Wind and seas app

R

Richard Carlisle

Active Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jun 30, 2023
368
Boat Info
2007 44 Sedan Bridge, Raymarine chart plotter x 2, radar, sounder, auto pilot, Starlink.
Engines
Cummins QSC-500's
Whats Your go-to app for wind and seas? I have windy.app. It’s not free and not sure is it’s worth $120/year. I also have paid subscriptions for AquaMaps and Navionics. AquaMaps has wind and seas but not sure how accurate it is. Mostly looking for an app to determine if we should run outside or stay on the ICW. I REALLY want to run outside as much as possible but heading up the coast any seas would be hitting us broadside and the roll would be brutal in any more than 1 or 2’ seas. Thanks.
 
I too use to use Windy but won't pay for it now. I didn't use it enough to warrant the cost. If your really worried about the weather, sub to SiriusXM weather. That's what all of the offshore charter boats use.
 
We use Windy. I don't remember any fee.

We also use buoy apps for actual/current readings; NOAA Chesapeake Bay Smart Buoys, another called Live Weather. And I save (to a tablet home page) NOAA links to specific buoys -- ones that we always use around here, so I can go to those direct.

And then we also use Aqua Map Marine as one of our nav backups. Haven't paid much attention to wind, tides, current in there... since it's the Admiral's tool...

-Chris
 
Don’t have a XM device on board. We are headed to MD from FL and at this point I just want to make decent time and deal with the ICW as little as possible. Definitely look into XM weather when we get home.
 
ranger58sb said:
We use Windy. I don't remember any fee.

We also use buoy apps for actual/current readings; NOAA Chesapeake Bay Smart Buoys, another called Live Weather. And I save (to a tablet home page) NOAA links to specific buoys -- ones that we always use around here, so I can go to those direct.

And then we also use Aqua Map Marine as one of our nav backups. Haven't paid much attention to wind, tides, current in there... since it's the Admiral's tool...

-Chris
Click to expand...
There is windy and windy.app. Windy.app seems to get pretty good reviews but is $120/year. Windy appears to be free with an option to upgrade.
 
We use the windy app on both iphone and ipad. We don't pay for it, use the free version. I think the difference is the frequency of updates. Haven't found that to be a problem.

Another tool I have played with is predict wind. Have friends who prefer it, I like the UI on windy better.

As I understand it they all use the same data sources. They all use some segment of the published models for predictions. With Windy you can select different models and compare forecasts.

Aqua Map is the app I am most interested in. Have been using it for a couple of years and it just keeps getting better. The driver for me initially is the Corp of Engineers survey data. For me, critical on the ICW. Have seen that AquaMaps has started to incorporate weather also, have not played with weather info much on AquaMap, but once I get used to it that will probably move me off Windy.
 
FootballFan said:
The driver for me initially is the Corp of Engineers survey data. For me, critical on the ICW.
Click to expand...

Yep.

And then we compare tide tables for the "skinny" bits... to guide transit times through those places.

-Chris
 
Question for AquaMaps. I can swear I remember seeing marinas and anchorages marked in the app, but when I opened it today there was non of that. Did I turn something off by mistake?

In Navionix I tap on a marina icon and their info comes up. Real handy for calling around looking for transient dockage.
 
with aqua maps I believe you have to link to a source. I have mine linked to active captain and waterway guide.
 
I had turned off waterway guide. Wish it were easier to plan a route. So far easiest way I’ve found is to do an auto route in Navionics, then export into AquaMaps. I like a few features in AquaMaps, like anchor watch, but the charting in Navionics is way better. AQ looks a little cartoonish. Navionics looks more like a chart with proper depth marking and contouring.
 
Richard Carlisle said:
Question for AquaMaps. I can swear I remember seeing marinas and anchorages marked in the app, but when I opened it today there was non of that. Did I turn something off by mistake?

In Navionix I tap on a marina icon and their info comes up. Real handy for calling around looking for transient dockage.
Click to expand...

Aqua Map will display (or not, your choice) Active Captain and Waterway Guide marks. Marinas, hazards, etc. Sounds like you turned off both of them.

-Chris
 
ranger58sb said:
Aqua Map will display (or not, your choice) Active Captain and Waterway Guide marks. Marinas, hazards, etc. Sounds like you turned off both of them.

-Chris
Click to expand...
I did have them turned off. Which one is typically more accurate? seems like they both display about the same data, but with both turned on the chart gets a little cluttered.
 
Richard Carlisle said:
I did have them turned off. Which one is typically more accurate? seems like they both display about the same data, but with both turned on the chart gets a little cluttered.
Click to expand...

I keep both of them. Personal preference. I do toggle on and off the type of information displayed.

If I am looking for anchorages, then AC data is still relevant. If I am looking for navigation (bridge heights for example) the data may be different, I will use the latest.

If I am on an extended time on the ICW, I look in both for ICW mm references for landmarks. Then I can know which MM I am near and determine distances between points.

I agree with the clutter, lots of overlap, but still differences. I manage the clutter by turning off categories.
 
PredictWind is excellent, I use that mostly. Windy has radar which is useful in summer to look for storm cells. PW's main market is blue water racing and cruising sailors so it has good features for the kind of offshore insights you're looking for. Good news is that means the subscription is cheap since us powerboaters don't need the departure planning and other advanced-tier features they have for the hardcore raggies.
 
Another that we use, I forgot to mention, is RadarNow!

-Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,217
Messages
1,428,797
Members
61,114
Latest member
Hercy911
Back
Top