10 Best Boating Apps for 2016

If you are looking to add some new boating apps to your tablet or smartphone, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best boating apps to help you navigate, plan, share and socialize on the water this year:

1. Navionics Boating – GPS

Time and time again, when we speak to boaters and ask them what GPS app they’re using, Navionics Boating is the answer. Navionics is free to download and offers in-app purchases for charts and other upgrades, such as autorouting. Navionics Boating is available for both iOS and Android devices.

2. NOAA SuperRes Radar HD (iOS) or RadarScope (Android)

In order to enjoy the day safely on the water, a close eye must be kept on the weather. If you’re on iOS, in our experience the best radar app is NOAA’s SuperRes Radar. It has very hi-resolution and incredible accuracy. If you are on an Android device, RadarScope is just as good and accesses the same data. These apps are not only good for boating, but just great to have any time you want to see what kind of weather is rolling in.

3. Windfinder

Ideal for sailors, kitesurfers, windsurfers and more, this app allows you to see the wind, waves and weather across the globe in real time. Windfinder is available for free (iOS andAndroid), or you can purchase the ad-free pro version (iOS and Android).

4. USA Tides

If you boat and/or fish in saltwater, having the latest marine tide information at your fingertips is invaluable. USA Tides is available for both iOS and Android and displays tide information for all stations in the US.

5. Animated Knots

Animated Knots by Grog is a broad teaching and reference tool for boaters and other hobbyists. With step-by-step instructions and, you guessed it, frame-by-frame animations, this app teaches you to tie knots at your own pace. For five dollars, you really can’t go wrong. You can download this app for iOS or Android.

6. FishingScout

A great resource and social app for anglers. The app allows you to upload photos of your latest catch, describe the conditions of how you caught it, study other locations where fish were caught, add friends, view their photos and more. Available for free on both iOS andAndroid.

7. Dockwa

The Dockwa app allows boaters to view marinas in their location, select a destination and request a slip or mooring, all from their mobile device. Once the marina approves the reservation, payment is processed seamlessly through the app. Dockwa hopes to be theOpentable of boating. Check out Dockwa on iOS or Android.

8. Swell Advantage

Swell Advantage is a social boating app that lets you see where your family and friends are out on the water, including where they are headed and their speed. Custom notifications inform you when family and friends get on the water. It’s free for iOS andAndroid (beta).

9. Boatrax

Boatrax lets you keep detailed records of your boat while capturing and sharing your moments with family and friends. You can share your location and photos with friends and the boating community. You can pick up Boatrax for both iOS and Android.

10. Camera app

Last but certainly not least, make sure you use your camera app to document all your boating adventures this year and share it with us.

Want some more boating apps and tools? Check out  boating Apps and Tools page on Discover Boating or let us know your favorite boating app in the comments below!

How I Take a Day Off Every Week

This is a guest post by Gary Oster from Project: Time Off.

Well, not really EVERY week. As you climb the ranks, it can seem harder to use all the time off you’re given. You feel pressure to be visible. Your partner may not have the same number of days.

The list of excuses can go on and on. And in my long career, I’ve used all of them. When I was starting out and focused on climbing the ladder, I was the quintessential work martyr. You know who I’m talking about: the person who takes on more than they have the time for, thinks no one can do the job as well, and rarely (if ever) takes a day off.

Thankfully, I had my aha! moment and made a change—for the sake of my family and my personal well-being. Part of that change was to make scheduling time off mandatory—and in doing so, it started to feel like fun instead of a chore.

As the kids have left the nest, my wife and I have started our own traditions: a vacation in the winter to go somewhere warm, around Memorial Day to kick off summer, and a last hurrah as summer fades away around Labor Day.

But even with these planned vacations, I still have days I need to use. A few years ago, I decided to make long weekends with summer Fridays. I’m a passionate boater, whether it’s cruising the Chesapeake Bay with friends or fishing with my dad and son, I am happiest when I’m on the water.

My favorite kind of sunset on a Summer Friday. (Image from  www.projecttimeoff.com)

Taking summer Fridays allows me to get an extra day on the water without spilling into our already-packed weekends. Throughout July and August, I block Fridays on my calendar so my team knows I’m out of the office. As end of the week approaches, I’m sure to check-in with my team so work can move forward in my absence.

Every now and again, a Friday on the water turns into a “baycation” stretching over the weekend at some destination on the Chesapeake or anchored out in a secluded creek, while enjoying the wildlife, hanging with friends, or (yes, you guessed it) grabbing the tackle box and going fishing.

These days off are critical to achieving balance for me, ensuring my days at work are both effective and productive. They also give me a chance to recharge my batteries, clear my body of work-related stress, and orient my perspective.

I recognize that not everyone has the time off available to take every Friday off. But I encourage you to plan your time off so you can use what you earn—I guarantee it’s worth it.

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Project: Time Off aims to shift culture so that using personal time off is not considered frivolous, but essential to strengthening families and improving personal health, a business investment with proven returns, and an economic necessity. Join us in disrupting the vacation stigma. Learn about why vacation is important, communicate about it with coworkers and company management, and lead by example by taking advantage of your paid time off.