Comparison

Sailing Master M vs Drift

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sailing Master M

This app provides comprehensive sailing data and performance optimization on various Apple devices. It displays over 35 sailing measurements from boat instruments, polars tables, and nautical charts, offering detailed wind, route, and map views. Connectivity is established through NMEA 0183 Wi-Fi gateways.

Highlights
  • Configurable data displays
  • 35+ sailing measurements
  • Wind, route, and map displays
  • NMEA 0183 Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Polars table integration
  • Nautical chart overlays
Features
Read full description

Sailing Master M offers comprehensive sailing data and performance optimization information on iPhones, iPads, iWatches, and ActiveLook smart glasses. The application provides configurable pages and data displays, utilizing over 35 sailing measurements from the boat’s instruments, polars tables, and nautical charts. On phones and pads, the Data and Analog Displays can include minimum and maximum values and time series graphs. The Wind Display provides wind, heading, route, and speed information. The Route Display shows the expected wind conditions on the next legs. The Map Display shows the vessel with direction, tacking and downwind laylines on a nautical chart, or the wind laylines in another location. The connectivity is through NMEA 0813 Wi-Fi gateways such as B&G Vulcan, Zeus, GoFree, Yacht Devices, Signal K, Actisense, and ShipModul. The application has evolved from its initial focus on NMEA data display to encompass a comprehensive suite of features. Consequently, the app’s name has been revised from 'Display0183M' to 'Sailing Master M'. For further information, please refer to the user’s guide available on the app’s website or within the app itself. Terms of use: The app is delivered under the Apple End User License Agreement (EULA, https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/) The following libraries and services are used: - Kitura/BlueSocket, published under the Apache 2.0 license - A modified version of GPX package, published under BSD 3-Clause License and copyrighted by Ioannis Silks - OpenStreetMap licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL, https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/) by the OpenStreetMap Foundation Licence, and ©OpenStreetMap contributors. OpenSeaMap, which is licensed under the Open Data Commons (ODbL) license, and ©OpenSeaMap contributors The supported NMEA 0183 sentences are: - BWR: Bearing and distance to waypoint - DBS: Depth below surface - DBT: Depth below transducer. - DPT: depth of water. - CGA: Global Positioning System Fix data - GLL: Geographic position Latitude/Longitude - HDG: Heading magnetic - HDM: Heading magnetic - HDT: Heading true - MWD: undocumented, wind direction, wind speed - MTW: water temperature °C - MWV: Wind speed and angle (A,T) - RMB: XTE, range to destination, bearing to destination, destination closing velocity . - RMC: Speed over ground - RSA: Rudder sensor angle - VHW: Water speed and heading - VLW: Distance travelled through water - VPW: Speed - measured parallel to wind - VTG: Course over ground (T or M), speed over ground - VWR: Wind direction (A), wind speed (A) - WCV: Waypoint closure velocity - XDR: air temperature (°C), water temperature (°C) and barometric pressure (mbar). - XTE: Cross track error The data items from NMEA and polars are: - Waypoint bearing - Waypoint distance - Time to Waypoint - VMG waypoint - Cross track error - Depth - Heading - Heading - Course - Course - Water speed - Speed over ground - Water temperature - Air temperature - Air pressure - Wind speed apparent - Wind angle apparent - Wind speed true - Wind direction - Wind direction - VMG Wind - Latitude, Longitude - Waypoint laititude, longitude - Water Distance after reset - Total water distance - Ground distance after reset - Total ground distance - Velocity made good towards wind - Heel - Rudder - Boat target speed through the water - Boat speed of target speed (%) - Beat VMG boat target speed through the water - Run VMG boat target speed through the water - GPS based trip distance - Leeway

About

Drift

Features
Read full description

Know the current and trends. Win more races. Drift measures real water current at your exact GPS location — direction in degrees true and speed in knots — in 30 seconds. Not a tide forecast. Not a modeled estimate. The actual current at your boat, right now. Every racing sailor knows that current is one of the biggest factors on the racecourse. The boat that knows what the current is and what it's doing wins the layline call, starts on the favored end, and rounds the mark first. Until now, getting that number meant guessing from a chart, estimating from a buoy, or just guessing and hoping that you got it. Drift changes that. — HOW Drift WORKS — Drop in any semi-submersible floating object into the water. Tap Mark Start. Watch the current carry it. Move to your marker and tap Mark End. Drift instantly calculates everything you need — direction in degrees true, speed in knots, so you're never left guessing again When you start measuring the current drift displays the time with a progress bar to let you know when you've been timing long enough — WHAT MAKES DRIFT DIFFERENT — All the other apps that give current are estimated based off charts and forecasts, but those can be wildly inaccurate, the current can vary even on a small dinghy race course, and even more when you're talking off shore racing Drift measures what is actually happening at your exact coordinates. The local bathymetry. Today's exact tidal state. Wind-driven current. Eddy effects near the shore. The number no forecast can give you. — FEATURES — - Set and drift in degrees true and knots - 16-point flow direction (NNE, SSW, etc.) - Smart GPS for stable, accurate readings - Live GPS reception monitoring - Session trend tracking - Automatic slack tide detection - High-contrast interface designed for direct sunlight - Large touch targets for use with gloves - Works 100% offline — no cell signal, no WiFi, no data plan - Works anywhere in the world - No account or signup required - One-time purchase — no subscription, ever — BUILT FOR RACING — Every detail in Drift exists because a racing sailor needs it, — ONE-TIME PURCHASE — $4.99. Yours forever. Unlimited readings. All future updates. No subscription, no ads, no hidden anything. Buy it once, use it for every race, every season. Drift is developed by a sailor, for sailors and coaches. It's the racing tool that you've been missing.

Screenshots

Sailing Master M4 screens
Drift4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sailing Master M at Free against Drift's $2.99. Drift's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Sailing Master M is free to download; Drift costs $2.99 up front. Sailing Master M sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $11.99 per year. Drift asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Sailing Master M versus Drift: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSailing Master MDrift
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS1717.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPekka LeppanenAndrew Sorensen

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Sailing Master M

Subscriptions1
  • Pro annual14 Days trial$11.991 Year
None

Drift

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sailing Master M free?
Sailing Master M is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Drift free?
Drift costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sailing Master M or Drift have ads?
Neither Sailing Master M nor Drift shows ads.

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