7 Free iPhone Boating Apps You Should Have

There are some incredible iPhone boating apps out there. Some free, others rather expensive. Since last week we brought you the best boating apps for Android, all of them free, this week we’re focusing on iPhone apps:

1. Ship finder http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ship-finder-free/id324177409?mt=8
Using this app allows you to see live moving ships and share your sightings with friends over Facebook or Twitter. You can even bookmark your favourite locations. Ship Finder provides near real time “virtual radar”, it works by picking up AIS ship feeds used by all types of vessels, from the ones over 300 tons and increasingly smaller pleasure crafts. This technology is actually faster than radar and can be used directly for navigation.

2. Yacht weather http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yachting-weather/id371339359?mt=8
It’s a wonderful app that gives you the 3 day sea weather prediction. The app automatically detects your specific location, so you can receive precise sea weather predictions. Alternatively you can set the location you’re interested in via a single click on the map tool or by manual input. The Weather Data is based on WRF and Wave Watch III weather models and updated four times a day. This way you get the latest info about storm risks, wind speed, wave heights and directions, temperature, air humidity, precipitation risk and much more.

3. Beacon http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/beacon/id295437462?mt=8
You can use this app to mark the spots you wish to return to. For example if you’ve planned on going fishing to a certain location, but on your way there you spotted a nice beach you’d like to return to later. Simply drop a beacon there and you’ll know where to go back to the place that caught your attention.

4. Whale alert http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whale-alert-ship-strike-reduction/id511707112?mt=8
The app is originally designed so that boats can effectively steer clear from whales and protect them. Whilst it can still be used for this purpose, a more fun application is whale watching! See recommended routes, areas-to-be-avoided and near real-time warnings of the presence of North Atlantic right whales in shipping lanes derived from automatic passive acoustic buoys.

5. Nav Lights http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nav-lights/id386175189?mt=8
This is a good one if you’re trying to obtain your Coast Guard Captain’s License. It helps you learn how to identify ships by their lights.

6. myLite Flashlight http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mylite-flashlight/id284885844?mt=8
It’s the kind of app that you need to have. You never know when it comes in handy! Maybe you can’t find your flashlight, or you don’t have it on you. It’s really easy to use and it’s a safe backup.

7. Knot Guide (Free Knots) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/knot-guide-free-knots/id399947682?mt=8
Like boating? You must know your knots! There aren’t any exceptions. This light app teaches you how to tie 17 categories worth of knots: from bends and binding knots to sailing and stopper knots.

Of course, there are many more apps, some of them pretty impressive and elaborated. Now that we’ve got the free apps “out of the way”, get ready for an all time top iPhone boating apps, this time with per pay apps included. We weren’t planning on splitting the iPhone apps in two articles, but there are just too many! So make sure you install and test some of these first and let us know what you think. And remember, your boat is waiting…

New Survey Invites Boat Owners to Inform Ocean Management in the Northeast

The FBC boating community is taking shape! We’re happy to publish this informative guest post from Dave Kellam – Communications Manager at www.SeaPlan.org. Boaters, watch your mailboxes! 

Starting this spring, SeaPlan is partnering with the Northeast Regional Ocean Council, the boating industry, the University of Massachusetts and state coastal management programs to conduct the 2012 Northeast Recreational Boater Survey that will document saltwater recreational boating routes and define boaters’ contribution to state and regional economies. In May, 68,000 randomly selected boat owners from ME, NH, MA, RI, CT and NY will receive an invitation in the mail requesting participation in the survey. Each month, researchers will ask participating boaters to log onto a mapping website where they can draw their last boating trip on an interactive navigation chart and include information about fishing, wildlife viewing or other activities they did during their trip. Boaters will also be asked how much money they spent on various boating-related activities. Sponsors have provided incentive prizes for participants, including a grand prize of $5,000. Boaters that do not receive an invitation in the mail are encouraged to participate in a separate volunteer survey.

Survey results will help coastal planners consider recreational boating activity during ocean planning and when reviewing proposals for new coastal and offshore development projects. Boaters and the boating industry can also use the survey results to show the importance of recreational boating and to inform business planning. This survey will build off the successes of the Massachusetts Recreational Boater Survey which thousands of boaters participated in during the 2010 boating season. See the complete list of partners and participate in the volunteer survey at www.neboatersurvey.org.

Five free boating apps for Android you should have

Most of us have become so accustomed to our smartphones, we expect them to do anything we want. Even help us with boating! Fortunately, there’s an app for that. Actually, quite a few. And the best part is: some really good apps are even free. So here are our top picks for Android. Not to worry, we’ll soon follow-up with some really great iPhones apps as well!

1. TideApp

I use this to check current tide conditions. It also shows daily highs and lows with their accompanying times. You can even check the tides in advance, if you want to plan future trips.

2. Boat ramps
I use this when I’m on vacation, mostly in places I’m not so familiar with. You can use it to locate and get directions to boat ramps across the U.S.

3. Boating weather
This app uses the weather forecast to determine if the weather is good enough for boating or not. It focuses on weather reports for 6 am to 6 pm, when you are more likely to be boating. It will either display a boat icon if the weather is fine, or a house icon, meaning it’s best if you stay home.

4. Boat logger
It’s a easy to use cruise log and vessel info app. You can record your trips and keep track of your whereabouts, water depth, wind, fuel consumption.

5. Radar now
You can use Radar Now instead of your weather app, to see in real time, if a storm in on the way. It provides an animated radar image with information from the National Weather Service, downloaded directly from their servers, so the info you’re getting is always the latest.

So keep safe and keep track of everything going on around you. Boat safety is of top importance and anything that can help for the ride is most welcome. Here’s a bonus app I use when I don’t have my flashlight handy: Color Flashlight. Hope it all helps and remember, your boat is waiting!