Navionics, boat in the middle of the screen

[Wave34]

Is this normal, or can it be changed?

In the Up-Down position, the boat is centered, showing as much data of where I'm coming from than where I'm heading.

I know where I was, so I would prefer to have the boat at the bottom and see more of what is coming in front.

Any way to change that?

 

[mr 88]

Settings should be in your GPS unit ,not the Navionics card. Also my Furuno and Simrad both start out with boat icon in the middle and as you go along it drops to the bottom of the screen. I also have touch screens so you can drag the picture so that it puts the " boat " wherever you want it . They both have a icon you touch that automatically centers the boat. If your using a app and your asking about it showing up on your cell and you can't drag it then I do not have a answer for you.

 

[southkogs]

You can move the screen around, zoom in and out and such, using gestures like normal on the phone. But when "actively" tracking your position on screen, as best I know that's how it stays.

 

[Alumarine]

All you can do is zoom out to get an increased forward view.

 

[Wave34]

OK, thanks all for the feedback.
It is what it is.
Yes it is on a Android device.
I will suggest this to Navionics.

 

[achris]

I have a Furuno GP1870, and setting the 'boat position' nearer the bottom of the screen is an option (one that I hate!), so it may be possible on your device. Talk to the developer.

The reason I dislike anything but 'north up' and vessel centred is because it does a crazy dance when I'll looking for 'spots'. I tend to idle up and down and around and around until I'm EXACTLY where I want to be. Having the screen doing a jig while I'm trying to read it would see the unit get flying lessons.

Chris.....

 

[dingbat]

If you’re driving on a road I could see a benefit of an increased horizon but not on a boat.

On a boat you need 360 degree situational awareness. What’s on the left, right and behind you is just as important, if not more so, than what is in front of you.

Being old school I navigate visually during the day. Triangulating land marks and verifying way points along the way. The map in front of me is just for reference and verification of my observations.

Rarely if ever do I zoom beyond 1nm unless running on radar. Usually zoomed to 0.3 nm as you are in the screen shots.

 

[Wave34]

If you’re driving on a road I could see a benefit of an increased horizon but not on a boat.

On a boat you need 360 degree situational awareness. What’s on the left, right and behind you is just as important, if not more so, than what is in front of you.

Being old school I navigate visually during the day. Triangulating land marks and verifying way points along the way. The map in front of me is just for reference and verification of my observations.

Rarely if ever do I zoom beyond 1nm unless running on radar. Usually zoomed to 0.3 nm as you are in the screen shots.

I can understand the importance to see 180* (front left right), but why is it important to see what I just travelled?
If I have to turn around for a reason, the map will also turn around and the back will become the way ahead. No?

The reason I don't navigate visually is because I am very often on rivers (big rivers), and there are many rocks or shoals? (high bottoms) and it is impossible to see that visually.

I'm not arguing, just asking. I only have 2 years of experience, so...

 

[Captain Caveman]

IMO you should never navigate predominantly by electronics while boating. Your eyes will give you much better information, which can be aided by an occasional glance at your map. GPS is often off and the markings are not always correct. Several times each summer, someone dies on our lake using electronics to boat at night. They hit an island, sunken island, or another boat that the electronics did not accurately mark.

You should be able to see the eddies caused by rocks in the river. GPS will get you generally in the right area but your eyes need to get you safely through.

 

[southkogs]

Funny, I've never really questioned it. Same is true in the aircraft GPS systems, so that's just what I function from. I've always taken a 360 degree approach for situational awareness, so knowing details behind me isn't abnormal.

When I use the charts in unfamiliar water, I tend to plot a course and then follow it. Being able to see the last waypoint gives me a quick idea of how far along that leg I am. It also allows me to use the screen at a quick glance and keep my eye outside the boat - for conditions and lookin' at pretty stuff

 

[dingbat]

The reason I don't navigate visually is because I am very often on rivers (big rivers), and there are many rocks or shoals? (high bottoms) and it is impossible to see that visually.

I'm not arguing, just asking. I only have 2 years of experience, so...

That is a good question actually.

What your going to find over time is that "local knowledge" is your best navigation tool. You'll also find it tough gaining this "local knowledge" by staring down at a display in the cockpit all day long.

Charts are notoriously flawed and inaccurate to say the least. In NOAA's own words......

The value of a nautical chart depends upon the accuracy of the surveys on which it is based. The chart reflects what was found by field surveys and what has been reported to NOAA. It also represents general conditions at the time of surveys or reports and does not necessarily portray present conditions. Significant changes may have taken place since the date of the last survey or report.

I noticed on the charts you posted you skirted an "area of blue tint". Here is what NOAA says about those areas.

https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/coast-pilot/files/cp2/CPB2_C01_WEB.pdf

Areas with Blue Tint - A blue tint is shown in water areas on many charts to accentuate shoals and other areas considered dangerous for navigation when using that particular chart. Since the danger curve varies with the intended purpose of a chart a careful inspection should be made to determine the contour depth of the blue tint areas.

I would suggest you read the doc noted above to get the specifics on validity of the data your using for navigate.

The chart for my area are updated on a regular basis because of commercial traffic but I've yet to find a chart of the area that didn't have issues of some sort. Buoys missing. Marked shoaling that hasn't existed in years. Uncharted fish traps, etc.

If your boating in a "big river" as you say, you would be wise to check the "Local Notice to Mariners" for your area on a regular basis.

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lnmMain

 

[achris]

Another point. If you've got your head in the screen the whole time, you are violating SOLAS rules, which state that there must be AT LEAST one competent person as a lookout at all times. If you're looking at the screen and collide with another vessel (or run aground), and at the subsequent board of inquiry it turns out you weren't looking where you were going, you're going to be in a world of hurt!. Just saying....

I also often boat in 'unfamiliar' areas, but nothing, NOTHING would supersede my eyes looking at the water... Use the GPS for what it's meant to be, an AID to navigation.

Chris.......

 

[Wavewarrior]

navionics boating app isn't very accurate or reliable , just an FYI

 

[southkogs]

navionics boating app isn't very accurate or reliable , just an FYI

I would disagree with that. It's not a program for what I would call a critical navigation. I don't think it's as detailed or specified as some of the Garmin (as an example) products. If you're in need of off shore or commercial navigation type charting, there are better options.

HOWEVER, for basic navigation in areas you can get cell reception it's adequate and convenient. I've actually used the chart data to locate structures under water, navigable waterways, routes and sandbars. I've used it inland here in Tennessee and down in Florida on the ICW. It's accurate enough for general use.

 

[Alumarine]

navionics boating app isn't very accurate or reliable , just an FYI

I disagree with that as well.
I have the charts I need downloaded so I don't need cell service.

For several years I've used my phone as backup to my chart plotter and find it just as accurate.
I boat in some nasty areas with rapids and it's helped me out several times when my chart plotter has gone out on me.
I also use paper charts.

Last month the water levels and current moved 10 buoys (some as much as a mile out of position) on my route on a narrow river.
I used a previous navionics track to get us to our destination. I was confident enough I did it at speed.
My only concern was I might hit some of the buoys that were now submerged and out of place.

 

[dingbat]

I would disagree with that. It's not a program for what I would call a critical navigation. I don't think it's as detailed or specified as some of the Garmin (as an example) products. If you're in need of off shore or commercial navigation type charting, there are better options.

There is no such thing as recreational, critical or commercial "quality" charting.

All charting is based off official NOAA and USACE charting. Charts may vary in the content presented by product (ie Navionics gold verse platinum charts) but the accuracy is the same.

The real issue is the age of the data in the official chart data. Lots and lots of map data has not been updated in 10 -15 years. When was the last time you saw a NOAA or USACE survey vessel on the lake you boat? Some the data contained my local "map set" is over 25 years old...tidal water none the less.

You also have issues with errors induced when they digitized paper charts to digital media. A very small error in the scaling can induce a significant degree of error in the accuracy of the chart.

 

[southkogs]

^^^ Point taken, and not really trying to argue:

Maybe I should have called it by a different term, but the idea is that complete accuracy is not as critical in every application. Even with good data, one plotter/GPS will position better (theoretically) than another. My phone's GPS is surprisingly good, and running my 20' boat on the lakes near Nashville I wouldn't give it a second thought. I don't typically need the data to tell me of tides, or shoals; especially within inches. I just need to make sure I don't turn down the wrong finger of the impound at night.

But, if I was running a large tow down the Tennessee River, I would want better chart data AND better positioning. Perhaps the phone could provide that, but more likely that's not the case. Navionics data may or may not matter that much if the gizmo itself isn't providing the right accuracy. Same thing in aviation. In a jam, my phone will actually do the trick in a Cessna, flying VFR when we're a little scrambled as to where the heck we are. But, it's not gonna' hold a candle to what the G1000 will provide me.

And ... surprisingly, I know NOAA was on one of the lakes just this past year. Not sure how the Army Corps works with that either though.

 

[dingbat]

Maybe I should have called it by a different term, but the idea is that complete accuracy is not as critical in every application. Even with good data, one plotter/GPS will position better (theoretically) than another. My phone's GPS is surprisingly good, and running my 20' boat on the lakes near Nashville I wouldn't give it a second thought. I don't typically need the data to tell me of tides, or shoals; especially within inches.

I have no argument with your statement but a lot of people don't understand as you do that there are two components to the position accuracy of a GPS chart.

The accuracy of the chart data is pretty straight forward but a lot of people don't realize the stated accuracy of the typical marine GPS receiver is measured in meters, not inches.

I run two Garmin chart plotters. The primary plotter runs the previous generation GPS chip set on a remote antenna. The backup unit uses the latest generation GPS chip set with an internal antenna.

The best I can get on a clear day in open water is an "accuracy" (EPE) to within 3 m (9ft.) radius of the boat. FWIW: Garmin specs the accuracy of these units at 5-10 meters.

In comparison, a GPS-enabled smartphones is typically accurate to within a 4.9 m (16 ft.) radius under open sky (view source at ION.org). However, their accuracy worsens near buildings, bridges, and trees.

I have an 8.5 ft. beam on my boat. I'm certainly not going to use GPS, or a track for matter, as my primary means of navigating what might as well be a 26.5 ft. wide boat (9+8.5+9) through a 20 ft. wide channel.

Good read on GPS
https://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/

 

[southkogs]

^^^ Totally trackin' with you.

I just wanted to refute that Navionics was not reliable. At least in some applications, it's sufficient; and with relationship to the expense it's rather a good option.