This app helps boaters manage pre-departure checks, file float plans, access weather data, and provides an offline emergency playbook. It offers vessel management and quick-reference articles for a safer, more organized boating experience.
1.4.2
September 19, 2026
If you're new to HelmKeeper, here's what's inside. - Float plans you can build in minutes and text to someone ashore in one tap, with an emergency contact pulled straight from your address book. - Emergency procedures written out before you need them, offline, with the VHF Channel 16 distress call at the top. - Tides, currents, wind, waves and weather from official NOAA and National Weather Service stations, with an honest label on how far away the nearest reading actually is. - A Right of Way Emulator: build a situation, see who gives way and which horn signal to sound, or test yourself against the Navigation Rules. Every answer cites its rule. Works with no signal. - Pre-departure and maintenance checklists, and a "what to bring" list you can text to your crew. - Your vessel details, insurance and saved spots in one place, private to you. Also in this release: the tide card now lists the day's high and low times and marks each turn on the chart, and tide heights are labeled as heights rather than depths — a tide height is the number you add to the depth printed on your chart, not the water under your boat.
More1-Month free trial access, then $24.99/month
HelmKeeper is a premium, ad-free app designed to help boaters manage pre-departure checks, file float plans, access real-time weather and NOAA station data, and provides an offline emergency playbook for various scenarios. It aims to give boaters peace of mind.
No, HelmKeeper is 100% ad-free. The app emphasizes a distraction-free experience, especially when at the helm, and is built with strict battery and data discipline.
HelmKeeper offers a free version with core features. For advanced functionality, it provides auto-renewable subscriptions: HelmKeeper Monthly at $3.99/month and HelmKeeper Yearly at $24.99/year. Both plans include a 1-month free trial.
HelmKeeper is currently supported on iPhone and iPod devices. It is designed for iOS users who enjoy boating.
The latest version of HelmKeeper is 1.1.2, which was last updated on June 24, 2026. Updates are provided to enhance features and ensure reliability for boaters.
Yes, HelmKeeper allows you to manage multiple vessels. You can track different boats, from smaller cruisers to larger dual consoles, and securely store important information like insurance policy details.
Yes, the emergency playbook in HelmKeeper is designed to work offline. This ensures you have access to calm, step-by-step guidance for critical situations even when you have no cell signal.
HelmKeeper provides an offline emergency playbook with guidance for scenarios like prop strikes, running aground, man overboard, fire aboard, engine failure, and medical emergencies. It also offers quick-reference articles on navigation, anchoring, and docking.
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