Comparison

Sailor's Deck vs IRPCS

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

Head to head
About

Sailor's Deck

Master navigation lights and day shapes for skipper exams with this flashcard app. It uses spaced repetition to build lasting visual memory, tracks your progress, and resurfaces difficult configurations until they stick. Study offline with no ads or subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Spaced repetition learning
  • Four-layer progression of study
  • Confusion pair training
  • Offline functionality
  • Progress tracking and session summaries
  • Association-specific terminology
  • Daily streak motivator
Features
Read full description

Navigation lights and day shapes is the hardest topic on every skipper exam. Minimum 50 configurations to recognise, from any bearing, under time pressure. Most sailors try to cram it from a textbook the night before. It doesn't work. Sailor's Deck is built specifically for this. Flashcards with spaced repetition — the study method proven to build lasting visual memory — sequenced across four layers from basic light identification through to full composite scenarios. The app tracks what you know, resurfaces what you don't, and keeps drilling the configurations you keep getting wrong until they stick. HOW IT WORKS Each session presents set of cards drawn from your personal review queue. Answer correctly and the card moves to a longer review interval. Answer wrong and it comes back sooner. Get a category badly wrong and the relevant COLREGS rule is shown on the spot. The four-layer progression matches the way your exam actually tests you: — Layer 1: Base lights — masthead, sidelights, sternlight — Layer 2: Status lights — what the vessel is doing — Layer 3: Day shapes — cone, ball, cylinder, diamond — Layer 4: Composite scenarios — full patterns from specific bearings Confusion pairs are built in. Miss a RAM card and the NUC card is queued immediately behind it. Miss a trawling vessel and the purse-seine card follows. The pairs most likely to lose you marks on the exam are pre-wired into the system. 100+ CARDS. ALMOST EVERY CONFIGURATION. Power-driven vessels, sailing vessels, vessels not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, constrained by draught, pilot vessels, mine clearance, dredgers, air-cushion vessels, fishing vessels trawling and not trawling, vessels at anchor, towing and pushing — plus all COLREGS day shapes. Every card reviewed by a qualified sailing instructor. WORKS FOR YOUR ASSOCIATION Select your certification on first launch and the app uses your association's terminology throughout: — RYA Day Skipper / Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster — IYT Bareboat / Coastal / Master of Yachts — ISSA Inshore / Offshore — ASA 104 / 106 One card library. Your language. NO ACCOUNT. NO INTERNET. NO NONSENSE. Everything runs offline. Progress is saved locally. No login, no subscription, no ads. Free — permanently, with no card limit and no time limit on the entry skipper deck. DAILY STREAK + PROGRESS TRACKING A daily streak keeps you coming back in the weeks before your exam. Per-category accuracy shows exactly where your weak spots are. Session summaries flag the COLREGS rules you need to read. Study on the boat. Study on the bus. Five minutes before bed. The exam is closer than you think.

About

IRPCS

Features
Read full description

IRPCS is a focused training app for learning, revising and practising the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, commonly known as IRPCS or COLREGS. Built for skippers, SAR crew, lifeboat crews, maritime students, professional mariners and everyday boaters, IRPCS helps turn complex collision regulations into practical knowledge you can understand, remember and apply on the water. Whether you are preparing for an RYA, MCA or STCW assessment, supporting Search and Rescue training, refreshing your knowledge before going afloat, or improving your confidence with collision avoidance, IRPCS gives you a clear and structured way to study the rules that keep vessels safe at sea. The app covers all IRPCS/COLREGS rules, combining the official rule text with plain-English explanations, from experienced professionals. This helps you move beyond memorising wording and understand what each rule means in real situations, including who gives way, what action to take, how vessels should behave in restricted visibility, and how lights, shapes and sound signals are used. IRPCS is designed for regular practice. Use bite-sized lessons, adaptive quizzes and realistic maritime scenarios to build confidence step by step. Track your progress, identify weak areas and return to the topics that need more work. Key features include: • All IRPCS/COLREGS rules in one place • Official rule text with clear plain-English explanations • Adaptive quizzes to help identify weak areas • Realistic collision avoidance scenarios • Lights, shapes and sound signal practice • Progress tracking to monitor improvement • Offline access for use while travelling or at sea • Useful for SAR, lifeboat, commercial and leisure users • Suitable for beginners, trainees and experienced mariners IRPCS is useful for: • RYA Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster preparation • MCA and STCW maritime training • Search and Rescue crew development • Lifeboat crew training and revision • Commercial vessel operators • Sailing, motor boating and powerboat users • Harbour, inshore and coastal navigation • Refreshing knowledge before going afloat From steering and sailing rules to responsibilities between vessels, navigation lights, day shapes, sound signals, conduct in restricted visibility and actions to avoid collision, IRPCS helps you practise the knowledge that matters at sea. Learn the rules. Test your understanding. Build confidence. Stay safer on the water. Download IRPCS and start improving your COLREGS knowledge today. Subscription terms: IRPCS may offer auto-renewing subscriptions that provide access to premium learning, revision and practice features. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://irpcs.app/privacy IRPCS Terms: https://irpcs.app/terms

Screenshots

Sailor's Deck4 screens
IRPCS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Sailor's Deck at none against IRPCS's shown. IRPCS's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, 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

Both are free to download. Sailor's Deck sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and IRPCS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sailor's Deck ships an update every 3 weeks, IRPCS every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Sailor's Deck versus IRPCS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSailor's DeckIRPCS
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB73 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperVladimir ArefevPaul Whittle

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Sailor's Deck

One-time3
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Buy a Coffee$2.99
  • Generous Tip$3.99
2 purchases

IRPCS

Subscriptions2
  • IRPCS Pro 1 month$4.991 Month
  • IRPCS Pro$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Sailor's Deck free?
Sailor's Deck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is IRPCS free?
IRPCS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sailor's Deck or IRPCS have ads?
IRPCS shows ads; Sailor's Deck does not.
Which is updated more often, Sailor's Deck or IRPCS?
Sailor's Deck ships an update every 3 weeks, and IRPCS every 3 days. Most recently, Sailor's Deck was updated on November 5, 2026 and IRPCS on November 5, 2026.

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