One of the oldest modes of transportation is sailing, but that doesn’t mean it has to be outmoded. There are several great sailing applications available now to improve your seagoing experience. Sailing needs expertise, and it can be dangerous for beginners.
Although it will never be able to replace sailing knowledge completely, technology may unquestionably enhance your time on the water. You may learn from these applications without purchasing books or paying for lessons and advance your sailing skills.
There are many useful apps for sailors, and each has something to offer both on land and at sea. Here are the top ten mobile and tablet sailing apps, from instruction manuals to navigational tools.
Best iOS and Android Sailing Apps
Knots 3D
Because of careful boat engineering and design, sailboat rigs are more accessible than ever. It used to be easy to sail without having to manage a lot of lines, but modern sailing vessels are much easier to sail without having to satisfy any scoutmaster. But even new rigging needs a certain level of knot knowledge.
A faulty dock tie-up might cause your boat to break free and drift, and improper knotting can be fatal at sea. And who wouldn’t want to demonstrate excellent knot-tying skills to the guys at the yacht club? You can now quickly learn and master over a hundred crucial sailing knots with the help of the Knots 3D software.
The knot-tying procedure can be seen in three dimensions with this app, which is far more convenient than seeing a static book page. The app can help you get better at what you already know, making you look good while tying up at the dock. On both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, Knots 3D can be purchased for $1.99.
United States Coast Guard
Anyone who sails in the United States absolutely must have this app. If you’ve ever owned a boat in American waters, you undoubtedly know about the Coast Guard and the crucial work they do every day. They not only enforce the numerous maritime laws and regulations of this nation but also serve as the main lifeline for sailors and boaters. Keep in mind that driving a car on the road is not like sailing. You don’t need to do anything wrong to be “pulled over” out on the lake, but you still need to abide by the rules. The Coast Guard could even board you without cause. This happens frequently.
They do this to make sure you abide by all applicable boat-specific obligatory safety and environmental standards. The Coast Guard app will assist in educating you about the regulations, ensuring that you stay safe and avoid receiving a ticket for an avoidable infraction. The laws of the Coast Guard are reasonable, but you must be aware of them to abide by them.
This software is about more than just obeying the law. Additionally, it gives you access to the most recent weather reports from local NOAA buoys, which facilitates navigation and helps you get ready for bad weather. When they discover new navigational hazards, the Coast Guard updates the app frequently, and you can report them too.
The Coast Guard app is an excellent navigation and safety tool to bring along on any sailing trip, in addition to the required VHF radio. Both iOS and Android users can download the Coast Guard App for free.
Fast Track GPS Tool
For sailors, check out this other fantastic GPS and navigation app. The Fast Track GPS app provides many excellent sailing and boating navigational tools. It has real-time location services, like the majority of conventional GPS apps, to act as a cross-reference with your main navigation systems.
It also features a massive database of waypoints to help with navigation in places where the information might not be as clear. When other weather data is unavailable or unclear, the FastTrack GPS app also includes accurate weather information and forecasting to ensure safe travel.
This software helps you track where you’re going and where you’ve been so far by allowing you to locate and store your location precisely. Additionally, it contains real-time wind information that might assist you in choosing your course and when to tack. This app can be used as a proximity-alert device in addition to an onboard radar system to help prevent collisions with the coast or dangerously shallow seas.
For safe navigation, charts and reliable navigation systems are still essential, as is having a real person on watch in case someone makes a mistake. However, this software offers a few helpful resources, especially while exploring new places. On Android smartphones, the Fast Track GPS Tool is accessible without charge.
AyeTides
Tide shifts are one of the biggest dangers when sailing in a harbor. Numerous boats break their hulls or run aground in shallow water each year. Many careful sailors have experienced getting trapped at some point in their sailing careers, which is always a major inconvenience (if not a serious safety issue).
People frequently run aground because of inexperience or a lack of tide information, which is an understandable cause of an accident. You can now access precise real-time tide information from more than 12,500 places worldwide thanks to the AyeTides app.
AyeTides remove the uncertainty involved in navigating shallow seas. You can avoid dangers and make advance plans without the need for laborious and unreliable tidal calculations.
Although tidal charts are still necessary, the app can help verify the information and keep you and your boat out of potentially dangerous shallow places. AyeTides keeps you informed of changing situations by providing you with the most significant data.
Additionally, it can assist you in deciding where to anchor for the night, which is always a great benefit. The cost of the AyeTides app for iOS is $7.99.
Cruisers Sailing Forum
One of the best internet sites for how-to guides, problem-solving, and finding firsthand knowledge from other sailors is forums. You can easily access the well-known online community and its latest archival information with the Cruisers Sailing Forum app. The platform is a fantastic source of information for sailors, and it’s a perfect place to ask about a specific topic and find an expert to respond to.
The Cruisers Sailing Forum receives regular contributions from thousands of users and already has information on almost everything. You can ask a question in the forum and receive an expert response when you have a rigging issue or need to find a friendly local fishing spot.
The Cruisers Sailing Forum app makes it simple to access a priceless resource from your phone or tablet. Forums are a fantastic benefit of modern technology. There are resources for boat maintenance and repair, as well as fantastic local hangouts and sailing sites that you might not have discovered otherwise.
This forum has a terrific community, so it’s recommended to sign up and introduce yourself. The solutions are portable and are available whenever you need them. For both iOS and Android smartphones, the Cruisers Sailing Forum app is accessible without charge.
Go Sailing
Go Sailing is a great app for connecting with other sailing enthusiasts and discovering the best local sites while cruising. It’s a social media platform for sailors and a terrific place to connect with others who enjoy the same activities. Others frequently use the app to find other sailors to travel with, and others use it to locate crew members or emergency supplies. Being a part of a community is always excellent, and this app can help you locate individuals that will be very helpful to you while you are out sailing.
Especially if you’re cruising to a new location, a social network can be an excellent tool for enhancing a sailing voyage. When unfamiliar with the site, you can use the app to connect with people, attend activities, or buy goods.
This app’s user interface is seamless, performs admirably, and it’s nice to meet new people through a shared interest in sailing. Both iOS and Android users can download the Go Sailing app for free.
SailFlow
Sailflow is a fantastic tool for organizing a sailing trip or using it while sailing to acquire precise weather data. Over 50,000 weather stations worldwide provide accurate and real-time weather data for the SailFlow app. Both trip preparation and weather forecasting need the use of this information. Although there are other places to get reliable weather information, it’s always helpful to have a portable app that’s simple to use.
When sailing, having accurate weather information is usually helpful. Although not all critical weather conditions are reported over the air, a weather radio is still handy. However, it doesn’t take a powerful storm (which would be harmless on land) to cause serious problems over the ocean. A severe thunderstorm warning over the radio can help keep you safe.
You may check the impending weather conditions with the SailFlow app and decide for yourself if it is safe to continue sailing. The SailFlow app is free to download for iOS and Android, but a paid edition comes with some fantastic extras.
BoatUS App
Like AAA for cars, BoatUS membership is a great way to increase your sense of security when traveling. BoatUS can help alleviate some of your concerns so you can enjoy your time on the water without any headaches. Mechanical problems and accidents at sea can be a complete nightmare. For any unforeseen circumstances where you might require assistance, the BoatUS app gives you access to 24-hour boat towing in numerous areas.
The BoatUS app is an excellent tool for accessing forecasts and advisories for small craft and providing towing and dockside assistance services. Every time a weather authority posts advice or warning that you’ll need, you’ll receive a buzz if you have alerts switched on.
BoatUS offers outstanding location-based information on cheap goods and services like gasoline and mooring in addition to dealing with sailing risks. Your portable local guide fits in your pocket; their resources also contain the locations and costs of services like boat repair, meals, parts, mooring, and fishing information.
They also include a map of West Marine locations so you can stock up on replacement parts and boat accessories while traveling. You may use it to text and share your site with people, so they always know where you are. You can also use it to share your location with friends and family on social media.
You may download this comprehensive and practical sailing app for free on iOS and Android, but you’ll need to create an account.
INavX
For precise and accurate navigation, you need the INavX app. It includes several top-notch navigational tools, such as current charts, that are available whenever you need them. Your inbuilt GPS and the INavX software can quickly improve navigation. No matter where you sail, you can use it to keep an eye on the weather, check the tides, and discover the best local spots to visit.
It can be used to “pin” a previous location, making it simple to return to that beautiful area in the future. Remember that having the proper training is still crucial while navigating charts. INavX does not take the place of maps or GPS units.
Instead, it’s a beneficial addition to your navigation toolkit that provides you access to many fantastic digital capabilities that aren’t available on paper or in a conventional navigation system. On iOS, the INavX app is offered for $14.99.
PredictWind-Marine Forecasts
Another excellent weather app for sailors is available here, and it has lots of useful options to keep you informed. This is not your average weather app; it offers full-resolution maps, tables, and charts that are continuously updated with real-time information. You may view real-time wind speed and direction reports on an interactive map, together with temperature information and current forecasts, using the PredictWind app.
With the help of the ECWMF and GF5 models, this app’s innovative PWG and PWE marine weather monitoring technology ensures pin-point accuracy, reliable forecasts, and excellent resolution. Additionally, the app is simple to use, making it simple for you to locate and understand crucial weather data.
This is very useful software to have on hand, and it can help you navigate with assurance. On iOS and Android, the PredictWind Marine Forecasting app is free to download.
Conclusion
Any way you decide to sail, you can profit from using one (or more) of these practical apps. When sailing, we shouldn’t rely totally on technology, but it may be very useful to have on hand to enhance the experience. Now that seafarers have access to knowledge and technologies that they have never had before, sailing is simpler and safer for everyone. See how these applications can improve your time on the water by checking them out.
