Our friends at Discover Boating have done a great job of sorting through all of the boating apps out there, and when we compared our list to theirs it was almost identical. Since they published it first, we thought we’d share it in their words.
If you are looking to add some new boating apps to your tablet or smartphone, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best boating apps to help you navigate, plan, share and socialize on the water this year:
1. Navionics Boating – GPS Time and time again, when we speak to boaters and ask them what GPS app they’re using, Navionics Boating is the answer. Navionics is free to download and offers in-app purchases for charts and other upgrades, such as autorouting. Navionics Boating is available for both iOS and Android devices.
2. NOAA SuperRes Radar HD (iOS) or RadarScope (Android) In order to enjoy the day safely on the water, a close eye must be kept on the weather. If you’re on iOS, in our experience the best radar app is NOAA’s SuperRes Radar. It has very hi-resolution and incredible accuracy. If you are on an Android device, RadarScope is just as good and accesses the same data. These apps are not only good for boating, but just great to have any time you want to see what kind of weather is rolling in.
3. Windfinder is for sailors, kitesurfers, windsurfers and more. This app allows you to see the wind, waves and weather across the globe in real time. Windfinder is available for free (iOS and Android), or you can purchase the ad-free pro version (iOS and Android).
4. USA Tides If you boat and/or fish in saltwater, having the latest marine tide information at your fingertips is invaluable. USA Tides is available for both iOS and Android and displays tide information for all stations in the US. Honorable mention (Boating.Tips): AyeTides is a strong contender with readings for many local harbors that are unavailable elsewhere.
5. Animated Knots Animated Knots by Grog is a broad teaching and reference tool for boaters and other hobbyists. With step-by-step instructions and, you guessed it, frame-by-frame animations, this app teaches you to tie knots at your own pace. For five dollars, you really can’t go wrong. You can download this app for iOS or Android.
6. FishingScout is a great resource and social app for anglers. The app allows you to upload photos of your latest catch, describe the conditions of how you caught it, study other locations where fish were caught, add friends, view their photos and more. Not everyone wants to share their secrets, but if you do then FishingScout is available for free on both iOS and Android.
7. Dockwa allows boaters to view marinas in their location, select a destination and request a slip or mooring, all from their mobile device. Once the marina approves the reservation, payment is processed seamlessly through the app. Dockwa hopes to be the Opentable of boating. Check out Dockwa on iOS or Android.
8. Swell Advantage is a social boating app that lets you see where your family and friends are out on the water, including where they are headed and their speed. Custom notifications inform you when family and friends get on the water. It’s free for iOS and Android (beta).
9. Boatrax lets you keep detailed records of your boat while capturing and sharing your moments with family and friends. You can share your location and photos with friends and the boating community. You can pick up Boatrax for both iOS and Android.
10. Camera App Last but certainly not least, make sure you use your camera app to document all your boating adventures this year and share it with the world on Facebook and Instagram!
Thank you for supplying these Apps for us!