# Coastal Explorer — Cruise planning and navigation

> Cruise planning and navigation tool for pleasure boaters with optional chart subscriptions. (iPhone/iPad app by Rose Point Navigation Systems, Inc.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Rose Point Navigation Systems, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1078421951)
- Category: Navigation, Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 2.80/5 from 16 App Store ratings · 9 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 54 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2021-01-26
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231/reviews.md

## What is Coastal Explorer?

Coastal Explorer™ is a sophisticated, full-featured, easy-to-use cruise planning and logging tool designed specifically for the pleasure boater. And it becomes a complete navigation system with the purchase of a chart subscription.

The free Coastal Explorer app provides these great planning features:

* View NOAA and USACE nautical charts for the US in vector format
* Create routes, waypoints, boundaries, and other navigation objects
* Cloud-synchronization of your navigation objects
* ActiveCaptain points of interest
* US Coast Pilot information
* Marine weather forecasts and observations for the US
* Tide and current predictions for the US

Purchasing a chart subscription turns Coastal Explorer into a complete navigation system that includes:

* Downloadable charts, tide and current predictions, Coast Pilot, and ActiveCaptain places for offline use
* Interfacing with compatible networked marine electronics devices, including GPS, compass, depth sounder, anemometer, AIS, autopilot, and more
* Customizable instrument panels
* Route following with cross-track error, distance and time to go, estimated time of arrival, etc
* Track and event recording
* Integrated blogging

Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period.
 
See our Terms of Service at https://www.rosepoint.com/legal/terms_of_service.

## Key features

- View NOAA and USACE nautical charts
- Create routes and waypoints
- Cloud synchronization
- ActiveCaptain points of interest
- US Coast Pilot information
- Marine weather forecasts
- Tide and current predictions

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (9 of 9)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Not user friendly

*2026-02-22*

I downloaded and played around with it and the app is very buggy. It freezes often and sometimes the app doesn’t respond when you tap on different things. I paid the fee for the 1 year subscription to unlock all of the features (NOAA chart access being the main thing) but there’s no simple way to download and install the charts. Overall, this app is overly complicated and buggy for iPad use. iNavX will continue to be my primary backup in the event my wheelhouse electronics go out because it’s much more reliable.

I am using the iPad Pro 11 inch with the M5 chip in case the devs care to fix their app.

### 1/5 — Junk don’t waste 20 dollars

*2023-10-31*

Extremely laggy and no buoys

### 1/5 — Crashes

*2022-01-06*

App constantly crashes when moving the map anywhere

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2021-12-09*

I am very disappointed in this. I have been using the computer application for years at work I downloaded this as a way of keeping notes on my personal iPad. I paid 49.99 for the subscription and I cannot pan or zoom without the app crashing.

### 1/5 — Very disappointed

*2021-11-04*

Can’t download charts for offline use, can’t zoom out far or pan, no where near as good as the computer program.  Definitely in need of some bug fixes.  Get on it rosepoint!  Not worth the subscription i paid for, Navionics is way better. Don’t waste your money until they fix these problems.  How can i get a refund?

### 1/5 — Not very user friendly changing charts

*2021-09-14*

I am using this app on an iPad and can’t get the chart to update to my location.  It would be nice if the app had a current location button.   Very frustrating.

**Developer response:** You should see a button near the bottom of the chart that looks like a boat with an X through it. This is the "Follow Mode" button which will center the chart on your current location. With an active subscription, pressing this button will cause Coastal Explorer to keep your location centered as you move, or if you press it again, to keep your location near the edge of the screen so you can see more chart in front of you. When one of these "Follow Modes" is active, the X is removed from the button to indicate it is not being followed.

### 4/5 — Inland Charts?

*2021-07-30*

Really liking the app. I'm a long time commercial user of ECS. Just wanted to let you know that I'll become a subscriber as soon as you're able to add the USACE IENC's. Looking forward to what you come up with next!

### 1/5 — Free Trial Problems

*2021-07-10*

The free trial doesn’t work for Canada as there is no access to charts.  This is a US-centric program.  I wasted a couple of hours trying to get this to work so don’t bother unless you are in the US.

### 2/5 — Program under performs

*2021-05-01*

I have been a Rose Point fan on my PC for years. This program defaults to some place out west on startup. I am a North East sailor. I could not get any chart updates to download.

**Developer response:** I'm sorry to hear you're disappointed! Please let us know how we can improve Coastal Explorer on our support forum (community.rosepoint.com or use the App Support link on this page). The default location is our office in Redmond, WA, but if your device can determine your location, the screen will pan to your area. We can try to help with your chart download issue on the forum if you'd like, but downloading charts for offline use does require a subscription.

## Frequently asked questions about Coastal Explorer

### What features does Coastal Explorer offer for free?

The free version allows you to view NOAA and USACE nautical charts, create routes and waypoints, sync navigation objects to the cloud, access ActiveCaptain points of interest, US Coast Pilot information, marine weather forecasts, and tide/current predictions for the US.

### How do I get offline access with Coastal Explorer?

To enable offline use of charts, tide and current predictions, Coast Pilot, and ActiveCaptain places, you need to purchase a chart subscription within the app. This subscription is required for full offline navigation capabilities.

### Can Coastal Explorer connect to my boat's electronics?

Yes, with a chart subscription, Coastal Explorer can interface with compatible networked marine electronics. This includes GPS, compass, depth sounder, anemometer, AIS, and autopilot, providing real-time data for navigation.

### What are the subscription options for Coastal Explorer?

Coastal Explorer offers both a Monthly Subscription for $19.99 and a Yearly Subscription for $49.99. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends.

### Is Coastal Explorer suitable for beginners?

The app is described as easy-to-use, making it accessible for pleasure boaters. Its planning features and optional navigation system integration cater to various levels of boating experience.

### What devices support Coastal Explorer?

Coastal Explorer is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for mobile use on Apple's iOS platform.

### How often is Coastal Explorer updated?

The app was last updated on July 4, 2025, with version 1.3. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support from the developer.

### What is the age rating for Coastal Explorer?

Coastal Explorer has an age rating of 4+. This means it is considered suitable for children and adults, with no mature content.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.3 — 2025-07-04

* Added an Anchor Watch instrument
* Show ARPA Targets received via NMEA 0183
* Boundary Circle radius dragging
* Boundary Lines and Areas can now have icons and show their names on the chart
* Much improved formatting for text files attached to charts
* Show a cursor when chart object properties are being viewed indicating the tap location
* Tide and Current Predictions in Canada
* Show AIS Locator Device targets (SART, MOB, EPIRB) with their own symbol rather than as vessels
* Various other fixes

### 1.2.4 — 2024-07-03

We've added the USACE IENC river charts, a dead-reckoning mode, and made several other improvements.

### 1.2.3 — 2024-04-04

We fixed problems with the options to prevent Auto-Lock, adjusting the time in the new graphical weather forecast, and downloading charts for offline use.

### 1.2.2 — 2024-03-25

We fixed a problem with using location services on some devices.

### 1.2.1 — 2024-03-20

We fixed a problem that prevented subscription purchases.

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## More apps by Rose Point Navigation Systems, Inc

- [Nemo Gateway](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nemo-gateway/id1078421952)
- [Rose Point ECS Portal](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rose-point-ecs-portal/id1629985370)

All apps by Rose Point Navigation Systems, Inc: https://appshunter.io/developer/1078421951

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-24.*