When out on the water, having top marine navigation apps can make all the difference. These apps offer a vast array of features making your boat journey safe.
Top Marine Navigation Apps:
Table of Contents:
- Is there a GPS APP for Boats?
- Best Marine Navigation Apps For Australia
- GPS Marine Navigation App – Wavve Boating
- GPS Marine Navigation App – C-Map
- GPS Marine Navigation App – Deckee
- GPS Marine Navigation App – i-Boating
- GPS Marine Navigation App – Navionics Boating
- GPS Marine Navigation App – Savvy Navvy
- GPS Marine Navigation App – KnowWake
- Best Navigation App Australia – Wavve Boating
- Best Free Marine Navigation App Australia – DECKEE
- Boat Navigation App Conclusion
Marine Navigation App For Boats:
Whether you’re a seasoned mariner or a weekend boatie, having a reliable marine navigation app is crucial for safe and enjoyable outings on the water. Navigating the various waterways can be challenging, with nautical charts often proving intricate and difficult to decipher quickly and subject to wear and tear.
Without the luxury of road signs guiding your way, it’s essential to equip yourself with the right tools to avoid getting lost or encountering obstacles.
We have become accustomed to using mobile navigational apps for pretty much everything these days. Marine navigation should be no different.
With accurate GPS positioning and ability to track and route a course these apps make your trips easy to navigate and safer.
To aid you in your boating adventures, we’ve put together a list of the best marine navigation apps available in Australia.
When you’re out on the water, having a reliable navigation app can make all the difference. These apps offer a vast array of features, from real-time weather updates to detailed nautical charts tailored to your specific boating needs.
These Marine Navigation Apps are also perfect to have on your phone when you are renting a boat to ensure your trip is as productive and safe as possible. As an owner of the boat rental you can also track your boat renters route, speed and weather conditions.
Here are our top picks for Australian marine navigation apps that provide the features and reliability you need for smooth boating:
Best Marine Navigation Apps For Australia
Wavve Boating
Undoubtedly one of the premier marine navigation apps available today, Wavve Boating stands out with its exceptional features tailored to enhance your boating experience.
Key Features of Wavve Boating:
Platforms:
- iOS – 4.5 Stars
- Android – 4.1 Stars
Seamless Navigation and Exploration:
Experience smooth sailing with Wavve Boating’s seamless navigation and exploration capabilities. Whether you’re charting a course or exploring new waters, this app ensures you stay on track with ease.
Tailored Nautical Charts:
Wavve Boating provides tailored nautical charts, offering detailed insights into water depths, navigational aids, and potential hazards. With customised charts, you can navigate confidently, knowing you have accurate information at your fingertips.
Hazard Highlights:
Stay informed and proactive with hazard highlights featured in Wavve Boating. Identify potential obstacles and navigational challenges in advance, allowing for safer boating on the water.
Intuitive Mapping:
Navigate with precision using Wavve Boating’s intuitive mapping features. Whether you’re planning a route or adjusting course on the go, the app’s user-friendly interface ensures effortless navigation at your fingertips.
Community Connectivity:
Become Boat Mates within the boating community through Wavve Boating. Share experiences, insights, and favourite destinations with fellow boaters, enriching your boating adventures with collective knowledge and Mateship.
Price:
Enjoy a 14-day free trial with an annual plan priced at $45.99. Get a 50% discount on first year subscription.
With its comprehensive features and unparalleled functionality, Wavve Boating offers exceptional value for boaters of all levels. Experience the difference today and elevate your boating adventures with Wavve Boating.
C-Map
Featuring vector maps and smooth navigation, C-Map is an excellent choice for Android and iOS users seeking customisable chart options and up-to-date mapping data.
C-MAP stands as one of the pinnacle choices for GPS boating navigation among boating enthusiasts. Renowned for its user-friendly interface, this app caters to both seasoned sailors and novices alike, ensuring smooth boating experiences for all.
Key Features of C-MAP:
Platforms:
- iOS – 4.5 Stars
- Android – 3.8 Stars
Downloadable Offline Charts:
Never stress about losing navigation capabilities due to poor connectivity. C-MAP offers downloadable offline charts, providing uninterrupted access to vital navigation data even when your 4G/5G signal falters.
Stream and Download Charts:
Seamlessly stream or download charts as per your preference, ensuring you have access to the latest navigational information at your fingertips.
Auto-Routing:
Let C-MAP take the helm in finding the optimal route for your journey. With its auto-routing feature, navigating unfamiliar waters becomes a breeze, allowing you to focus on enjoying your boating adventures.
AIS Data Integration:
Stay informed about nearby vessels with C-MAP’s integration of AIS (Automatic Identification System) data. Effortlessly visualise all nearby boats, facilitating quick decision-making and safe navigation.
Integrated Weather Updates:
Stay ahead of changing weather conditions with real-time weather information directly accessible within the C-MAP app. Plan your voyage effectively and navigate with confidence, thanks to up-to-date weather forecasts.
Price: Map browser and planning tools are free. To access offline maps, see your GPS location and access full navigational features you require a premium subscription. The annual subscription for Australia is $70.99 with in-app purchases. You can sign up for a 14 day trial. In-app Purchases range from $1.49 – $144.99 per item.
Deckee
Deckee, proudly developed in Australia, stands as the ultimate boating app designed to ensure your safety and enhance your maritime adventures. With its unique features and comprehensive coverage, Deckee is the go-to companion for boaties seeking reliable navigational support and real-time safety updates.
Key Features of Deckee:
Platforms:
- iOS – 4.1 Stars
- Android – 3.8 Stars
Real-Time Safety Alerts:
Stay informed and prepared with safety information and alerts from Australia’s maritime agencies. Deckee keeps you updated on hazards, incidents, and relevant safety notices, helping you navigate waters with confidence and peace of mind.
Trip Logging and Reports:
Keep track of your boating journeys with Deckee’s trip logging feature. Record essential trip details and generate trip reports to share with friends and family, ensuring transparency and accountability during your boating adventures.
Community-Driven Updates:
Benefit from the collective knowledge of fellow boaties with Deckee’s community-driven updates. Explore user-contributed points of interest and receive valuable insights from experienced skippers, enriching your boating experience with valuable local knowledge.
Customisable Mapping:
Navigate with precision using Deckee’s customisable mapping feature. Access detailed maps with updates and points of interest added by users, and contribute your own insights to benefit fellow boaties.
Upcoming Features:
Stay tuned for exciting upcoming features on Deckee, including charts, depths, and float plans. As Deckee continues to evolve, you can expect even more tools and functionalities to enhance your boating experience.
Free and No Subscriptions: Enjoy all the benefits of Deckee without any financial commitments. The app is completely free to use, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases required, ensuring accessibility for all boaties. Deckee is monetised by selling data collected from you to third parties.
i-Boating
Embark on your maritime adventures with confidence using i-Boating, the premier GPS nautical chart app designed for sailors, yachters, and kayakers worldwide. With its comprehensive features and global accessibility, i-Boating stands out as the ultimate companion for both seasoned navigators and enthusiasts alike.
Key Features of i-Boating:
Platforms:
- iOS – 4.5 Stars
- Android – 4.3 Stars
Global Coverage:
With coverage spanning across the globe, i-Boating offers a universal solution for sailors seeking navigational assistance in various locations worldwide. From the vast oceans to the serene waters closer to home.
Voice Navigation:
Experience the convenience of voice-guided navigation as standard with i-Boating. Whether you’re cruising through open waters or navigating intricate channels, voice navigation ensures effortless route guidance, allowing you to focus on enjoying your voyage.
Offline Accessibility:
Download charts and maps for offline use, ensuring uninterrupted access to crucial navigational data even in remote areas or areas with poor network coverage.
Visual Maritime Aids:
Navigate with confidence using visual maritime aids provided by i-Boating. Benefit from detailed charts and markers that enhance situational awareness, helping you make informed navigation decisions with ease.
Route and Waypoint Creation:
Customise your sailing experience with i-Boating’s route and waypoint creation capabilities. Design your own routes based on personal preferences or utilise pre-existing routes tailored to factors like tides and currents, optimising your journey for maximum efficiency and safety.
In-App Purchases:
Unlock additional features and functionalities with in-app purchases, offering enhanced customisation options and expanded capabilities for your navigation needs.
Whether you’re embarking on a local excursion or setting sail on a global voyage, i-Boating provides the tools and resources you need for a seamless navigation experience.
Price: From $49.99 with in-app purchases.
Navionics Boating
Navionics stands as a leading name in the realm of top boating apps, offering a seamless and enjoyable navigational experience tailored to boaters worldwide. With its array of innovative features and comprehensive functionality, Navionics is the ultimate companion for every maritime enthusiast.
Key Features of Navionics:
Platforms:
- iOS – 3.3 Stars
- Android – 2.8 Stars
Multiple Chart Overlays:
Access a wealth of information with Navionics’ multiple chart overlays, providing comprehensive insights into water depths, navigational aids, and more. Whether you’re cruising on lakes or exploring the open sea, Navionics ensures you have all the necessary data at your fingertips.
Community Profile:
Connect and collaborate with fellow boaties through Navionics’ community profile feature. Share experiences, insights, and tips, creating a vibrant community of like-minded individuals passionate about boating.
Auto-Routing:
Reach your destination quickly and efficiently with Navionics’ auto-routing functionality. Seamlessly navigate waterways with optimised routes, saving time and effort during your boating adventures.
Weather and Tide Information:
Stay informed and prepared with Navionics’ real-time weather and tide information. Access updates on weather conditions and tidal patterns, ensuring safe and enjoyable boating experiences regardless of the conditions.
Trip Timelines:
Review past trips and experiences with Navionics’ trip timelines feature. Gain insights into your boating history, track your progress, and reminisce about memorable journeys, enhancing your overall boating experience.
Worldwide Functionality:
Whether you’re diving, cruising, or fishing, Navionics offers worldwide functionality to cater to your maritime pursuits. From inland lakes to vast oceans, Navionics provides the tools and resources you need for successful and enjoyable boating adventures.
Price: The annual subscription for Australia is $89.99.
Savvy Navvy
Savvy Navvy emerges as a promising newcomer in the realm of marine navigation, providing boaters with detailed charts and essential features to enhance their maritime adventures. With a focus on continuous improvement and global expansion, Savvy Navvy aims to redefine the boating experience for enthusiasts worldwide.
Key Features of Savvy Navvy:
Platforms:-
- iOS – 4.4 Stars
- Android – 3.1 Stars
Detailed Charts:
Explore detailed charts covering extensive regions, including much of Australia. Continuously expanding its global reach, Savvy Navvy ensures boaters have access to accurate and up-to-date navigational information for a seamless journey on the water.
Essential Features:
From GPS tracking to marina information, Savvy Navvy includes all the essential features necessary for an enjoyable boating experience. Boaters can rely on Savvy Navvy to provide comprehensive tools and resources for safe and efficient navigation.
Auto-Routing:
Streamline your journey with Savvy Navvy’s auto-routing feature, which calculates optimised routes based on your destination and preferences.
Route Exporting:
Seamlessly export your routes with Savvy Navvy, allowing you to share your planned itinerary with friends, family, or fellow boaters. Whether you’re embarking on a solo adventure or sailing with a group, Savvy Navvy ensures everyone is on the same page with your navigation plans.
Real-Time Weather Updates:
Stay informed and prepared with real-time weather and wind information provided by Savvy Navvy. Access updates on weather conditions and wind patterns, enabling you to make informed decisions and adjust your route accordingly for a safe and enjoyable boating experience.
Price:- Savvy Navvy has a 3 tier pricing structure –
(i) Essential $69.99
(ii) Explore $119.99
(ii) Elite $129.99
KnowWake
KnowWake has 45,000+ waterside points of interest, including locations across Australia.
Key Features of KnowWake:
Platforms:
- iOS – 4.0 Stars N.B Designed for iPad.
- Android – No Reviews
Comprehensive Points of Interest:
Explore a wide array of waterside points of interest effortlessly, with KnowWake providing extensive coverage in various locations, including Australia.
Marina and Fuel Dock Navigation:
Navigate with ease to marinas and fuel docks, making KnowWake an excellent choice for those prioritising these amenities during their boating adventures.
Wake Zone Indicators:
Effortlessly identify wake zones with intuitive colour-coding, enabling users to quickly discern changes in regulations and conditions while on the water.
Easy Routing:
Seamlessly plan routes from point A to point B with KnowWake’s straightforward routing feature, ensuring hassle-free navigation for boaters of all levels.
Offline Accessibility:
Enjoy uninterrupted access to KnowWake’s features and functionalities even in areas with limited connectivity, thanks to its offline accessibility feature.
Location Sharing:
Coordinate group travel or meet up with friends easily using KnowWake’s location sharing functionality, enhancing the social aspect of boating adventures.
Price: Free – Contains ads.
Conclusion:-
With our extensive guide to the best marine navigation apps tailored for Australian boaters, you’re equipped to navigate the waters with confidence. For a seamless and enjoyable boating experience.
We recommend and use Wavve Boating App, we loved it so much they became one of ‘Our Mates’. Get your FREE 14 day trial and 50% discount here.
If you are looking for a FREE app then check out DECKEE.
If you have any questions, updates or information on these apps, please let me know at info@matesboat.com.au
