Seapilot: Social Boating, Weather Forecasts and Offline Charts

Seapilot combines social features, weather data and navigation tools into a single mobile app designed for recreational boaters and racers. Its Facebook integration allows users to see friends who have connected their Facebook accounts to an AIS target and to search for those friends’ vessels, making it simpler to meet up on the water or keep track of other boats in your group. This social layer is optional and requires each person to link their account explicitly, so users remain in control of who can find them.

Real-Time AIS and Extended Weather Information

The app displays real-time information received from AIS targets, which can include position, course and speed for nearby vessels. In addition to live AIS data, Seapilot offers a five-day weather forecast provided by MeteoGroup. That extended forecast helps skippers plan passages, avoid deteriorating conditions and choose the best windows for coastal hops or regattas. Combining AIS situational awareness with a short-term forecast gives users a clearer picture of what’s happening around them and what to expect over the next several days.

Race Planning with Polar Files

Sailors will appreciate the ability to import polar files, which the app uses to compute optimal courses for racing and passage planning. Polar files describe how a particular boat performs across different wind angles and speeds, and when used together with current conditions and charts they help identify the most efficient route. This feature is particularly useful for performance-oriented sailors who want to optimize tactics and timing for race starts, mark roundings and reaching legs.

Offline Charts for Reliable Navigation

Charts are downloaded directly to Apple and Android mobile devices, allowing navigation without an internet connection once the charts are stored on the device. Offline charting is essential for areas where cellular coverage is limited or absent, and it reduces reliance on a continuous data connection while underway. Users can pre-download the charts they need for a cruise or race, ensuring they have up-to-date mapping and route-planning tools when they most need them.

Pricing and Platforms

Seapilot is available on both iOS and Android platforms. Annual subscription pricing is listed at $39.99 for iOS users and $37.99 for Android users. The subscription model provides access to the app’s maps, weather forecasts and navigation features. Prospective users should review the app store listings for the latest features and subscription options, and consider any in-app upgrades or regional chart packs they may need for specific voyages.

Practical Uses and User Experience

For recreational boaters, the app’s social and AIS capabilities make rendezvous planning easier: you can confirm that friends’ boats are nearby before committing to a meeting point. For coastal cruisers, the combination of offline charts and a multi-day forecast supports safe passage planning and contingency preparation. For racers, polar file integration adds a tactical advantage by calculating fastest routes and highlighting optimal VMG angles. Overall, Seapilot seeks to balance social functionality with practical navigation tools that work both online and offline.

This article originally appeared in the August 2017 issue.

Seapilot (True Heading), (786) 747-9812. seapilot.com