I-Pad air

[Larry Patrick]

Will be getting first I-Pad,thinking of getting the waterproof case,what attachment do you use for helm? Also what are some apps that everyone likes for boating? I will down load Active captain to it,how about navigation,weather,and tides or anything you can suggest,thanks. We have a Verizon jet pack for when were camping guess we will rely on this on the boat. Last trip to myrtle beach wife downloaded allstays rv and camping app on her phone,but realized on an I-pad it will be much better.

[C-Val]

Which I-Pad Air did you get? Which size?

I was thinking of getting one for my wife this Christmas that we could also use on the boat. Most people said to get the 16GB, use i-cloud for storage but get one with cellular capabilities for the gps. I was leaning toward the 32GB.

What was your plan?

[Pedromo]

I use Navionics and INax. One for planning and the other for navigating.
Buy the largest Ipad screen you can afford.
You'll need the embedded GPS or something like Bad Elf
I don't have a waterproof enclosure, I hang mine on a RAM fixture.
Enjoy

[hambone]

I have been using my Ipad 2 for a couple years now and love it. Great backup to my on board Garmin. I really don't see a need for a water proof cover. You can google tides and get as many free tide programs you want. Apple has several good free weather apps I would say you should have.

[thataway]

I have a 32 gig first generation I pad--and will be going to I pad Air this winter. The 32 gig is about 2/3 full, have over 10 gig left. I have a number of weather, tides and nav apps. Best navigation is Navionics. I also have I NavX and Navimatics, Tides and Charts--which has Active Captain. I would use Garmin blue chart for Active Captain. I also like Windfinder pro, which tells us what a good wind forecast, as well waves, weather and celestial information.

You definately want the Cellular i pad, because it has the GPS chip. I understand it also does Glonass (Russian, all of the units since the I phone 4S have the dual chip). I keep a 2 gig a month plan (I think it is now 3 gig, for $5 more a month.)

[C-jeep]

I have a 2nd gen ipad which is wifi only. I connect to my Garmin Bluecharts with a bad elph gps. works a charm. I mount it with a SeaSucker vacuum mount. I like the seasucker because I can move it between boats. Very solid mount.

[Sunbeam]

I just ordered a Mini - will be my first tablet or "app" device.

I debated between the mini and full-sized one. Still not 100% sure which would be better, but I went for the mini since I do not have a smart phone. I envision myself carrying it around more than I might if I also had a smart phone, so got the smaller size.

Of course that means I'll be enlarging text more (for reading) and will have less "real estate" on the screen. OTOH, I'll probably still use my laptop a fair bit anyway. I'm thinking of the iPad for travel and boating apps, a backup chart device, and for as-I-drive mapping (currently I still pull over, look at paper maps, write out notes, and tape them to the dashboard ). I trailered cross country with a friend's truck two summers ago and it had the "computer" mapping. Was pretty sweet being able to see the layout of exit lanes, speed limits, etc. Not that I'm giving up my atlases for planning, but luckily I don't have to just choose one or the other.

Seems kind of like boats: You can guess at how you think you will use it and then eventually you have to pick one.... after which you find out how your choice works out in real life (and then perhaps change later). So time will tell if I keep the Mini or change to the "big" iPad.

[Larry Patrick]

Thanks for all advice. C-val will be getting full size with 32 gb and gps chip.This is my first device other than a laptop im still using a flip phone going to up grade that next. Want to use it for boating and rving,plan on getting streets and maps for trips on land. Now im trying to learn how to best use it on a boat. The waterproof case seems like a good purchase. After loading allstays app on wifes phone last trip ,it was just too small of a screen.

[JamesTXSD]

You will enjoy the iPad on the boat. We attach ours with a RAM mount (different bases and attachments available).

The navigation apps we use are Navionics and Garmin Bluechart. If you will be using the iPad regularly at the helm, you'll want access to plug it in to 12v. We also use Marine Traffic for AIS, different weather apps (nice to be able to see weather radar).

I see you are aware that you'll need the 4G model to get the built-in GPS chip. We have an original iPad, a Mini, and an iPad 4, all cellular models; we have never needed to connect to a cellular carrier. Since you have a Verizon jetpack for a hotspot, you can download your apps and check weather via that. For the nav apps, you only need to connect to the internet to download the map sections you will be using.

For RVing, besides Allstays, we frequently refer to RV Park Reviews (website). Passport America is a 50% off program that we get good use out of while traveling. There are various restrictions for when you can use the discount that vary park to park - just check that out on the PPA app. Our experience with Passport has been that it pays for itself if you use it 4 or 5 times a year.

Gas Buddy will save you some bucks by finding the gas prices in your area. We still use a Garmin Nuvi for navigating in the truck, but back that up with the map program in the iPad or iPhone.

The more you use the iPad, the more uses you will find for it. I still use my laptop (for photos and writing), Joan rarely uses hers, relying almost exclusively on her iPad.

Our daughter bought us a waterproof bag for the original iPad, but we haven't used it much. A one gallon baggie slides over the iPad, if you have your center window open, to keep spray off.

Enjoy it!

Best wishes,
Jim B.

[chromer]

I will be going for new mini when available. In other Apple news.... I upgraded from iPhone 4s to iPhone5s. Its really good.

[Sunbeam]

[Larry Patrick]

Thanks Jim,alot of useful information.

[jkidd]

I replaced my generation 4 128 gig model with a Air 128 gig model last week and it didn't give me any more space. I still have 45 gigs free. Some of my older Navionic's apps quit working they don't like the newer OS and I get a popup that says they discontinued the app 2 years ago. So you should be prepare for the planed obsolescence thing. The gen 1 Ipad isn't supported by Apple and can't run the new apps so it will soon obsolete. I guess you can run it the way it is with the apps asking for updates that you can't do because they won't work with the new OS. Just a little FYI.