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Saberboys
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11/02/2018 04:43PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Does anyone have experience with this app in the BW? I am about done with McKenzie maps for their inaccuracies. They are fine for basic, general information, but that's about it. I'm not sure if this phone app or a GPS would serve me better? I do a lot of pre-trip mapping with Google and Bing maps as well, but it would be nice to have real time mapping and location.

I'd like to have a single source for navigation and fishing (yes I will still bring a map for back-up/emergency etc).

Thanks in advance for your experiences and advice!

Saberboys

Navionics
 
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Bumstead
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11/07/2018 08:51AM  
Navionics has the maps for most of the BW included. Not certain how much more accurate they are than others...like printed or MN DNR maps (which seem a little off to me as a good portion of them are very old).
 
Gadfly
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11/07/2018 09:21AM  
There are definitely inaccuracies with Navionics but I still use it as a reference. I don't use the navigation portion as I have the app on my phone and I keep my phone in airplane mode to conserve the battery so I can use it as a camera and alarm clock. Instead I take screen shots or the portions of the lakes I plan to fish. I can also say when I have used the navigation that some of the maps seem offset to it can be difficult to pinpoint a specific location.
 
MackinawTrout
senior member (81)senior membersenior member
  
11/14/2018 09:52PM  
It is every bit as good as the GPS on my Humminbird597ci. Probably better. Just like someone said use airplane mode take screen shots and bring a crank or solar powered charger with USB cord. Your phone will shut down in cold weather 0 deg F and get a Waterproof case because it will get wet;) . The biggest problem is keeping your phone charged!
 
GeoFisher
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11/16/2018 05:00PM  
I use navionics on nearly every trip now. the maps continually get better.

I also use navionics on my Fish Finders, and the phone map and the finder map are nearly identical, especially if you sign up for community edits and keep the fish finder maps up to date.

BooYA.

Later,

Geo
 
GeoFisher
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11/16/2018 05:04PM  
check this out....the webapp version of Navionics........It is pretty cool, and will give you an idea of what is available.

Navionics WebApp

Later,

Geo
 
nooneuno
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11/18/2018 06:32PM  
The problem with bringing electronics as your main navigation is that when you rely on it, you don't often mesh your GPS position with your maps until it's too late.

About 15 years ago, my family was on a sailboat about 30 miles from Cuba when our primary GPS failed. Of course, we had a backup. Fifteen minutes later, it failed. We sailed back toward Key West for two days using dead reckoning, hoping we were where we thought on our paper maps.

Every GPS has a warm up screen that says do not rely on this device for primary navigation.

Navionics maps are great for depth contours while fishing. I use them every trip because the detail and accuracy is great.

Have you ever been lost in the Bdub? What about in heavy storms? Low food? Out of TP?
Good Luck....
 
Atb
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11/27/2018 12:42AM  
I use the navionics along with a vexilar sonar that connects via WiFi. Live depth sounding, and it writes a depth map as you go. I carry a 30000 ma power sink battery for recharging. Great setup all in all, could probably go two weeks on that power. Still navigate primarily off paper for reasons stated above.
 
thegildedgopher
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11/27/2018 09:42AM  
Atb: "I use the navionics along with a vexilar sonar that connects via WiFi. Live depth sounding, and it writes a depth map as you go. I carry a 30000 ma power sink battery for recharging. Great setup all in all, could probably go two weeks on that power. Still navigate primarily off paper for reasons stated above."


I use the same thing. It's pretty decent but depends heavily on the quality of the GPS chip in your phone or tablet. My iPhone 6s has my boat jumping all over the map. The older Samsung Tablet seems to hold my position pretty stable. On either, the speed readings seem like more of a general guess than an accurate reading. It'll say .7 or 1.7, but never anything in between. I don't think I've ever seen it hit an "even" number like 1.6. To me that makes me also guess how accurate the map position is.
 
11/27/2018 01:12PM  
Navionics is a great app no matter where you are fishing. I've used it in the BWCA and surrounding areas many times and its really helped narrow down the search a ton.

I don't use it for navigation very much unless its to follow a path that I've traced for either trolling purposes or for finding my back to a landing in the dark when I've been out ice fishing. I prefer the traditional paper maps for navigation since I've yet to have a map run out of batteries.
 
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