# Sail Buddy

> Lightweight app for displaying sailing course, speed, and NMEA data. (iPhone/iPad app by Tim Herzog.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sail-buddy/id1100095207 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Tim Herzog](https://appshunter.io/developer/1100095206)
- Category: Navigation
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 14 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.4 · 3 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2016-04-13
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sail-buddy/id1100095207/reviews.md

## What is Sail Buddy?

Sail Buddy is a light-weight app that displays course, speed and NMEA data in a fast, clean interface. This is not a "kitchen sink" application with lots of features you may or may not use. If you want a clean, easy-to-read data display to complement your navigation and weather apps, this might be the one for you. Also works very well on iPads and other tablets, including "split screen" mode so you can use other navigation apps side-by-side. And the Apple Watch lets you keep track of course, speed and essential data, hands free, no matter where you are on your boat!

Sail Buddy receives NMEA data from external hardware via a WiFi connection. Your hardware must support WiFi or be connected to a multiplexer with WiFi support. Sail Buddy includes a "demo" mode that plays sample NMEA data if you just want to see how the app works without connecting to an NMEA network.

Features:

• Displays course and speed and NMEA data in a large, easily read display
• Multi-view instrument dial option for wind, course, speed and satellite views
• Support for TCP and UDP connections
• Support for Sail Timer wind instrument™ and Sail Timer wind vane™
• Route tracking with full capture of GPS and NMEA data
• Export routes in CSV, KML, GPX and GeoJSON
• Alarms for lost data connections and potential groundings (if your hardware supports depth data)
• Start and stop instruments and tracking with your Apple Watch
• Full support for "dark mode"
• Supports Split View on newer iPads (use Sail Buddy alongside your favorite navigation app)

## Key features

- Large, readable course and speed display
- NMEA data reception via WiFi
- Route tracking and export (CSV, KML, GPX, GeoJSON)
- Apple Watch integration for hands-free data
- Split View support on iPads
- Alarms for data loss and grounding

## Recent user reviews (6 of 6)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sail-buddy/id1100095207/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Outstanding Value

*2022-12-16*

Sail Buddy is a simple and inexpensive app that squarely hits the sweet spot.  I wanted something to display wind, speed and depth data by the wheel where I could see all clearly.  This app turns my iPhone into a multifunctional display presenting all the desired information in an easily readable format. Literally saved me thousands.

### 4/5 — Sail Buddy looks great

*2021-03-23*

Looks like this will really be a useful app.  Will update rating once I have a chance to get on the water!

Used it on a windjammer trip a few years back, worked great!

### 4/5 — Great App, needs a tweak

*2018-03-04*

I love this app. Have used it stand-alone as well as NMEA with my SailTimer Wind Instrument.

I would like to be able to toggle in Configuration between True and Magnetic Course readings to display in the Navigation panel.

Also, I would like the option to display Lat/Long in degrees-minutes-decimal minutes.  Thanks & keep up the good work.

### 5/5 — Clean, simple app that works well

*2018-01-03*

Just downloaded this to try the GPS and tracking features - they work well and I appreciate the large, clear display that's easy to see outdoors or when moving.

### 5/5 — Great App

*2018-01-03*

Best app like this I’ve found. Very user friendly and intuitive. Love it.

### 5/5 — Super neat app!

*2018-01-03*

Worth a try!  GPS tracker and other cool offerings.

## Frequently asked questions about Sail Buddy

### What devices does Sail Buddy support?

Sail Buddy is available for Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed to work well on tablets, including split-screen mode on newer iPads, and offers hands-free functionality on the Apple Watch.

### How does Sail Buddy receive NMEA data?

Sail Buddy receives NMEA data from external hardware via a WiFi connection. Your hardware must support WiFi or be connected to a multiplexer with WiFi support.

### Can I try Sail Buddy before buying?

Yes, Sail Buddy includes a 'demo' mode that plays sample NMEA data. This allows you to explore the app's functionality without needing to connect to an NMEA network.

### What sailing data can Sail Buddy display?

Sail Buddy displays course, speed, and various NMEA data points. It also offers a multi-view instrument dial option for wind, course, speed, and satellite views.

### Does Sail Buddy have ads?

No, Sail Buddy is ad-free. As a paid application, it does not contain advertisements, ensuring an uninterrupted user experience.

### What file formats can I export routes in?

You can export your tracked routes in several common formats, including CSV, KML, GPX, and GeoJSON. This makes it easy to use your route data with other mapping and analysis tools.

### Does Sail Buddy offer any safety features?

Sail Buddy includes alarms for lost data connections and potential groundings, provided your connected hardware supports depth data. These features can help enhance safety on the water.

### How often is Sail Buddy updated?

The latest version of Sail Buddy is 4.5, last updated on May 29, 2025. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and support for the application.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 5.0 — 2026-05-25

Version 5 gives you full control over the selection of data fields, their order and appearance. You can optimize the display to match your boat and your style of navigation, showing just the fields that interest you, in any order you want. You can also automatically calculate DBK and DBS from DBT, display the system time, and override screen lock when underway.

### 4.5 — 2025-05-29

Minor bug fixes in the UI and trigger implementation

### 4.4 — 2025-05-22

Version 4.4 adds the ability to automatically start or stop tracks based on incoming data.

### 4.3 — 2025-02-03

Version 4.3 fixes a crash when sharing tracks, and another crash when running a network connection for an extended time in the background, along with a handful of minor cosmetic improvements.

### 4.2 — 2024-07-30

Version 4.2 fixes a bug that caused some TCP connections to apparently stop processing data. There is also a new "relay" option that re-transmits NMEA data on a secondary UDP connection for use by other apps on your device.

## Apps similar to Sail Buddy

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Waterway Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waterway-guide/id1551794976) | 4.7 (2,877) | Free | Navigation |
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| [SailTimer API™](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sailtimer-api/id1562869275) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Navigation |
| [TZ iBoat – Marine Navigation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tz-iboat-marine-navigation/id1312769833) | 4.6 (868) | Free | Navigation |
| [C-MAP: Boating](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/c-map-boating/id967289980) | 4.5 (2,347) | Free | Navigation |

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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.*