USCG Navigation Rules Handbook vs Binnacle School
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
USCG Navigation Rules Handbook
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The complete Navigation Rules, International (COLREGS) and Inland, side by side, rule by rule. Plus the Boat Crew Seamanship Manual and the International Code of Signals. Three public domain maritime references in one offline library. An independent reference app. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the US Coast Guard, the USCG Auxiliary, NGA, or the Department of Homeland Security. It reproduces their public domain publications, which are also free at navcen.uscg.gov. Free forever. No ads, no subscription, no account, no data sharing. NAVIGATION RULES HANDBOOK (COLREGS AND INLAND) The complete International Rules (72 COLREGS) and Inland Rules (33 CFR 83), presented side by side rule by rule exactly as the official handbook does, with a quick toggle to show only International, only Inland, or both at once. Parts A through F plus Annexes I through V. This is the whole rules of the road text, not a summary or a quiz bank. BOAT CREW SEAMANSHIP MANUAL The full manual: boat handling, towing, search and rescue, heavy weather, navigation, sound signals, anchoring. Every chapter, fully searchable. INTERNATIONAL CODE OF SIGNALS (NGA PUB 102) All 40 signal flags (26 letters, 10 numerals, 3 substitutes and the answering pennant) with their single letter meanings, plus the two letter Distress, SAR, Maneuvering and Weather sections. WHO IT IS FOR • Captains preparing for a USCG OUPV (six pack) or Master license • Anyone studying the rules of the road for a licence exam • Coast Guard Auxiliarists working through Boat Crew Member or Coxswain qualifications • Recreational boaters and sailors who want the real rules at a glance, not a paraphrase • Anyone responsible for the safe operation of a vessel WHY THIS ONE Most navigation rules apps charge between four and sixteen dollars for the text alone. Here the complete text of all three references, full search, and bookmarks are free, forever. A single $0.99 purchase adds the interactive study tools. There is no subscription and there never will be. PRO TOOLS, A SINGLE $0.99 PURCHASE SIDE BY SIDE RULE COMPARISON International (72 COLREGS) and Inland (33 CFR 83) shown in parallel for every rule. Toggle between Both, International, and Inland. This is the view license candidates need, because the exam asks which jurisdiction says what. KNOT LIBRARY Bowline, cleat hitch, clove hitch, square knot, sheet bend, round turn and two half hitches, anchor bend. Each with its use case, the verbatim Boat Crew procedure, and a deep link back to the manual section that covers it. SIGNAL FLAG DECODER A 40 flag grid with the phonetic name and glyph for every flag, plus a multi flag hoist decoder. Type the hoist, get the meaning. Works offline. QUALIFICATION CHECKLIST 42 Personnel Qualification Standards tasks across 10 categories including helmsmanship, navigation, engineering, communications, seamanship, first aid and damage control. Check off each task as you complete it. Every task deep links to the relevant Boat Crew Seamanship section so you can study it right there. OFFLINE BY DESIGN • Fully offline, no signal needed underway • Dark, low light interface for the wheelhouse at night • Fast search across all three references at once • Bookmarks and recently viewed sections • Progress saved on your device SAFETY DISCLAIMER This app is a study and reference tool. NOT FOR PRIMARY NAVIGATION. Always consult current official publications, Local Notices to Mariners, and current charts when actually underway. Maritime regulations are updated weekly, so verify any operationally significant rule or procedure against the current source. ATTRIBUTION The Navigation Rules Handbook and Boat Crew Seamanship Manual are US Coast Guard publications and the International Code of Signals is an NGA publication, all works of the United States Government in the public domain. This app is an independent product with no government affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement.
Binnacle School
Prepare for your U.S. Coast Guard captain's license exams with a structured, module-based study approach. Practice questions with detailed explanations and interactive drills to master navigation, seamanship, and more. Track student progress for classes or unlock all content with a premium subscription.
- Module-based exam preparation
- Explanation on every question
- Interactive drills for practical skills
- Class management and student tracking
- Progressive unlocking of study modules
- Daily practice with built-in tutor
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Binnacle School — USCG Captain's License Exam Prep Study for your U.S. Coast Guard captain's license the way the exam actually works: by module, at your own pace, with an explanation on every question. Whether you're going for an OUPV / Six-Pack, OUPV-Master, or a 100- or 200-Ton Master credential, Binnacle School breaks the written exam into the same categories the Coast Guard tests. WHAT YOU STUDY - Navigation Rules (COLREGS / Inland) — lights, shapes, sound signals, give-way and stand-on. The most heavily weighted module on every deck exam. - Navigation General — piloting, tides and currents, aids to navigation, dead reckoning. - Deck General — seamanship, ground tackle, stability, firefighting, vessel construction. - Chart Plotting — set and drift, course to steer, lines of position, fixing your position. - Meteorology and Safety, scaling up to Celestial Navigation and Radar for the 200-Ton exam. FREE TO START Three full modules — Rules of the Road, Safety, and Meteorology — are open to everyone, no account required. Get free daily practice with an explanation from the built-in tutor. PASS TO UNLOCK Clear a module (80% over 20+ questions) and the next one opens. Build toward your specific license target one category at a time, in the sequence the exam follows. INTERACTIVE TRAINERS Drill the visual, hands-on parts the way they're tested: navigation lights, knots, chart work, celestial sights, stability, maneuvering boards, and tides. CLASSES Teaching a license course? Create a class, share a join code, and track every student's accuracy, attempts, and activity from one roster. Open specific modules for your students as they're ready. GO PRO Unlock every module, remove daily limits, and get unlimited tutor explanations. Sign in with Apple, Google, or a one-time email code. Fair winds and a following sea.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Binnacle School at weekly against USCG Navigation Rules Handbook's monthly. USCG Navigation Rules Handbook's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. USCG Navigation Rules Handbook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Binnacle School sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
USCG Navigation Rules Handbook ships an update monthly, Binnacle School weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | USCG Navigation Rules Handbook | Binnacle School |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 84 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SEDX LLC | John Thomas |
In-app purchases
USCG Navigation Rules Handbook
- Coxswain Pro$0.99
Binnacle School
- Binnacle School Premium$4.991 Month
- Binnacle School Premium$29.991 Year
- Lifetime Access$79.99
Questions
Is USCG Navigation Rules Handbook free?
Is Binnacle School free?
Do USCG Navigation Rules Handbook or Binnacle School have ads?
Which is updated more often, USCG Navigation Rules Handbook or Binnacle School?
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