Leave a Review ActiveCaptain®
Great product after figuring everything out.
This app is a great tool for updating Garmin chartplotters. It also is great at planning when not sitting in your boat.
There is some delay and lag in getting the app to recognize the equipment (typically two attempts needed) but once connected, everything works fine. I doubt if this is a problem with the gear and more the Bluetooth/wifi connection between units.
Also, Garmin support is outstanding as I have used them for an unrelated but ongoing problem with a piece of equipment that has been glitchy since purchase. The team is professional, courteous and accurate.Show lessOtto's Apple
System Scan Error Message keeps popping up.
I purchased a boat May 2023 with twin Garmin 1243XSV chart plotters. After updating the software and downloading what I thought was a chart, I am extremely underwhelmed. My previous Garmin echo map had so much more. also, when I got through updating my software on my Garmins, The software gave me trouble message for my twin Yamaha engines. it told me I needed to finish scanning. It said that I needed to take my boat to the Yamaha dealer. Interesting. I did the first 20 hour scheduled maintenance. Nothing was wrong. Now I get a trouble message when I open my chart plotters telling me I need to take my boat back to the Yamaha dealer. very disappointing and very frustrating. One other thing – my Auto pilot, which is connected with the Garmins does not seem to be operating the same anymore.
May 2024: Now, back to the dealer for the 100 hr. They removed “System Scan” error message three times, but it kept coming back. If my phone automatically sees the Garmin Wi-Fi network it will connect, then the “System Scan” error comes back without opening Active Captain. The dealer told me to delete Active Captain app and update my charts via the SD card with my computer. This app is too buggy to use. The error message pops up every time I turn on the ignition key and has to be acknowledged before using my Garmins.Show lessNw2000
Active Captain App
In general, the app works and does what’s supposed to sometimes better than the chart plotter However, the business of connecting to the boat Wi-Fi and then connect to the local Wi-Fi that has an Internet connection is very clumsy. I don’t understand why the boat cannot connect to the local network and the app be designed to also discover the boat that is on the local network, that way we can download software updates, chart updates and not fiddle back-and-forth connecting to the local network and then to the boat network. I understand that you would like to make sure the software is completely downloaded to the phone in case the network stops working or some other glitch. That way you can control the download from the phone to the chart plotterShow lessW.L.C.
Sailing Stella Maris w Navionics
Excellent experience. Application is very flexible with attention to details. It’s important to know that the application processes safe navigation techniques consider depth of vessel draw, mast height, and your own considerations for navigation depth.
Always need to do due diligence to verify proposed route. Gives you a chance to review navigation hazards. Details are important when navigating the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. Solid program. Make sure you download all the maps and data required to navigate the area you are going to explore. A lesson learned is make sure your phone (secondary information source) is not exposed to the salt water during navigation. Salt will impact you charger phone port, your phone charger port, you get the drift. Lost a good Microsoft Surface computer due to salt spray and for awhile my back up navigation device. Well worth the money.Show lessCajunobserver
Increased rating
Simple, pay $10 for a 32GB micro SD card. Put it into the fishfinder 93SV and the unit activates Activate Captain - automatically searches, downloads and installs. My map zooming is much faster and smoother. I’m very impressed by this feature and learning the card in the unit for future auto sync updates. I wish they would stress this much more as a important cheap simple MUST DO with Active Captain app. I also have enjoyed the import export feature under the app allows me to transfer either way with Hummingbird/Minn Kota - One Boat app, all my units have the same waypoints, routes and tracks. It would be a 5 star but I want more time and practice. A retired soldier never commits fully unit they know.Show lessTomPatriot
Very Frustrating App
Garmin owner for about 25-30 years so have used many Garmin software products through the years. While having the ability to connect the phone to my chartplotters sounds nice, this app is filled with nuances that make the experience frustrating. Whether it’s long software download times (don’t lose power on phone or chartplotter or the chartplotter could be rendered useless warns Garmin), unspecified download times (Garmin says it could take a long time), missing steps in documentation, or connection to “features” I don’t want and can’t turn off quickly enough, this app is challenging. The good news is if you can run the gauntlet and your system restarts, the chartplotters work well. I liked the waypoint management features and capability of the discontinued Garmin Homeport software so much more than AC - in fact, I still use it.Show lessIdletime19
average app & system
I switched chart plotters from Raymarine to Garmin at the electronics store recommendation & haven’t found anything superior with garmin. Perhaps it’s just me but I cannot view my garmin chart plotter on my ipad, raymarine connection was a snap via bluetooth, the admiral was happy plus it gave me an extra set of eyes. I’ve also found garmin auto route sub par, it seems to plot what it wants not what I want & way too many non “hazzards” pop up requiring constant stabbing “ok” on the screen.
Not sure of any benefits to the active captain app, I like to sit home and plot a course & transfer to the boat, my workaround is to use the argo app and then manually enter it into my plotter. C map is also a disappointment.
Perhaps i’ll post this on trawler forum & down east sites, hope its just something i’ve overlooked or missed.Show lessCap'n Ed999
Very Buggy and slow
When transferring charts via the app it can take a very long time depending on the amount of data to be transferred. I have about 22 Gigs of charts and most time it hangs up and fails to transfer, or if it does it hangs validating. Either way you are looking at a full day when it does manage to work. The QuickDraw community almost always hangs up transferring. The app is very slow moving from step to step of transferring information. For example it will transfer the Active Captain data and when finished it can take another 30 minutes to begin the transfer of the one chart files if it doesn’t completely hang in the process. The app sets up both a WiFi connection and a Bluetooth connection to your mobile device which is a private WiFi from your internet WiFi if network if you have one so I cannot understand why the transfers are so unreliable and slow.Show lessCentaur714
Active Captain App
In general, the app works and does what’s supposed to sometimes better than the chart plotter
However, the business of connecting to the boat Wi-Fi and then connect to the local Wi-Fi that has an Internet connection is very clumsy. I don’t understand why the boat cannot connect to the local network and the app be designed to also discover the boat that is on the local network, that way we can download software updates, chart updates and not fiddle back-and-forth connecting to the local network and then to the boat network. I understand that you would like to make sure the software is completely downloaded to the phone in case the network stops working or some other glitch. That way you can control the download from the phone to the chart plotterShow lessDisappointed. “Where’s the beef?”
I just purchased a boat with twin Garmin 1243XSV chart plotters. After updating the software and downloading what I thought was a chart, I am extremely underwhelmed. My previous Garmin echo map had so much more. also, when I got through updating my software on my Garmins, The software gave me trouble message for my twin Yamaha engines. it told me I needed to finish scanning. It said that I needed to take my boat to the Yamaha dealer. Interesting. I just had the first 20 hour scheduled maintenance. Nothing was wrong. Now I get a trouble message when I open my chart plotters telling me I need to take my boat back to the Yamaha dealer. very disappointing and very frustrating. One other thing – my Auto pilot, which is connected with the Garmins does not seem to be operating the same anymore.Show less
