I’ve always been a traditional paper chart and plotter man but I have to admit, the navigation apps these days are incredibly good. I now use my iPad as a secondary display alongside my Raymarine. Here’s what I’ve tried:
Navionics — The classic. Excellent charts, solid route planning. I use it as my primary tablet app. The Dock-to-Dock autorouting is surprisingly good around Mallorca.
iSailor — Good charts (based on official hydrographic data) but the interface is less intuitive than Navionics.
SailGrib — Fantastic for weather routing and passage planning. Links to GRIB files for wind forecasts overlaid on the chart. Essential for longer passages.
I’d never rely on a phone/tablet as primary navigation, but as a supplement to a proper chartplotter, they’re invaluable. The chart detail on a 12" iPad is actually better than on my Raymarine in some cases.
What are you all using?
I’ve been using Navionics on my phone and it’s great for following along and understanding where I am. The sonar chart feature is really helpful for unfamiliar anchorages — you can see the bottom contours in amazing detail.
Is it worth getting a tablet specifically for navigation or is a phone screen good enough?
@sophie_turner Get a tablet. The phone screen is fine for a quick reference but for proper navigation you need the real estate. A 10" iPad with Navionics+ is the best value navigation upgrade you can make. Put it in a waterproof case and you’re set.
I’d also recommend downloading offline charts for the whole Balearics — you don’t want to be relying on mobile signal for your charts.
I still carry paper charts for the Balearics. Call me old-fashioned but batteries die, screens crack, and electronics fail — usually when you need them most. The CMap charts of Mallorca are excellent and they never run out of battery.
But yes, I also use Navionics. Best of both worlds.