Boating and weather apps and web sites what do you use

[Doug SC]

I often use weather apps and websites when planning trips. I have recently added a couple of boating apps to my planning routine. I now have the Aqua Map and Argo Nav on my phone. I like how Aqua map lets me overlay the satellite image over the charts. I'm just learning how to use Argo Nav.

A really great website is DeepZoom It shows current and speed and direction info on the charts and has a time slide bar at the bottom you can move to see how they change over time. It also has the tidal stage and show how it changes over time.
 www.deepzoom.com

For tides I use this website.
www.saltwatertides.com

I like the Weather Underground 10-day forecast www.wunderground.com

The NOAA 7-day point forecast is another I often use. You just click on the spot you want the forecast for. Here are two examples one for the spot i sometimes camp and the other over the water near there. Here are the links to two examples.

on the land
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-79.34231&lat=33.09430#.Y90u857MJD9

on the water
https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-79.32266235351561&lat=33.07390412404189#.Y90wYZ7MJD8

The MyRader app on my phone I use daily. The Windy app is another I use for wind prediction, and weather.

I really like the WindGuru website. here is an example for Lake Murray where I do most of my sailing.

https://www.windguru.cz/181960

I would enjoy seeing what you like using when on the water and planning trips.

[Six Bells]

Thank you Doug, that is most helpful.

I've only used Windy.  Sadly programs like Navionics have poor coverage for the local area (inland lakes of western Canada), though still better than nothing.  When I venture further afield, as my sailing experience grows, I will bear those you mention in mind 

[Wayne Howard]

Down here on the third coast, we don't worry with tides. Up a foot, down a foot.

But I use the windy app for my forecasts.

For route planning, I use OpenCPN, a free source program that let's you download and use NOAA charts.

SOAPBOX: NOAA is retiring RNC which looks like old paper charts for ENC which is missing a lot of depth data. I think the ENC are geared towards ships and not recreational users. End SOAPBOX

[Dave Scobie]

I'm still not 100% for any of the weather apps.

I use Windfinder, Predictwind and Sailflow.  Each have the pluses and minuses.  None are 'have to have' so I use the free versions. I compare their predictions and see if there is any agreement.

The Salish Sea is very hard to wind forecast and none of the apps, not even NOAA, is much better than 'OK' in their forecast being correct or even close.  Local knowledge on how the wind will channel around the fjords is better once you see the forecast big picture general flow.

If I went any distance off shore or along the west coast, Pacific side, of the Inside Passage would be very tempted to get the Predictwind/Iridium package.  Lots of places along the wild coasts of BC and Alaska without any cell coverage, especially in the secure anchorages.

[Curtis]

I like the NWS weather observation page.

https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/

This link is for my area: https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=sgx&obs=true

I click on the observation overlay, select 3x & check the "hover for information" box