iPad vs garmin etc

[charlieT]

Hi
I am kitting out a refurbished 8m rib.
Does anyone have any views on kitting the boat out at vast expense or just using apps on a cellular iPad?
Thanks

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by charlieT

Hi
I am kitting out a refurbished 8m rib.
Does anyone have any views on kitting the boat out at vast expense or just using apps on a cellular iPad?
Thanks

Your Question concerns me a bit.

You hail from a place of often inclement weather...you now have a Hopfully very capable 8m RIB.
Why would you skimp on the major components and safety equipment?...
Ipads ect can be a useful back up and some do get by using them (usually in the South who dawdle around infrequently... in small craft... within sight of land)
It need not cost a Kings Randsome to furnish your Rig with a decent Plotter sounder ect ...there is plenty of good QUALTY used equipment made for purpose navagstion kit about....so no need to compromise...and to do so IMO would be stupid.

Be patient look for quality bargains (plenty of Boaters must have the latest kit out) to re-furb your RIB ...build your knowledge and experience ,..but don't compromise on navionics

[Poly]

does your boat have a cabin?

[willk]

Originally Posted by charlieT

Hi
I am kitting out a refurbished 8m rib.
Does anyone have any views on kitting the boat out at vast expense or just using apps on a cellular iPad?
Thanks

Refurbished 8m RIB with an inboard diesel and you think a wee plotter is "vast expense"?

Some day in the very near future, you're gonna re-read this thread and smile wistfully, remembering your days of Innocence!

[charlieT]

Hi
Thanks for reply’s

To the This is why I ask to see if iPads are up to the job or not. I had looked at second hand kit but that equally worries me as you don’t know how they have or haven’t been looked after.

Rib does not have a cabin.

I have all the key safely stuff like backup engine, life raft, vhf, flares. I have had a quote for a garmin set up of Touch screen gps, AIS, radar etc and I am happy to pay if it is deemed the right path to go down just wanted opinions of other boat users.
We are on west coast generally island hopping but phone signal not always that good.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by charlieT

Hi

Thanks for reply’s



To the This is why I ask to see if iPads are up to the job or not. I had looked at second hand kit but that equally worries me as you don’t know how they have or haven’t been looked after.



Rib does not have a cabin.



I have all the key safely stuff like backup engine, life raft, vhf, flares. I have had a quote for a garmin set up of Touch screen gps, AIS, radar etc and I am happy to pay if it is deemed the right path to go down just wanted opinions of other boat users.

We are on west coast generally island hopping but phone signal not always that good.

iPads are a great toy tool for planning tomorrow’s trip whilst sat in the pub. They don’t belong on an open boat.

[Waterman]

All depends on your requirements and what and where you want to use your boat I suppose.


I have an iPad in a full life proof case on a ram mount, running navionics and a few other map apps for the lake to compliment an older garmin chartlotter.
Handheld gps with the HH VHF in the grab bag and on the watch….

Very impressed with the iPad for following a course when underway, however don’t expect to be making any changes or trying to make a route underway or in the wet, the touchscreen is a balls.
You can also get an AIS app to overlay onto it which uses cellular….. very handy if in cell range and in a busy channel without having to fork out for a full AIS system.

Just my 2c

[GuyC]

I'm certainly in the camp of a proper chartplotter etc. They are robust, work well, designed for the marine environment and interface with your other bits of kit.

As a by the by, the AIS via the internet isn't a live system and can be seconds / hours / days out of sync. It has been debated a fair bit on here.

[jonp]

Personally I would go with a Garmin as they have better anti-reflective screens and handle getting soaked day after day. Mine works well even in the rain and when I take a few waves over the front of the boat. Also Garmin handle a pounding in rough conditions than any other brand Ive used, both this evo3 simrad and the bigger 16inch evo in one of the commercial boats I skipper shut down once I hit a few waves. Ive broken so many lowrance units its not funny.