Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: anybody here using the Navionics boating app?

  1. #1
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    2,235
    Thanks
    2,822
    Thanked 1,514 Times in 835 Posts
    Rep Power
    795
    Reputation
    27703

    Default anybody here using the Navionics boating app?

    im very new to boating navigation , and paper charts are difficult to use in small boats , so yesterday i bought a 7" Pendo pad and the Navionics boating app. i'll also get a waterproof case for the Pendo so can leave it running on the boat while out.
    i noticed battery life is quite reduced while the GPS is running so will run the pad off the boats 12v outlet .

    has anybody got any good / bad experience with this sort of setup? Navionics seems to have plenty of features which im not familiar with as yet , but will over time. Ive found the maps a bit slow to update so far .

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to VroomVroom For This Useful Post:

    Rick (01-11-15)



Look Here ->
  • #2
    Senior Member
    fandtm666's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    5,502
    Thanks
    244
    Thanked 990 Times in 465 Posts
    Rep Power
    1189
    Reputation
    40447

    Default

    have used in the past and is pretty accurate and will do if
    you have no sounder gps unit.
    dont say linux if i wanted it id install it

  • #3
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    2,235
    Thanks
    2,822
    Thanked 1,514 Times in 835 Posts
    Rep Power
    795
    Reputation
    27703

    Default

    thanks , im happy with the low cost option so far. $65 for the Pendo and $23 for the app .

    the boat came with an old Navman 4000 sounder but its not working real well - depth readings keep swinging wildly even when at anchor. that may be a sensor issue , not sure.

  • #4
    Senior Member
    fandtm666's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    5,502
    Thanks
    244
    Thanked 990 Times in 465 Posts
    Rep Power
    1189
    Reputation
    40447

    Default

    check that the transducer is fixed properly at the rear of the boat
    and is not just flopping up and down which would give you the false
    depth readings .The base of the transducer should be only a few mm
    below the hull and should be fixed so it does not flop up and down.
    dont say linux if i wanted it id install it

  • The Following User Says Thank You to fandtm666 For This Useful Post:

    VroomVroom (04-10-15)

  • #5
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    2,235
    Thanks
    2,822
    Thanked 1,514 Times in 835 Posts
    Rep Power
    795
    Reputation
    27703

    Default

    thanks , ive checked it and it secure. i noticed some red sealant around the join so quite possible its been apart for some reason. a new one is $150+ so better off getting a portable one off ebay for $55 and just dash mounting it.

  • #6
    Premium Member
    ol' boy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    17,662
    Thanks
    8,131
    Thanked 10,460 Times in 5,194 Posts
    Rep Power
    4471
    Reputation
    184272

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by VroomVroom View Post
    im very new to boating navigation , and paper charts are difficult to use in small boats , so yesterday i bought a 7" Pendo pad and the Navionics boating app. i'll also get a waterproof case for the Pendo so can leave it running on the boat while out.
    i noticed battery life is quite reduced while the GPS is running so will run the pad off the boats 12v outlet .

    has anybody got any good / bad experience with this sort of setup? Navionics seems to have plenty of features which im not familiar with as yet , but will over time. Ive found the maps a bit slow to update so far .
    Yep, use it heaps.
    But we use it in parallel with our proper Garmin Plotter.
    All the Yachties use Navionics these days, they love it.

    I find it hard to mark way points with Navionics or a "Drive Too" function.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

  • The Following User Says Thank You to ol' boy For This Useful Post:

    VroomVroom (05-10-15)

  • #7
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    2,235
    Thanks
    2,822
    Thanked 1,514 Times in 835 Posts
    Rep Power
    795
    Reputation
    27703

    Default

    update - the app is still working well. a larger , say 10" screen would be great when travelling at speed but when cruising the 7" Pendo works fine. the GPS is power hungry as expected so i installed an additional USB port to keep the battery charging . also installed an app which keeps the screen awake while navionics is running , and only navionics.

    i need to add the numerous "go slow" areas to the chart , havent worked that out yet i just avoid them in the meantime.

    I also fixed the depth sounder , the boat fitters installed it too close to the bottom chine ( 5M tinny ) and angled the wrong way. all good now , surprising how accurate it reads on both the hard and sandy bottoms in this area.
    still havent caught any fish though

  • #8
    Senior Member
    Rick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Tassi
    Posts
    4,167
    Thanks
    4,168
    Thanked 3,471 Times in 1,531 Posts
    Rep Power
    1340
    Reputation
    51955

    Default

    It is an awesome bit software, and once you get used to it you'll love it even more, I use it, it is very accurate on returning to waypoints, check some of these vids out very handy tips for using

  • The Following User Says Thank You to Rick For This Useful Post:

    VroomVroom (01-11-15)

  • #9
    Administrator
    admin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Victoria
    Age
    56
    Posts
    31,150
    Thanks
    2,238
    Thanked 13,731 Times in 5,823 Posts
    Rep Power
    4552
    Reputation
    165805

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by VroomVroom View Post
    update - the app is still working well. a larger , say 10" screen would be great when travelling at speed but when cruising the 7" Pendo works fine. the GPS is power hungry as expected so i installed an additional USB port to keep the battery charging
    Is it a 2 amp port ? Tablets need this , otherwise you may find over a period of time that the tablet will discharge itself and wont boot up. Pendo are, how do I say, not of the highest quality, so its likely.
    I realise its cheap and easily replaced, but could be a pain if you have stuff on it that could be lost and hard to replace aso its easier to just make sure you have 2 amp.

    I found out the hard way a couple of years ago with my wifes Samsung galaxy tablet. She was just plugging it in to any charger, usually phone chargers that are 1 amp. Over time it undercharged itself (sounds strange I know, wouldnt have believed it if I hadnt seen it and had to Google to fix it) went in to a reboot sequence and then refused to turn on.

    GPS programs really do suck the juice, when I went to tassie earlier this year I was running Google Maps on my Nexus 10 tablet and it was going flat despite being plugged in to a (correct amp) charger while we were driving.

  • #10
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    2,235
    Thanks
    2,822
    Thanked 1,514 Times in 835 Posts
    Rep Power
    795
    Reputation
    27703

    Default

    yes its definitly a 2 amp port , i learnt that lesson years ago with a Palm Treo. I know that Pendos are not great quality , this was more an exercise to see if the tablet on a boat concept would work, which it does. If for some reason i need to change tablets , the play store has a record of what i bought , so it will let me download once more for free. but for $23 its a cheap app anyway , for what it does.

  • #11
    Senior Member
    Rick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Tassi
    Posts
    4,167
    Thanks
    4,168
    Thanked 3,471 Times in 1,531 Posts
    Rep Power
    1340
    Reputation
    51955

    Default

    Might be time to put your hand up for a early chrissy pressy my recommendation is the Lowrance Elite 7 HDI, nice 7 inch screen, very easy to use, you can pick up really good 2nd hand units for around $6-800, but its all down to how much you fish, mine got a hell of a work out when I installed it into my BarCrusher

  • #12
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    1,433
    Thanks
    934
    Thanked 1,661 Times in 724 Posts
    Rep Power
    836
    Reputation
    32307

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick View Post
    Might be time to put your hand up for a early chrissy pressy my recommendation is the Lowrance Elite 7 HDI, nice 7 inch screen, very easy to use, you can pick up really good 2nd hand units for around $6-800, but its all down to how much you fish, mine got a hell of a work out when I installed it into my BarCrusher

    Second that!

    A very nice unit.

    Don't know what waters you fish, but this crowd might be of interest:



    As you can see, their charts work with sounders, phones, and tablets.

    I have the Elite 7 HDI and have Lake Hume and Lake Mulwala charts from the above blokes - very nice. I'm just sweating on them doing Dartmouth.

    It's good to see stuff like this being developed in Australia for a change - and right here in NE Vic, as a bonus.

    Tight lines.

  • The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Thala Dan For This Useful Post:

    Rick (02-11-15),VroomVroom (02-11-15)

  • #13
    Junior Member Schermann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    67
    Thanks
    93
    Thanked 23 Times in 17 Posts
    Rep Power
    162
    Reputation
    420

    Default

    I have the Navionics HD Sonar Charts overlaying my Gamin BlueCharts on my Gamin Etrex 20.

  • Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •