Nowadays, our smartphones have become all present in our daily lives regardless of whether we are playing or working. There are thousands of apps available for boaters for their mobile devices in the Google Play and App Store. You just need to download one of these apps and do whatever you want to do on the water.
If you are a boater and searching for the best boating apps, below, we have rounded up some of the best boating apps that you should have on your mobile.
List of Best Boating Apps
Let’s take a look of best boating apps;
BoatUS
BoatUS is at the top of our best boating apps list because of some of its unique features. The app offers data such as weather forecasts, tides, and weather alerts, as well as it allows you to call for towing assistance whenever you want with just a swipe of a finger. Since all the smartphone has in-built GPS, the dispatchers instantly know your location and get the help as soon as possible.
Key Highlights
Some of its foremost highlights are given below;
- 24/7 Towing Assistance: Just make a call for a Tow to reach out to the dispatchers.
- Check the weather forecasts, current tides, and marine conditions on local waterways, as well as the forecasts of your favorite destinations before planning your trip.
- Specific hurricane alerts or selects a region to monitor.
- Join, renew, and upgrade your membership directly from the app.
- Share your location with others through Facebook, email, or text.
Anchor
Anchor is another best boating app that allows users to charter or rent out private boats. Using the app, users can rent out anything they want, ranging from a pontoon boat to a yacht. Moreover, the app also provides a licensed captain that will drive your boat for you. The app is a go-to choice for parties, bachelors, or corporate outings. You can download the app on both iOS and Android devices.
Key Highlights
Some of its foremost highlights are given below;
- Rent or charter private boats with ease.
- A licensed captain, so you don’t have to drive.
- Best for bachelors, parties, or corporate outings.
- Available on both Play Store for Android and the App Store for iOS, as well as for desktops
Portbook
Portbook is basically a marine services directory covering the East Coast but also the areas that are popular among sailors, including Newport, Narragansett Bay, RI, DelMarVa Easter Shore, etc. Moreover, the app also provides information about bars, restaurants, local attractions, golf courses, and water taxis. Boaters can find marine services by name, service offered by them, and location quickly.
Key Highlights
Some of its foremost highlights are given below;
- Search marine services by name, location, and services.
- Find details about nearby bars, restaurants, golf courses, local attractions, and more.
- Available on both Play Store for Android and the App Store for iOS.
- It is free
Amazon
Yet another best boating app, which is great for boaters and especially for those who have Amazon Prime. The app allows boaters to shop boat accessories, gears, apparel, and novelty products. Furthermore, you can also listen to your favorite music, download your favorite movies, and watch them later while on the go. The app is available on both the App and Google Play Store.
Key Highlights
Some of its main highlights are given below;
- A go-to choice for boaters who have Amazon Prime.
- Shop boat gears, accessories, apparel, and more.
- Listen to your favorite music.
- Download movies and watch them while on the boat.
- Available in both App and Google Play Store.
ASA’s Sailing Challenge
American Sailing Association, or simply the ASA, created this app for boaters to educate and entertain them. It might be a game, but while you are playing it, you drive a boat with factors, such as apparent wind, points of sail, tacking and jibing, and sail trim. The app lets users zoom out and in the camera for a clear view, rotate the camera viewing your sailboat, and compete against the time to learn crucial sailing fundamentals.
Key Highlights
Some of its foremost highlights are given below;
- Award sections to challenge you and to learn more and sail faster.
- Find the way to the next mark on a sailing course using the navigation arrow.
- Six fun and straightforward learning modules to unlock mysteries of sailing.
- Learn sail points, apparent wind, rules of the road, docking, tacking and jibing, and more.
- Available in both Google Play for Android devices and the App Store for iOS devices.
SailFlow
SailFlow is another best app for boaters that they should have on their mobile phone. The app is an authentic source of sailing weather source. It reports the windy conditions and provides information about the weather where you sail. The app can be used for free, which means you can test it, whether it is working for you and then go to in-app purchases to purchase the pro version of the app.
Key Highlights
Some of its foremost highlights are given below;
- Real-time wind reports from approximately 50,000 stations across the world.
- Get all the leading global forecast models.
- Inclusive Nowcast wind reports for top sailing areas across the world.
- Create your own favorite list to keep an eye on your favorite weather stations.
- Use it for free
- Available in both the App and the Google Play Store.
WeatherBug
WeatherBug is another well-known app among boaters. The app provides a vast range of weather data that include maps, forecasts, and more. WeatherBug’s other unique features include severe weather alerts, lightning alerts, Doppler radar, etc. that boaters will particularly enjoy. Speaking of its maps, it has about eighteen different maps, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and more. The app delivers instant alerts and real-time weather forecasts, such as current, hourly, and up to ten days.
Key Highlights
Some of its foremost highlights are given below;
- Provide real-time and pinpoint weather forecasts.
- Stay aware of how the weather will impact your trips, allergies, workouts, and more.
- Customize your alerts and view weather gadgets.
- Get mile-by-mile and minute-by-minute lightning alerts.
- Weather forecasts of more than 2 million locations across the world.
- Keep an eye on the air quality around you.
Terrafin
Terrafin is an app that provides data about the sea surface temperature with charts that can be download and the capability to set the waypoints, get distances and bearings, as well as view at chlorophyll and altimetry charts. The app attracts boaters because of its simplicity. The app delivers SST data, which makes it easy to use.
Key Highlights
Some of its foremost highlights are given below;
- Longitude/latitude, and reading at the cursor.
- Select charts by browsing the Terrafin website.
- Set an accurate position by dragging and dropping the cursor.
- Download the charts on your phone and view them while offline.
- Easily mark waypoints.
- Distance and bearings to waypoint or cursor.
- Real-time vessel location.
Dockwa
Dockwa is one of the best boating apps for a boater to plan a trip. The app not only lets them research marinas for their next destination but also enables them to reserve their slips directly from the app without spending any money. The app can be used across nationwide, including Great Lakes, East Coast, and Southern California. The app is available and can be download from the App and Google Play Store.
Key Highlights
Some of its foremost highlights are given below;
- Reserve slips at hundreds of marinas and yacht clubs across the East Coast, Caribbean, Bahamas, and West Coast.
- Use the app for free, free account, no booking fee, and no price mark-up.
- Review and recommendations about Sea marina from fellow boaters.
- Compare rates, services, amenities, and reserve in advance or at the last minute.
Conclusion
Nowadays, you can do almost everything you want to do using your mobile phone and boating is no exception. If you are a boater and searching for best boating apps, whether you want to book a private boat or yacht, learn boating fundamentals, want to know the weather forecasts of your favorite destinations, or planning a new trip, above we have rounded up some of the popular and best boating apps that you can try on your phone. Your queries and suggestions regarding the best boating apps will be welcomed, and you can write us a comment below.
FAQ
Below are FAQs asked by multiple users;
Q: Which marine GPS I can use for my iPhone?
Ans: Our top picks of best marine GPS apps for iPhone include FlyToMap, iNavX Marine, and Navionics.
Q: Which is the most accessible marine GPS?
Ans: Some of the most accessible marine GPS include Garmin GPSMAP, Garmin Striker 4 Marine GPS, and Humminbird Helix 5.