Comparison

Sailing Master M vs PyNav

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

PyNav

This app provides NMEA instrument data and remote control for a pypilot autopilot. It can function as a standalone navigation hub, displaying wind, engine, and GPS data with customizable panels and configurable alarms.

Highlights
  • Pypilot autopilot control
  • NMEA instrument display
  • Customizable dashboard panels
  • Wind and engine data
  • GPS and waypoint navigation
  • Configurable alarms
Features
Read full description

NMEA NAVIGATION HUB + PYPILOT REMOTE CONTROL PyNav serves two kinds of sailors: - Have a pypilot autopilot? Control it from your iPhone/iPad AND display all your NMEA instruments. - No pypilot? Use PyNav as a standalone professional NMEA navigation hub. FREE VERSION - Autopilot tab + Settings Full control of the pypilot autopilot: - Engage / disengage the autopilot - Modes: compass, wind, GPS, true wind, navigation - Current heading + target heading entry - Real-time rudder angle indicator - IMU data: pitch, roll, heel, rate of turn - Full PID gain tuning (P, I, D, DD, PR, FF, WG, Deadzone) - IMU compass and rudder calibration - Tack settings - Pilot profiles (basic, wind, gps, simple, rate, absolute) - Servo stats: amp-hours, voltage, temperatures, runtime - Direct WiFi connection to the pypilot Raspberry Pi hotspot - no router needed The free version gives access to pypilot data only - no external NMEA instruments. PRO VERSION - Complete navigation hub One-time purchase, lifetime - no subscription. Works WITH or WITHOUT pypilot. Just needs a NMEA/WiFi module and an iPhone or iPad. Optimized for iPad - also works on iPhone with adapted layout. DASHBOARD - Customizable unified view 6 configurable, drag-and-drop panels: - Wind: dynamic rose or raw data grid - Navigation: SOG, COG, GPS data - Autopilot: engage/disengage, target heading, rudder indicator, IMU - Depth: color-coded - Pressure: hPa value, 3h trend, history chart - Engine: RPM with color coding (nominal / warning / danger) Resizable panels, 1 or 2 column layout. WIND - Apparent and true wind Dynamic wind rose, 5-minute history chart, real-time AWA/AWS/TWA/TWS. ENGINE INSTRUMENTS RPM, coolant and oil temperature/pressure, battery/alternator voltage, engine hours, fuel flow, exhaust and sea water temperature, gearbox state (Fwd/Neutral/Rev), transmission oil. Tank gauges: port/starboard fuel, fresh water, grey and black water. Unlimited custom charts (any parameter vs RPM or time). NAV - GPS and waypoint navigation Compass rose, true and magnetic heading, SOG, COG, STW, latitude/longitude (DD°MM'SS), waypoint navigation (bearing BTW, distance DTW, cross track error XTE), arrival indicator. CONFIGURABLE ALARMS On all NMEA data: depth, speed, heading, pressure, wind, RPM, temperatures, oil pressures, voltages, fuel levels, rudder angle. Each alarm: custom name, threshold, condition, individual on/off. Triggers: sound + vibration + on-screen banner. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS Free: iOS 13.4+, working pypilot setup (Raspberry Pi), direct WiFi connection to pypilot hotspot. PRO: any TCP/UDP NMEA/WiFi module (Yacht Devices, Quark-elec, Digital Yacht, Hat Labs, Actisense...) + iOS 13.4+. Pypilot optional. Supported protocols: NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000 Raw, Pypilot (TCP). SAFETY WARNING PyNav is a navigation interface. It does not replace mandatory navigation equipment. The skipper remains SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for navigation. Permanent watch at sea is MANDATORY. Pypilot is an open-source DIY project provided "as-is". PRIVACY No navigation data is sent to external servers. Runs 100% locally on your onboard network. No ads, no tracking. LEGAL Publisher: CL Consulting SASU - SIRET 94261399300016. GDPR compliant. Pypilot is an independent open-source project (Sean D'Epagnier, GPLv3). PyNav is not affiliated with the pypilot project.

Screenshots

Sailing Master M4 screens
PyNav3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: PyNav at 13.4 against Sailing Master M's 17. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Sailing Master M sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $11.99 per year and PyNav sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sailing Master M ships an update every 2 months, PyNav every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Sailing Master M versus PyNav: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSailing Master MPyNav
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1713.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPekka LeppanenCL Consulting

Customer experience

Sailing Master M

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PyNav

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Sailing Master M

Subscriptions1
  • Pro annual14 Days trial$11.991 Year
1 purchases

PyNav

One-time1
  • PyNav Pro$7.99

Questions

Is Sailing Master M free?
Sailing Master M is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PyNav free?
PyNav is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sailing Master M or PyNav have ads?
Neither Sailing Master M nor PyNav shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sailing Master M or PyNav?
Sailing Master M ships an update every 2 months, and PyNav every 5 weeks. Most recently, Sailing Master M was updated on October 13, 2026 and PyNav on October 9, 2026.

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