For some time, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have been great companions for road trips, helping everyone navigate highways and busy roads, but what you couldn’t do, at least until now, is use the platform to navigate the high seas. Thanks to a partnership between boat builders Crest Marine and its subsidiary Balise Pontoons and Savvy Navy, a leading marine navigation app, factory nautical navigation systems will be included with some ships. Specifically, these nautical navigation systems will also be equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an industry first.
It should be noted that neither Google Maps nor Apple Maps offer nautical navigation. That’s where Savvy Navy comes in, often hailed as the “Google Maps for boats” by those who use it. Most of the Android Auto features to expect here will expand the functionality of the dashboard and in-car tech units, and keep in mind that there are a few underrated CarPlay features that boaters will now have access to as well. Imagine how you would use an onboard dashboard system with access to phone calls, contacts, messages and popular apps, which in this case relies heavily on Savvy Navy. This support gives boaters access to a “seamless, intuitive experience at the helm,” and it will also be interesting to see which other boat manufacturers expand on this idea and potentially offer similar features.
Which boats have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay?
According to the press release, all new pontoon boats manufactured by Balise and certain models manufactured by Crest Marine – both divisions of MasterCraft – will be compatible with Savvy Navy starting with model year 2027. Also announced as part of the partnership, if you purchase a 2027 model with CarPlay or Android Auto support, you will also have access to Savvy Navy’s Premium service tier, which provides full access to the suite of features available through the app. This includes navigation aid, wave data, tide data, maps, weather information, nearby ships and much more.
Crest Marine also showcased the new technology at a recent annual dealer meeting, with hands-on demonstrations of Savvy Navy marine charts and features. Customers will also be able to use the navigation systems for intelligent water routing, GPS tracking, tide data and weather forecasts. These features will be of great help to boaters planning outings on the water.
Since Savvy Navy and similar apps have been around for a while, this isn’t the first time boaters and sailors have had access to navigation technology. Just like you can use an old tablet as the Android Auto head unit in cars that don’t have a dashboard screen, boaters have been able to carry around phones or tablets to access many apps like this in the past. The Crest Marine solution will include a factory-installed unit that has the necessary capabilities and support right off the production line.
