Navigating by powerboat can be an exhilarating experience, but having the right apps at hand can make this adventure even more enjoyable and safe. You can never have too much data to make informed decisions. Here are some of our favorite apps for powerboat navigation, along with information on their costs:

Maps and Planning

1. Navionics (Boating)

Owned by Garmin but also used in Raymarine readers, Navionics is a must-have app for any navigator. It offers detailed marine charts, tide information, and weather forecasts. Additionally, it allows you to plan routes and track your position in real-time using the integrated GPS (a device that can hold a SIM card is required for the GPS function to work. However, the SIM card is not necessary).

Cost: The app offers an annual subscription of approximately $49.99 CAD depending on the chosen area.

2. Aqua Map

More than a navigation app, Aqua Map offers detailed and impressively accurate marine charts, probably because you can participate in creating the bathymetry. The suggested routes are the safest we have found. You can also integrate your instruments like AIS, sounder, anemometer, compass, GPS via wifi and use their data directly on the app. It also allows you to record your track and offers a very effective anchoring alarm. Tide information and weather forecasts are available with the pro version.

Cost: The app offers annual subscriptions starting at $29.99 CAD.

3. Waterway Guide

Waterway Guide is an app that provides detailed information on waterways, marinas, anchorages, and navigation alerts. It is ideal for planning routes and making informed decisions about your journey. You can buy the paper guides, but the digital version is always up-to-date and easier to consult wherever you go.

Cost: The app offers annual subscriptions starting at $19.99 CAD.

4. Tides

Tides is an app that provides information on tides and currents. It is ideal for navigators who want to plan their sea outings based on tide conditions.

Cost: The app is free.

5. SolarWatch

SolarWatch is an app that provides information on sunrise and sunset times, as well as moon phases. It is ideal for navigators who want to plan their sea outings based on light conditions.

Cost: The app is free.

6. Navily

The Navily app is an innovative coastal guide that brings together a community of boaters. It allows you to book the best anchorages and port spots and offers advanced features to enhance your sea outings. We particularly appreciate the anchorage scores based on upcoming weather forecasts and alerts.

Navily is the ideal companion for all your sea outings with more than 35,000 ports and anchorages listed and 300,000 photos and comments from the community. It allows you to see who is already on site and communicate with them. The app is available in several languages, including French, English, Italian, Spanish, and German.

By subscribing to Navily Premium, you unlock new features such as:

• 72-hour weather forecasts
• Offline mode
• Distance calculation and automatic routes
• Advanced filters on the map
• No ads

Cost: The app is free, and the subscription to Navily Premium costs approximately $30.00 CAD.

7. Noforeignland

Noforeignland is an app that allows navigators to share information on anchorages, marinas, and points of interest. It is ideal for discovering new places and getting advice from the navigator community. You can also share your position and see the position of community members’ boats in real-time, follow your favorites, and communicate with them via chat.

Cost: The app is free.

8. Dockwa

Dockwa is an app that allows you to book marina spots online. It is ideal for navigators who want to ensure they have a spot available upon arrival.

Cost: The app is free, but reservations may incur fees.

Weather and Navigation

9. Windy Pro (Josée’s Favorite)

Windy is a weather app that provides accurate forecasts on wind, waves, and weather conditions. It is particularly useful for navigators who want to avoid bad conditions and plan their sea outings accordingly. The ability to adjust parameters like the favorite weather model, waves, winds, barometric pressure, and a dozen other parameters is really worth the cost. You can also save multiple favorite places with specific parameters for each and customize the appearance of the maps.

Cost: The app is free, but offers premium features starting at $18.99 CAD per year.

10. Windfinder (Patrick’s Favorite)

Windfinder is an app that provides wind forecasts, real-time wind maps, and weather reports for water sports like sailing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing. It is ideal for navigators who want to stay informed about wind and weather conditions.

Cost: The app offers annual subscriptions starting at $19.99 CAD.

11. PredictWind (Our Essential for Navigation Planning)

PredictWind is a weather app that provides accurate forecasts on wind, waves, and weather conditions. It is particularly useful for navigators who want to avoid bad conditions and plan their sea outings accordingly. It allows you to enter the boat’s polar and the app calculates the best route to take based on weather data for several days ahead. The visual is unbeatable for understanding weather patterns that could affect navigation and allows for precise weather routing planning. Initially designed for sailing, the app now offers an option for motorboats, and we couldn’t do without it.

Cost: The app offers annual subscriptions starting at $29.99 CAD.

12. MarineTraffic

MarineTraffic is ideal for tracking maritime traffic in real-time. You can see the positions of ships, get information on ports, and even receive alerts on navigation conditions. It is an essential app to avoid collisions and navigate safely, especially at night. You can create a fleet of boats you want to follow in their movements.

Cost: Limited use of features is free, and the app offers monthly subscriptions starting at $9.99 CAD.

13. Anchor Pro

Anchor Pro is a practical app for navigators who like to anchor. It helps you choose the best spot to anchor, monitors your position to avoid drifting, and alerts you in case of problems. It is an indispensable tool for spending peaceful nights on board.

Cost: The app costs approximately $9.99 CAD.

Others

14. Sky View Lite

Sky View Lite is an app that allows you to identify stars, constellations, and planets. It is ideal for navigators who want to enjoy starry nights at sea.

Cost: The app is free.

15. PDF Expert

PDF Expert is a powerful and easy-to-use app for editing, annotating, signing, and managing PDF files on Apple devices. It offers advanced features such as text recognition (OCR), enhancement, conversion, merging, and more. We have been using it for several years to facilitate document signing and filling out forms, whether they are in PDF format or not.

Cost: The app is free to download but offers a Premium pack with additional features.

16. Fongo

The Fongo app is an innovative communication solution that allows you to make calls and send SMS for free anywhere in Canada as long as you have access to wifi. It offers a variety of features to enhance your communication experience, including:

• Your own local Canadian phone number – choose a number you like!
• Unlimited calls within the 10 provinces of Canada and to any Fongo number worldwide
• No limit on incoming global calls and incoming SMS
• Unlimited SMS from Fongo to Fongo, including group chat and photo sending worldwide
• Visual voicemail
• Caller ID
• Call waiting
• Call forwarding
• Conference call
• Call transfer
• Receive faxes
• Sync with your existing contacts and friends on Facebook
• Support for English, French, Spanish, German, Korean, and Chinese languages

Cost: The Fongo app is free. However, it includes in-app purchases for additional features. International call rates are very low (between $0.02 and $0.03 per minute), but you must have access to wifi or data from another provider.

I hope you find this article useful! If you have any other applications to recommend or questions, feel free to share them. Happy navigation!