hardware is designed to be installed under the dashboard by connecting to existing gauges installed on the vessel. Once the data is in the system it can be transported to other devices via the NMEA 2000 network, and to the computer via the included USB gateway. An alternate installation mode is to connect the interface box directly to the senders and locate the box in the engine room. In this type of installation, the devices are connected to an NMEA 2000 backbone for distribution to the rest of the vessel. A separate USB to NMEA 2000 gateway can be used to transport the data to the PC for display.

The Engine Interface Add-On includes user-configurable software gauges for displaying data on the screen. Users can choose from a variety of gauges and display options when designing their screen displays. Additional NMEA 2000 data types are also supported so that data from other NMEA 2000 sensors can be shown along with the data from the Engine Interface Add-On. One of the most important aspects of gathering data from the engine is the ability to record it for later analysis. The Engine Interface Add-On includes the ability to record data from the engine and to create strip charts for individual sensor data.

The new Engine Interface Add-On will be available for sale in the first quarter of 2011. The prices have not been announced at this time. Visit www.rosepointnav.com for more information.

This is a very cool bit of news. Because why? Because it means that some of the best navigation suites on the market, which tend to be PC-based, might now make use of some of the best radar hardware on the market. On with the press release!

Marine Electronics Leader Introduces PC-Based FMCW Radar Technology for the Commercial, Marine, Military and Surveillance Markets

Nashua, N.H. – Simrad Yachting, a leader in the design and manufacture of world-class marine navigation, autopilots, communications and fishfinding systems, has announced today its BR24PC Software Development Kit (SDK) for the commercial, military, marine and surveillance markets. Giving developers access to the Simrad BR24 Broadband Radar™ opens a wide spectrum of applications for land and sea. Approved third parties can obtain a license to the BR24PC SDK and create PC-based software that utilizes Simrad Yachting’s award-winning Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radome technology. Potential applications include on- and offshore security, unmanned vessels, military (stationary and moving), river navigation, boundary surveillance, fish-farm monitoring and oilrig ship-docking management. Providing the opportunity for a user-friendly, real-time, fully-automated and integrated PC-based radar system, the BR24PC SDK is compatible with any off-the-shelf Simrad BR24 Broadband Radar.

“The Simrad BR24PC Software Development Kit allows integration of our revolutionary radar technology to a nearly unlimited range of new possibilities in custom marine and on-shore applications,” said Louis Chemi, chief operating officer, Navico Americas. “Not only is the technology the future of navigation, security and surveillance, our BR24PC SDK makes commercial-grade radar available at a competitive price.”

For marine navigation, the Simrad B24 Broadband Radar paired with the BR24PC SDK delivers a computer-aided marine navigation system that combines PC-based radar, Marine Automated Radar Plotting Aids (MARPA) and modern electronic charting technology to create a state-of-the-art, cost-effective navigation system that offers powerful, simultaneous collision and grounding avoidance. The system is ideal for small-vessels applications such as search and rescue, coast guard and pilot boats. With the ability to be adapted for a number of military, commercial or surveillance markets, the Simrad BR24PC SDK can also be used as a portable radar display for temporary or covert surveillance applications.

Considered one of the most innovative product developments in recreational marine electronics, Simrad Yachting’s BR24 Broadband Radar features solid-state technology similar to that used in military and IMO-certified radar applications. The BR24 delivers a host of important performance and safety benefits including superior target definition and separation inside 30 meters — eliminating nearby-vessel “blind spots” (main bang) to provide highly detailed intuitive views of surroundings down to a 1/32 nautical mile range scale. BR24 interference rejection is five times better than traditional pulse radar technology for an easy-to-interpret radar display in all conditions. It also provides automatic and instant radar tuning for optimum performance whenever the range scale is changed — eliminating guesswork and allowing users to keep their eyes on their surroundings. The BR24 also offers unprecedented environmental safety, effectively eliminating harmful radiation outside the dome by transmitting less than 1/20,000 of the peak power of traditional radar, and allowing for low-power operation and flexible installation in places never before possible.

The Simrad BR24PC SDK is available with two levels of functionality and requires unique unlock codes, for either basic level (LL1), or advanced control (LL2) operation. For more information on the Simrad BR24PC SDK, licensing, Simrad BR24 Broadband Radar technology or the entire line of Simrad-branded professional-grade marine electronics, please contact 800-628-4487 (toll-free) in the USA or 800-661-3983 (toll-free) in Canada, or visit www.simrad-yachting.com.

[Good news for those who have opted NOT to jump on the iPhone bandwagon. It’s a press release, so you should forgive the exclamation points and hyperbole. —Tim]

Discover the value of Navionics renowned marine charts and lake maps!

Ideal for water sport enthusiasts of all kinds. Create a virtual travelogue to share with friends via email or facebook.

The most comprehensive features available in 3.2:
• Record/Save tracks, routes
• Capture geo-tagged pictures of your adventures
• Access the largest database of specialty marine POIs available
• Search marinas and specialty marine POI, with just one click to call
• Check tides & currents, moon phase, sun/moon rise/set
• Share the fun with friends
• And so much more!

Offering the best marine and lake maps covering regions around the world.

Navionics certified compatible Android models:
Motorola Droid • Nexus One
HTC Tattoo • Acer Liquid

Operating system required: 1.6 or >

App prices are in Euro starting at 9.99€.