A growing number of mobile applications, or "apps," are helping to keep boaters informed, on course and entertained.

Plus, they're often free or low cost, making a $25 gift card go a long way.
For the uninitiated, a mobile app is software that downloads just like a ring tone to a Web-enabled phone or other device.

Kahn's iPhone 3GS, packed in a watertight OtterBox case, runs an app his company developed called MotionX-GPS. A thousand miles from California, racing his boat, Pegasus, in this year's Transpac to Honolulu, Kahn used MotionX to navigate, record his course and upload his positions to a Google map, Facebook and Twitter with comments, photos and video. Incidentally, Pegasus set a world double-handed record in that race.
Palm and mobile Windows devices have some apps, but Apple's iTunes store has the most.
There's an impressive array of navigation apps there, in addition to full GPS navigation such as MotionX-GPS ($2.99). For instance, Navionics offers $9.99 interactive marine charts with navigation and a database of tide, current and marine services. Wondering how long it takes to tack toward Alcatraz? SailTimer ($13.99) calculates the answer. Anchor Alarm ($9.99) says your boat is drifting, Ship Finder ($4.99) gives details of that ship about to run you over (California not yet available), and StarPilot is a celestial almanac ($29.99) that could be used with a 99-cent Sextant app.
Mark Wilson of Concord religiously packs his iPhone in an Aquapac dry pack on a lanyard to check conditions before and during a day of fly-fishing.
Surf Report is a free app for coastal conditions. Tide Graph ($1.99) and apps like it deliver tide, current, sun and moon information. RiverGuide for Kayakers ($4.99) gives real-time river flow information. The NOAA Buoy Data Reader ($2.99) and Boating Weather ($1.99) deliver easy access to government weather feeds.
Wilson says such apps are great for potentially dangerous river and ocean conditions: "They tell you real-time information, what the seas are, what the winds are, what the temperatures are."
Mobile apps pack a ton of technical reference in a tiny space for a tiny cost. Boater's Pocket Reference ($4.99) is a mini encyclopedia. Official navigation rules go for $2.99, while $1.99 buys cool apps for identifying the navigation lights of vessels (Ship Shape) and the code flags they fly (Naviflags). A mere 99 cents buys Boat Ramps, which shows exactly where to put your boat in the water.
Some learning tools use animation to teach tricky things such as knot-tying and sail adjustments.

Non-Apple devices won't run these apps. Practical Sailor's December issue reviews three pocket navigation apps for Palm and Windows.
Yet even different versions of the iPhone and iPod touch have different position-tracking, motion-sensing and communications capabilities.
Bottom line: Always check whether the app matches the device, and never let technology distract from safety or enjoying the outdoors.

Paul Oliva is a consultant, writer and sailor. He advises and teaches sailing-related groups on San Francisco Bay and sails his boat from South Beach Harbor. E-mail datebookletters@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page F - 5 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/04/DD0S1ATU55.DTL#ixzz0Ynh0kuPt

Maptech's i3 is a truly fool-proof gadget that makes no use of confusing buttons, keypads or cursors.
The Touch Screen Command Center is the heart and soul of the i3. Just touch the rugged, 12" or 15" diagonal, daylight readable screen to view and change charts, create routes and a lot more.

Adding a waypoint is as simple as touching the chart display at the spot you want to go and you get range and bearing. You can even touch and drag an existing route around obstacles, letting you add new waypoints with one simple action.

As an added bonus, when you purchase an i3 you get all detailed NOAA charts for the entire U.S. coastline.
Also built-in are all of Maptech's exclusive Navigation Photos, Contour 3D Charts, Coastal Topo Maps and advanced navigation data.

Other features include an improved Touch Screen Radar that allows you to see radar images overlaid on a detailed NOAA chart or Navigation Photo, Dual Screens for two fully functional, independent i3 systems that can be networked together.

Satellite Communications have also been improved to stay in touch by email, voice and fax.
It can even monitor your boat while you're away and send reports on vital systems to your home or dockmaster.

The I3 communications option also includes the latest weather forecasts.

A 3D Fishfinder allows you to see where fish position themselves in 3D.
The live sonar is very similar to standard 2D sonars but coupled with the benefits of 3D and i3 Touch Screen Command.


As for Video connectivity, you can control up to four marine-grade video cameras set up for security or any other reason.
Dragging your finger on the Touch Screen lets you span and tilt in a very simple way.
And you can watch your favorite movies or home videos. But fear not to get completely absorbed in the action, because the i3 is monitoring your boat's location. If your boat moves 200 feet or more within 5 minutes, the movie screen automatically switches over to GPS navigation mode.

Last but not least, the i3 home planning software lets you create your routes on a home PC and save them to a USB thumb drive. When you get to the boat, just plug in the thumb drive. All your routes will automatically load, and you're ready to go!

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Available from:
Maptech