NavLink Charting App From Digital Yacht Now Covers France, Holland and Germany

Digital Yacht have launched a new low cost marine charting app for the iPad and iPhone called NavLink UK.

With NavLink, you can explore, plan and navigate your boating trips in real time and in high resolution using the latest UKHO digital vector marine charts covering the whole of the UK and Ireland which are included with the £19.99 app.  French, German and Dutch detailed charting is available as a low cost “in app” purchase.

Whilst using an iPad and NavLink is an attractive alternative to the cost of a dedicated touchscreen chart plotter, it does not compromise on features. Charts can be presented north up or course up and routes and waypoints are created and edited using a simple touch screen interface.  Real time navigation shows your current position, track, course, speed, ETA, VMG, bearing and distance to next waypoint.  There’s a simple A-B chart ruler too and you can tap on an object such as a buoy or nav-aid and get a pop up data window showing its characteristics. Its sharp, high-definition display enables simple zooming on detailed vector format charts, as well as allowing chart data to be layered and therefore de-cluttered.

It’s also designed to work seamlessly with Digital Yacht’s  NMEA to WiFi devices so will integrate with your boat’s GPS and AIS systems.  If AIS data is available, you’ll see AIS targets overlaid with all their identity information and a heading line as well as alarms for CPA and TCPA.

Utilising your on board GPS with these wireless servers means you don’t need a GPS enabled iPad.  Even if your device is GPS enabled, it significantly reduces battery drain when using an external source.  It also means your iPad/Phone can be used below deck and generally, the boat’s GPS is superior for marine based navigation.

Other advanced features include tidal information, weather data from weather buoys showing current local conditions such as wind speed/direction and swell and full route planning capability with sharing – useful for keeping all the crew updated!

NavLink also helps with your watch keeping and lookouts.  In its unique HorizonView mode, you can use the camera on the iPad to scan the horizon.  You’ll get an overlay on the camera screen of nav-aids, AIS targets and waypoints which serves as a great visualisation tool.

NavLink is priced at just £19.99 including detailed UK & Ireland charts. Further details from Digital Yacht TEL + 44 1179 55 44 74 www.digitalyacht.co.uk or go to the Apple app store