There is a Boating App for That!

Several of us here at Cannons Marina have the latest iphones and while we’ve had issues with reception, we remain loyal to the Apple brand. But hey Steve (Jobs) if you happen to read this blog – please send our bumper cases ASAP!

Anyway, the point here is to share with you our favorite boating apps. Let us know what you think or share your favorite apps with us!

Happy Boating!

A few of Our Favorite Boating Apps

• Animated Knots by Grog

We did a simple You-Tube video on how to tie boating knots several months ago and now there is an Boating Knots app for that!

Truly knowing how to tie a knot is useful- especially at the dock! Animated Knots by Grog is a comprehensive teaching and reference tool for boaters, climbers, fishermen, scouts and hobbyists. You can actually watch video as the knots tie themselves in simple step-by-step photo animations. See more on best boating knot apps.

• Anchor Alarm

The Anchor Alarm is an iphone app that lets you set and monitor your position relative to an anchor point. This app shows your distance from the point and your bearing to the point. So if your current position strays too far from that set point, an alert will sound. We like this app because it’s nice to have peace of mind on those nights at anchor. See more information at best boating apps.

• Marine: US East By Navionics

Voted Laptop Magazine’s best boating app and according to National Marine Manufacturer’s Association, “The coolest app a boater can buy!” We agree. This app is perfect for boaters, fishermen and any water sport enthusiasts. We like this app because of it’s varied capabilities to plan your on-water day. There are tides, charts, markers and marinas.

You can see more here at best Marine Navagation apps. Oh yea, we’ve included a link for our California boating friends.

• RadarScope By Base Velocity, LLC

RadarScope is a specialized display utility for weather enthusiasts and meteorologists. They feature tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service, as well as our local weather. This app is really cool and it can display the latest reflectivity, velocity, and other products from any NEXRAD radar site in the lower 48 United States and Puerto Rico. Check out the best boating radar app.

• The Weather Channel

Do I really need to say more? To see more on boating weather apps.

• Emergency Distress Beacon By Cinn Dev

OK, you’re lost. Now what? How do you get help? This simple application, when activated, sends out a distress beacon with your current location to rescuers. Emergency Distress Beacon is a simple peace-of-mind application that can be a lifesaver, or so they say. I have not used this app but I liked the idea of it so check it out at emergency boating apps.

• Float Plan Apps

Float Plan Apps are just a really good thing especially if you are heading offshore. We highly recommend either one of these apps:

1. Boating Safety By Siegleco, LLC
   Float Plan stores the details about your vessels, crew and trip itinerary and then allows you to click a button to email that information from your iPhone to a person of trust.
2. Gone Boating Marine Safety By LBS Wireless
   The gone boating app makes your float plan and then sends it to Twitter – now this is just too cool!

• Flashlight. By John Haney Software

Flashlight fills your screen with bright white light to illuminate your world when you find yourself in the dark trying to read a nautical chart or bet yet a menu in a dimly- lit fancy restaurant. I actually saw a woman using this app the other night while dinning out – I thought it was pretty cool that she did not have to ask the waiter for a flash light to read the menu! Check out the Flashlight app.

• BrokenLure – Fish Florida By Siegleco, LLC

The Florida Saltwater Edition of BrokenLure is a recreational fishing guide and helps to identify all sorts of things about fish. What we really like about this app is that the latest version will automatically update the Florida Wildlife Conservation Regulations. See Florida fishing regulation apps.

• Star Walk – 5 stars astronomy guide By Vito Technology Inc.

Star Walk is both fun and educational. The Star Walk app is basically a personal planetarium and is for anyone who is interested in stargazing. Star Walk boasts that they have listed more than 9,000 stars, planets, constellations, and messier objects as beautiful and easy as it has never been before!

This app is so much fun to use on those warm balmy nights on anchor. To use this app just tilt your iPhone toward the sky to activate the digital compass, which then determines the location and orientation of your phone and an image on your screen appears corresponding to the area of the sky you are pointing your phone toward! To see more, check out Star Walk astronomy app.

Article by LucyLu

I was born a commercial fisherman's daughter in Cortez, an old fishing village off the west coast of Florida where you can still experience "Old Florida" and get a really good grouper sandwich. I went to school and became an anesthetist, after privileged years of practice, I jumped ship to work in the family business - Cannons Marina. I love my job and the view. I am crazy about my dog. Being out on the water is magical. I still get giddy every time I see a dolphin. Often I brag that I had the opportunity to swim alongside a humpback whale - it was freaky and pretty amazing. Fishing for tarpon and marlin make me happy. My life is no doubt boating, but I also love paddle-boarding cooking and travel.