danderer
Guru
For the last couple years I've been looking to get more functionality out of my existing Raymarine installation. I wanted something that could work to make route planning and management easier and could integrate with my existing network to give better situational awareness and AIS display. As part of net I have a vYacht router that'll handle NMEA 0183 via TCP and UDP.
I've looked at various iOS charting apps over the years and never found anything that really met my needs. I was very close to just biting the bullet on Coastal Explorer but wasn't happy with that choice for various reasons.
I went back one last time to look at the app world and found an app I had liked and rejected a year or so ago: SEAiq Pilot. There was a lot to like about the app but I'd be danged if I was going to spend $400 on an iOS app.
However... I discovered I was confused by how they sell their apps. There are really 3 different versions available:
As a recreational boater my take on this is: $25 if you need the US Govt charts; $50 if you want to buy and load international charts. This is NOT the app if you want Garmin or other US charting services.
So what did I get for my $25? The things that are important to me:
Now sure there are some things missing I'd like (some of which are only on the Pilot version). Things like suppressing ATON AIS targets and current effects in ETA predictions and TTM handling. But these kind of shortcomings and few and minor to my needs.
I've dealt with their support on a few questions and received some of the best answers--quick, complete and informative. In some cases I've learned a lot about charting standards in the process. Example: IHO S-52 (Google it).
I'll also note the apps are updated in the app store every few weeks. Again this appears to me to be a 'professional grade' offering with serious ongoing development.
I've been using this app for a few weeks now and on a recent 10 day trip. I like it.
I also appreciate that for less than the price of Coastal Explorer I can get the functionality I need from this app and also buy a new iPad to run it on.
Disclaimer: No disclaimer, I'm just a satisfied customer.
I've looked at various iOS charting apps over the years and never found anything that really met my needs. I was very close to just biting the bullet on Coastal Explorer but wasn't happy with that choice for various reasons.
I went back one last time to look at the app world and found an app I had liked and rejected a year or so ago: SEAiq Pilot. There was a lot to like about the app but I'd be danged if I was going to spend $400 on an iOS app.
However... I discovered I was confused by how they sell their apps. There are really 3 different versions available:
- SEAiq Pilot is intended for use by professional pilots on big ships. It has a lot of features focused on that market such as showing separate course vectors for the bow and stern, showing the swept path of the vessel, showing a trial Rate of Turn, and tons of stuff I don't understand. $400
- SEAiq USA is the 'recreational' version of the program. It has 80%-90% of the functionality of Pilot. It can download and display NOAA and Army Corp of Engineer charts (vector and raster). $25
- SEAiq Open is the same as SEAiq USA but adds the ability to install S-63 as well as charts from PRIMAR and ChartWorld. $50
As a recreational boater my take on this is: $25 if you need the US Govt charts; $50 if you want to buy and load international charts. This is NOT the app if you want Garmin or other US charting services.
So what did I get for my $25? The things that are important to me:
- Integrated, free downloads of NOAA charts
- Management and quilting of both vector and raster charts
- Decent WP and route creation (and no auto-route)
- Very nice route export/import/backup via GPX files
- Export of WPs to my MFDs via WPL sentences
- Very nice import/export/backup of the app configuration via files
- Excellent NMEA 0183 handling including diagnostic displays of sentences received, data, and errors
- Excellent handling and display of AIS data. AIS data is much more useful to me in this app than on my MFDs.
- Tide and current options (several options, free and paid)
- Download and display of GRIB data
- Active Captain integration
- Various alarms
- A very cool anchor monitor
Now sure there are some things missing I'd like (some of which are only on the Pilot version). Things like suppressing ATON AIS targets and current effects in ETA predictions and TTM handling. But these kind of shortcomings and few and minor to my needs.
I've dealt with their support on a few questions and received some of the best answers--quick, complete and informative. In some cases I've learned a lot about charting standards in the process. Example: IHO S-52 (Google it).
I'll also note the apps are updated in the app store every few weeks. Again this appears to me to be a 'professional grade' offering with serious ongoing development.
I've been using this app for a few weeks now and on a recent 10 day trip. I like it.
I also appreciate that for less than the price of Coastal Explorer I can get the functionality I need from this app and also buy a new iPad to run it on.
Disclaimer: No disclaimer, I'm just a satisfied customer.