Boat Beacon app for iPhone and iPad


4.2 ( 6672 ratings )
Sports Navigation
Developer: Pocket Mariner Ltd.
14.99 USD
Current version: 5.0.1, last update: 1 year ago
First release : 16 Feb 2012
App size: 84.99 Mb

Boat Beacon is an internet AIS receiver and transmitter for your iPhone and iPad. It is the only AIS ship tracking app to provide Collision Warnings, share your boat’s position & use real-time AIS data.

Connected to the largest network of AIS shore receivers world-wide covering most major ports, harbours and popular coastal areas.

“An outstanding app, with great potential. Both interesting to use and very user friendly. This could be a life saver and especially of interest to small boat users. Everyone who goes on the water should have this on and use it!” ***** Sun Dream, App Store Review

Boat Beacon is specifically designed for boaters & provides continuous Bearing, Range & Closest Point of Approach (CPA) calculations and alarms in addition to standard AIS information even when in the background.

Boat Beacon does not require any external AIS transponder or receiver equipment.

Key Features
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Over-the-horizon collision avoidance (30 miles radius) using continuous CPA calculations - highlights boats that are on a potential collision course and alerts you with an alarm.

Continually transmits and receives position information via the internet and calculates and alarms CPA even when the app is in the background.

Shares your position with Internet AIS Systems and apps and other Boat Beacon users in real time.

Real time ship map view with North up and Heading up modes so you can look in the direction of the ships on the map to locate them.

Nav display showing own boats speed, course, heading and position.

Man Overboard tracking, SART Alarm, Anchor watch and Theft alarms.

Apple Watch App included

Siri voice commands

Export tracks

Boat-to-Boat & Boat-to-Group Messaging.

Local AIS and GPS via Wifi.

Boat Beacon InApp Add-ons:-

LiveView - Augmented Reality view with ships, compass & horizon overlaid. Works with FLIROne Infra-red cameras as well to see ships & people in the dark & fog (IAP)

"AIS Sharing" to other apps like Navionics & iNavX (IAP subscription)

US, UK and IE Marine raster charts (IAP).

Let Friends and Family see where you are and where youre headed to with our free Boat Watch app or on web-based AIS systems like MarineTraffic which have free web viewers available.

Arm all the crews in a race with Boat Beacon and have real time updates on the race positions on the water and back in the club house.

Keep a watch and in touch with other boats in your flotilla when sailing in a group.

Boat Beacon requires internet access to work. Most popular coastal areas have cellular data access extending 12 or more miles out to sea.

Subscriptions
The "AIS Sharing " subscription is monthly ($5.99) or yearly ($16.49), and will automatically renew at the end of the subscription period unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase, and will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by the iTunes account holder and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to Account Settings after purchase. 
No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period.

Terms of Use: http://seanav.net/termsofuse.php

Privacy Policy: http://seanav.net/privacy.php

Support: help@pocketmariner.com

Your position can be shared and seen on all our apps without using an MMSI number. To be seen on Global AIS systems like MarineTraffic you need an MMSI number. In the US you can obtain one by visiting http://www.boatus.com/mmsi or email us for a free internet MMSI number.

Please note that continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

NOT FOR NAVIGATION
Boat Beacon should only be used for basic navigation reference and should not be solely relied upon to determine precise locations, proximity, distance, or direction. You will not be visible to other ships on VHF only AIS systems.

Pros and cons of Boat Beacon app for iPhone and iPad

Boat Beacon app good for

A great APP. Very reliable. Works very well on iPad and iPhone. Wonderful customer service. Questions are answered the same day. Highly recommend.
Everyone without AIS should have this app. Recently I has a small problem and Customer service was very responsive. We now have AIS, but I use BB to track friends who dont transmit on AIS. I wish everyone had it!
Very clever way to get you AIS for almost nothing ... For pleasue, for safety, for sailing regatta with friends, ... I love it ! Marc
One of my favourites apps and the best available replacement for AIS. This app was very well designed and it works flawlessly.

Some bad moments

This app used be great but now there are all these phantom ships that never disappear. The app is completely useless theres no way to know what vessels are in real time and what are days old. Bummer
When I first purchased this app, it included charts. The charts were later removed and the company wants to sell the NOAA charts to me again for me to have access. I emailed them to ask if it was a mistake and they didn’t respond. I don’t trust these guys and there are plenty of other good apps available.
Purchased this app but AIS or Boat Beacon boats not showing up. Very dissapointed and not worth the money
Does not work, other boat positions are not accurate, other boats do not pick up your position or name at all!
Used all the time. Now I dont like the update. Makes it difficult to see boats coming in etc
This app will not do anything but place an icon on my phone , can anyone tell me where the boats are ?