Best Cruise Planning Site or App

bobh

bobh

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Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
RO Number
13842
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334
Hi everyone - I am looking to plan some weekend and some full-week trips this season. Looking for any advice on websites or apps that would help in the planning - everything from planning my fuel burn and distances and general tips. Thanks in advance.
 
Active captain is a good start although it has declined since Garmin bought it a few years ago

as to fuel burn and distances, nobody can do your job.... use charts, and calculate it. Nowadays with so many navigation app for your phone, tablet or PC, it’s all pretty easy.

and don’t forget posting here requesting tips on specific areas, we have members everywhere
 
Pascal +1
Welcome to BE (saw your post on Introduce Yourself)! My advice is fill the tank(s), take local trips/runs, burn some fuel, refill, repeat. get some gph info so you can plan. Next, if you (and yours) haven't taken a boating safety course (since your first boat 15 years ago), do so!

South Jersey has some fun destinations, and I'm sure you know that Barnegat Bay can be very unforgiving for larger boats. good luck.
 
Hi Bob. IMO you have to run your boat to determine fuel burn because everyone's operating condition are different. e.g. how fast, load, sea conditions.
 
Thanks all....I have been boating for about 20 years but mostly on 19 and 25 footers. I was active on this site for many years and glad to have found it again. Good advice about learning about my specific fuel burn. When I bought the boat at the end of last summer I did hire a captain to help orient me to the boat and to learn how to dock a twin screw. I am proud to say I rarely use the joystick.

I am keeping the boat near Ocean City, NJ and last year took a few runs to Atlantic City and Cape May, but this season I am going to do some longer and farther trips. Looking forward to taking her to the Chesapeake and hitting Chesapeake City, Fairlee Creek, Baltimore, Annapolis, Rock Hall, and St Michaels.

Will look into Active Captain - can that be down loaded on a PC? I have used the Navionics app for years.
 
I used Nobeltec software but I doubt it is worth it anymore. Visual Navigation Suite was a great tool. Now I am using Rvtripwizard LOL. You know the progression. Sailboat, Motorboat, Motorhome, oldfolks home.
 
bobh said:
Thanks all....I have been boating for about 20 years but mostly on 19 and 25 footers. I was active on this site for many years and glad to have found it again. Good advice about learning about my specific fuel burn. When I bought the boat at the end of last summer I did hire a captain to help orient me to the boat and to learn how to dock a twin screw. I am proud to say I rarely use the joystick.

I am keeping the boat near Ocean City, NJ and last year took a few runs to Atlantic City and Cape May, but this season I am going to do some longer and farther trips. Looking forward to taking her to the Chesapeake and hitting Chesapeake City, Fairlee Creek, Baltimore, Annapolis, Rock Hall, and St Michaels.

Will look into Active Captain - can that be down loaded on a PC? I have used the Navionics app for years.
Click to expand...
Active Captain can be accessed from a PC, not downloaded to one.

The Navionics "app" (or their website) can be used to determine distances, travelling times and fuel burn if you put your boat's information into it, although I find that it sometimes loses that information and returns some really strange results. Navionics can be configured to display Active Captain markers such as marinas and anchorages.

For overall trip planning, in my opinion, nothing beats the Waterway Guide books.

Ship Store | Waterway Guide

Ship Store
www.waterwayguide.com www.waterwayguide.com
 
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