Mobile Device Electronic Navigation for Coastal & ICW Boaters
 Identifying best mobile apps, such as Aqua Map
 Charting, Tides & Currents, How-To, Insights & Tips
 Avoiding pitfalls manufacturers' build into chartplotters

Summary

This seminar "Mobile Device Electronic Navigation for Coastal & ICW Boaters" will provide you with valuable observations, key insights and useful How-To suggestions for selecting and using alternatives to main-stream chartplotters regardless of the size of boat. This seminar will focus on the benefits of using the mobile device electronic charting app Aqua Map. Included will be avoiding common chartplotter pitfalls and manufacturers' misleading product claims. You will be amazed and shocked at the safety lapses that manufacturer's knowingly build into their chartplotters. A mobile device with navigation app is a great standalone or used as a compliment to a chartplotter.

Description

Advancing electronic technology provides a rich assortment of possibilities for safe and enjoyable waterway navigation. All large commercial ships plan their voyage, navigate the seas and safely enter harbors exclusively with electronic charts run on purpose built, dedicated computer systems. There are 80,000+ ships on the world waterways at any time. This places an enormous demand upon worldwide hydrographic offices, such as the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, to prepare and provide up to date and accurate electronic navigation charts to support maritime transportation servicing the national and global economies.

Recreational boaters and smaller commercial vessels are rapidly leveraging this evolving electronic charting technology. Paper chart sales have plummeted in the recent years. NOAA, recognizing this shift in how small vessel owners are increasing the use of electronic means for safe navigation, has set a course to completely end their paper chart production by January 2025. NOAA is full steam ahead with the conversion of its chart library and chart updating process to all electronic charts.

Recreational boaters can choose from an array of manufacturer specific, purpose built marine equipment, such as chartplotters with built-in GPS to display vendor specific electronic charts and manage their navigation. Alternatively, and often times more safely, boaters can utilize purpose-built navigation applications such as Aqua Map running on a generic mobile tablet or their cell phone to directly display NOAA electronic charts and other complementary data sources. This seminar will assist you to safely transition to and implement electronic navigation and weigh the pros and cons of mobile device navigation applications versus a stand-alone safety-compromised, manufacturer specific chartplotter.

Instructor

The seminar instructor, Mr. Richard LaPalme, is a sixteen year member of America's Boating Club of the Crystal Coast and a certified Boating Instructor. He has earned the Club's top grade of Senior Navigator and is also a USCG certified Merchant Marine Master. In addition Richard is a PADI Scuba Divemaster and FAA certified Multi-engine, Instrument, Land, Aircraft Flight Instructor.