iPad for boat

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

With the proper precautions, the iPad would make an excellent boat GPS. Check out the link for the available Ram Mount for your boat below:

Slow day on the water? A little game of Angry Birds should help fill your time

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Oh yeah, forgot to add that you would want the Navionics app on the iPad. Great setup for a multi-use device.

[CAMAN]

It would need to be the 3g version for true gps capability. The wifi version would give you some pretty serious position errors.

I'm not a fan of an expensive, non-waterproof unit like that being anywhere near water. How long is it going to take for one of the big fishfinder/gps companies to come out with a touch screen? It's not like it's new technology anymore. Or even a more durable/waterproof touchpad that ran on Android, that would be SWEET.

[Transporter]

How long is it going to take for one of the big fishfinder/gps companies to come out with a touch screen?

Raymarine has had touchscreen for over two years on units as small as 9 inch, and they'll last more than a year or two in rougher service than most in this area ever see.

[spearchucker]

One wave and it would be done.

[brian6715]

I can proudly say an iPad will never be allowed in my boat!

[Chode2235]

How long is it going to take for one of the big fishfinder/gps companies to come out with a touch screen?

Raymarine has had touchscreen for over two years on units as small as 9 inch, and they'll last more than a year or two in rougher service than most in this area ever see.

I think the bigger question will be: How long until the fishfinder/gps companies release their product as a software download?

Hardware is getting better and cheaper, an ipad with the right case, or a cheap netbook would be a great way to add some serious technology to the boat. Come out of your network hub with a USB port.

as far as a touch screen, i cant see it working too well on the water. I use my iphone ice fishing a lot and my screen needs to be absolutely dry (no water or condensation) for it to work.

[pureinsanity]

I can proudly say an iPad will never be allowed in my boat!

Not even for an anchor?

[mrklean]

could just throw $700 in the garbage to, Ipads are cool but would never let one in the boat to many things can go wrong

[Transporter]

These displays are not iphones, they are designed to be on the water. They are not affected by water spray or rain, if its too rough to accurately use the touch feature they can switch back to keypad. Garmin has a machine with touch new this year. The electronics that are popular in this area are a little cheaper than these,(I know, I used to use them) but if you ever get a chance to walk the docks of fishing boats and commercial vessels on the oceans or great lakes take a look at the electronics on board. You will see Raymarine and Furuno 200 to 1 over Lowrance and Hummingbird for these reasons, they work better and last longer.

[ND4LIFE]

I wish the fishfinder companies would drop their prices on the larger display units. The price all most doubles to go from 5" to 7" display without adding really any other features. LCD technology is not new anymore and shouldn't be that expensive. It's just one of those things that they can get away charging that much since there isn't much competition.

[Woody3]

I've though about trying mine out as a chartplotter this year.

[Norm1980]

I use the Nuvi500 w/lakemaster its a touch screen and totally water proof.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I think you will see it become common in about five years or so. Somebody is going to make a water proof tablet.

[Ice_Fishin07]

They already have touch-screen, waterproof and drop-proof computer, its called tough book. And they are spendy about 5k.