It’s somewhat coincidental, but also very telling that all three 2018 Pittman Electronics awards involve phone and tablet apps working closely with dedicated marine hardware. In fact, Garmin’s new ActiveCaptain app, actually combines two existing apps with numerous other new features to create the highest integration yet between onboard navigation electronics and the mobile devices most us bring sailing. To this end, both the Android and iOS ActiveCaptain verions offer the chartplotting and route planning abilities of the old BlueChart Mobile app with the charts now included if you already own them on a Garmin display manufactured since 2012. For most Garmin Wi-Fi-enabled multifunction displays, ActiveCaptain also offers MFD screen mirroring and control of the old Helm app, plus easy route and waypoint synchronization—and much more. For instance, whenever the app is online it looks for possible updates to your boat hardware or charts, which then get applied when you log onto the MFD Wi-Fi. You can also easily share QuickDraw soundings or use QuickDraw data shared by others. If desired, you can even have your mobile notifications pop up on your Garmin displays. Note that while the ActiveCaptain Community cruising information that Garmin acquired last year is included in the ActiveCaptain app, they are otherwise two different (and both good) products. Free. Garmin, garmin.com
Back to 2018 Pittman Innovation Awards
February 2018
