I downloaded the navionics app to my phone and I was curious if anyone out their uses their phone as their main map system.  Its a lot cheaper that putting 100s of dollars into a mapping system.

I have the app on a couple of smart phones and a couple of tablets.

I use my $$$$ sonar/GPS units for fishing.

Having it on your phone means it's not visible in bright sunlight, the screen is much smaller than you'd have on a marine unit, most phones are not to be left out in the rain, and your phone display does not stay lit up all the time. Will it do the job? Yes, but not as well as a marine GPS.

Not really efficient to use your phones battery for navigation.

If you have to use a device for gps it's best to buy a device specifically for that purpose.

Definitely one of the more useful apps on my phone!  It's great for pre-game research, and for mapping out planned routes with times, but on the water it's not very practical.  Eats up batteries fast, too.

Definitely one of the more useful apps on my phone!  It's great for pre-game research, and for mapping out planned routes with times, but on the water it's not very practical.  Eats up batteries fast, too.

That's an easy fix. Install a cig. lighter in your dash and use car charger cord.

I have a phone charger on my boat permanently installed its a great thing to have cause were I fish there is no service and it kills my battery fast. But luckily navionics works without service it just does not have updates.  Do any of you know were I can find a unit that only has gps on it?

 

Definitely one of the more useful apps on my phone!  It's great for pre-game research, and for mapping out planned routes with times, but on the water it's not very practical.  Eats up batteries fast, too.

I have a phone charger on my boat permanently installed its a great thing to have cause were I fish there is no service and it kills my battery fast. But luckily navionics works without service it just does not have updates.  Do any of you know were I can find a unit that only has gps on it?

 

http://www.raymarine.com/

I have a phone charger on my boat permanently installed its a great thing to have cause were I fish there is no service and it kills my battery fast. But luckily navionics works without service it just does not have updates.  Do any of you know were I can find a unit that only has gps on it?

 

Garmin has a bunch:

 

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-water/chartplotters/cOnTheWater-cChartplotters-p0.html

 

Lowrance has several too:

 

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-water/chartplotters/cOnTheWater-cChartplotters-p0.html

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Chartplotter/Elite-4m-HD-Gold-en-us.aspx

How about this? Do you think its going to be a waist of money with that size screen. 

http://www.raymarine.com/

 

Garmin has a bunch:

 

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-water/chartplotters/cOnTheWater-cChartplotters-p0.html

 

Lowrance has several too:

 

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-water/chartplotters/cOnTheWater-cChartplotters-p0.html

I guess it depends on what you're wanting from it.  I don't have any problem using my GPS/graph units.  I'd rather it all be in one.

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Chartplotter/Elite-4m-HD-Gold-en-us.aspx

How about this? Do you think its going to be a waist of money with that size screen. 

The display size is smaller than my Samsung smartphone, but the included Navionics+ map software is top-notch.

 

If you can deal with a smartphone app, you certainly can get by with that size display.

It is about equal to the size of the chart view side of a split screen view from a 5" or 7" sonar/gps combo unit.

 

That map software has no maps, you decide what locations to download to the map card from anywhere listed in the posted specs up to a max of 2 GB.

MSRP of just the map card is $179.00

So yall suggest buying the lowrance unit?

The Elite 4m would be a good GPS unit as a companion for a sonar-only unit.

 

If you have neither, then a gps/sonar combo unit would be a better choice.

I have a brand new sonar, downscan imaging lowrance someone gave me.  Talk about about blessed!! Thanks guys!!