Garmin BlueChart® Mobile app review: plan and view your routes

Garmin BlueChart® Mobile

Price: Free

Garmin BlueChart® Mobile by Garmin is an iPad app meant to help you with your marine trip planning.

This app makes use of exclusive BlueChart(R) g2 marine cartography so that you can plan your routes and then view them. If you like you can also wirelessly transfer the routes right to your Garmin chartplotter. Not to worry though because if you don't have the Garmin chartplotter you can still use this app and its features.

The app can be downloaded for free and then you'll need to buy the BlueChart maps. These maps are found within the Garmin store, which is tucked away in your Settings menu. Features of this interactive nautical chart include realistic navigation features that include inter-tidal zones, depth contours, spot soundings, port plans, wrecks, obstructions, navaids, restricted areas, anchorages, and cable areas.

Additional features include nautical charts that are meant to look like paper charts that you can also zoom in on, scroll, and pan. The app makes use of shading and vivid colors for enhanced visibility. As well BlueChart includes marine services, IALA navaid symbology, currents, and tides. The ActiveCaptain community is a great way to chat with other mariners in real-time so you can read ratings and reviews about marinas, learn about anchorages, hazards, and local information.

Garmin BlueChart® Mobile was updated on Apr. 15, 2013 and currently has 19 customer ratings with an average rating of three out of five stars.

This app gives you solid information however for some people they may want additional information, details, and features. I did like that you could transfer your routes to your Garmin chartplotter, which was a handy feature.

For: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad with iOS 6.0 or later. Garmin BlueChart® Mobile is optimized for iPhone 5.