Power in Your Pocket

Most boaters carry around a powerful and easy-to-use computer in their pockets. Smartphones have enough processing power, sensors and capabilities to augment your onboard nav equipment. Mobile and tablet apps for boating offer a compelling set of functionalities that can make our favorite pastime safer and easier.

Although the functionality of mobile apps has improved greatly, they’re not a substitute for MFDs and other equipment. (I believe boaters should have at least one dedicated display on board.) Mobile devices are much more susceptible to moisture, heat, dead batteries and falling overboard than single-purpose hardware installed on the boat. In my own cruising, I’ve dealt with apps crashing, batteries dying and iPads overheating and shutting down from direct sunlight. But, as a supplement or backup to dedicated devices,