I’ve been cruising for 30 years, and in that time technology has made navigation exponentially easier and safer. There are some excellent apps out there, including some that can be used to control an onboard autopilot with a mobile phone or smartwatch. I’ve used many of them, even for the 2,500-nautical-mile run of The Great Loop I did a few years ago aboard my 55-foot Princess. Here are the ones I recommend.
My favorite navigation app is Navionics Boating. Compatible with most onboard chartplotters, you can sync routes from your phone or tablet. I’ve created routes for many trips from the comfort of my armchair and pool lounger. The app lets me zoom in, check bridge heights, preview possible hazards and tweak routes to my heart’s content. When I’m underway, I use the app on my tablet as a second plotter; I’ll re-route and check distances without touching the MFD. Need to find diesel when you’re out on the water? Just search fuel docks and the app will find the nearest one to you. It can also help you find marinas. I feed the app details about my boat—including LOA, draft and fuel burn—so it can autoroute the best route for my needs. After a route is created, it automatically drops into the Navionics app on my other devices, and I can share it with friends who also have the app. Price for a year’s subscription to U.S. charts is about $50; it gets you access to the latest info and updated charts.
Another good app for navigation is Aqua Maps. Unlike the Navionics option, it can’t be interfaced with the boat’s plotter, but in some ways it is more detailed. More important is the app’s community. It was invaluable when I navigated the Intracoastal Waterway from Miami to New York during my Great Loop run because it’s a favorite among Loopers. Bobs423, or Bobs Tracks, is a user and blogger who does the Loop every year. He posts his tracks, which are downloaded to the app. They were helpful to me, since the ICW is constantly changing, with shifting sand banks in many areas. I often followed Bob’s breadcrumbs in more difficult areas. He also provided excellent information on anchorages and fuel stops, along with Pilot information for inlets along the ICW. Aqua Map also features an anchor alarm and excellent weather data, including wave and wind forecasts. Charts for the entire U.S. and Canada are $49.99 per year.
There are literally dozens of great apps for weather and sea state, but my favorite is Windfinder Pro. It provides data from NOAA buoys, straight off the backs of waves locally, along with a 10-day forecast for any desired location. It includes wind maps, temperature and precipitation. If you want to micromanage, you can even pull real-time data straight from an individual NOAA buoy. It’s invaluable if you decide to be spontaneous. The app gave me more confidence to do spur of the moment trips, including a run to the Bahamas from Florida, after a decision made at 4 p.m. on a Friday. The app showed me conditions were perfect for the crossing. At $4.99 per year, it’s a must for me.
For tide work, I like the Tides Pro app, because it’s brilliant and free. It offers instant access to tide tables at your location or a future destination. It can search for tide data anywhere, in the past, present and future.
Finding and reserving dockage at marinas is a big part of the cruise-planning experience. I use the Dockwa app for the process. It’s like Expedia for marinas and it’s free. Browse for marinas by location or search for dockage in a specific place if you need a slip at the last minute. Simply input your date of arrival and boat length and the app does the rest. Dockwa provides reviews of each property, along with VHF channel access, telephone number, website and rates. You usually receive confirmation of your booking within a few hours. You can also view future bookings and past reservations, if you want to recreate a trip. I recently used the app for a last-minute trip to Florida’s Hawks Cay. I also booked a slip months before the opening of the Erie Canal in upstate New York, to secure transit on its opening day of the season.
If you cruise outside the U.S., CBP Roam is mandatory. It’s the U.S. customs app that allows for transit back into the country. Introduced in 2021, it’s designed to streamline the immigration process for private vessels entering the U.S. You input vessel details and passenger information—including passport data, port of origin and port of entry.
When stateside, you report entry on the app and a Customs officer will video call you. Occasionally a physical visit is required to the local customs office, but in my experience this is rare. A good practice is to register your float plan with the USCG prior to departure. The plan number can be quoted when entering the U.S.
This article was originally published in the June 2024 issue.
