Comparison

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed vs Boat Speedometer

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

Head to head
About

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed

This app provides a sailing race timer with speed and course monitoring. It offers unique features for sail racing, including adjustable countdowns, wind and speed tracking, and a compass. It integrates with Apple Watch and can optionally start a Sailing Workout activity.

Highlights
  • Adjustable countdown timer
  • Speed and course monitoring
  • Wind shift tracking
  • Compass
  • Man Over Board function
  • ISAF Race Signals reference
Features
Read full description

Everybody knows that catching the start is essential in sailing. Finally there is a great Sailing Watch available for the iPhone and it works great with the Apple Watch. This app provides a timer, speed and course monitoring with unique features and unparalleled ease of use for sail racing. When you hear or see a race signal just press Gun! - You can adjust if it is a 5, 4 or 1 minute warning afterwards! And if it was just a loud noise from a flapping sail and not a race signal you can easily jump back to the previous timer. It defaults to the standard ISAF 5,4,1,0 sequence but it can handle arbitrary countdown from 30 minutes down to 0 Now you can focus on other things like wind (directly in the app - simply configure your own favourite weather on the config page) and other boats potentially giving you yet another edge! ** Please read more on the info "i" page in the app ** You can enable GPS and get Speed over Ground (SOG) and Course over Ground (COG) presented next to the timer to help you keep track of wind and speed in the seconds before and after start. The Wind page shows a graph of COG and SOG which can help you track wind shifts. It is designed to work on iPhone with or without Apple Watch and a lot of people seem to be using it with iPads as well. TIP: On the Watch it is recommended that you (at least temporarily) activate Resume to Last Used App so that you just have to raise your wrist to get the time left: Settings->General->Activate on Wrist Raise->Resume to: Last Used App The iPhone application also contains a convenient reference to starting signals and customisable local weather information. HealthKit integration: The app provides limited HealthKit integration and can optionally start a Sailing Workout activity during race start. Summary of Features: * Simply the best countdown timer ever if you ask us :) * Really good compass! * Most of the feature work on Watch and iPhone. Watch Series 2 needed for GPS without iPhone nearby. * Current Course and Speed Over Ground based on GPS * GPS based distance to line (still being tuned but works - within limits of GPS accuracy) * Speed up / Slow down estimate for time to get to line * History plot of Course and Speed Over Ground that allow you to track wind shifts * Prevalent headings - advanced formula lists common headings to help identify windshifts * Man Over Board function - it shows time, distance and compass bearing to the location the button was pressed (NOTE: intended as a secondary non life critical aid only) * ISAF Race Signals reference - to help settle what that strange flag shown on the race committee means before the race starts... * Choice of Magnetic or True course indication * Lock function to prevent unwanted changes NOTE: Please check the "i" page in the app for more info This app offers 2 in app subscriptions to 1) support continued development and 2) to enable certain features: • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Please review our Terms of Service: http://www.kewlanu.com/tos DISCLAIMER: If you enable the GPS feature the app runs in the background for a limited time before it disables GPS. "Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life."

About

Boat Speedometer

This marine speedometer offers a clear, easy-to-read display of your boat's current speed, designed for quick checks while sailing or boating. It records voyages, tracks key metrics, and integrates with Apple Health for heart rate monitoring.

Highlights
  • High-contrast live speed display
  • Apple Watch and Live Activity support
  • Voyage recording with detailed metrics
  • Route history and CSV/KMZ export
  • Apple Health integration for heart rate
  • Simple, clutter-free interface
Features
Read full description

HullSpeed is a clean, highly legible sailing and boating speedometer with Apple Watch and Live Activity support. It works for all activities but is designed around sailing. Designed for quick speed checks while underway, HullSpeed gives sailors and boaters a simple, reliable marine speed readout on Apple Watch and iPhone. HullSpeed keeps the focus on what matters: your current BOAT SPEED. The display is large, simple, and easy to read at a glance, making it ideal for sailing, dinghy racing, cruising, or any time you want a straightforward marine speedometer without clutter. A small trend chart helps you quickly see the impact of trim changes. HullSpeed also records your voyages so you can review your time on the water later. Saved voyages include speed, distance, duration, average speed, maximum speed, route history, and exportable CSV data. In addition to sailing data, HullSpeed also withs with Apple Health to measure your heart rate via an Apple Watch so you can keep track of your activity at sea. Features: * Large, high-contrast live speed display. * Designed for quick wrist checks on Apple Watch, or quick glances at your phone. * Live Activity support on iPhone. * Record sailing voyages from iPhone or Apple Watch. * Track distance, duration, average speed, and max speed, and heart rate. * View saved route history. * Export voyage data as CSV or KMZ. * Unlock continued use with a one-time in-app purchase. * Includes 3 free trial voyages. If you like it you can purchase for life. No subscription or account required. Privacy Policy: https://www.catspaw-systems.com/PrivacyPolicies/HullSpeedPrivacy.html

Screenshots

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed4 screens
Boat Speedometer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Boat Speedometer at 100% against Race Master Sail Timer + Speed's 50%. Boat Speedometer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). Race Master Sail Timer + Speed's advantage is ratings volume (133 vs 20) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Race Master Sail Timer + Speed sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Boat Speedometer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Boat Speedometer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Race Master Sail Timer + Speed has 133 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Race Master Sail Timer + Speed's written reviews are positive against 100% of Boat Speedometer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed ships an update every 2 weeks, Boat Speedometer every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed versus Boat Speedometer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRace Master Sail Timer + SpeedBoat Speedometer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (133 ratings)5.0 (20 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings133 — better20
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKewlanu ABCatspaw Systems LLC

Customer experience

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed

All ratings133 ratings
Positive82.0%
Neutral9.0%
Negative9.0%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral27.8%
Negative22.2%

Boat Speedometer

All ratings19 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Race Master Sail Timer + Speed

Subscriptions2
  • Gold$2.991 Month
  • Silver$2.993 Months
1 purchases

Boat Speedometer

One-time1
  • Hullspeed Pro$5.99

Questions

Is Race Master Sail Timer + Speed free?
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Boat Speedometer free?
Boat Speedometer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Boat Speedometer?
Boat Speedometer is rated higher. Race Master Sail Timer + Speed averages 4.4 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while Boat Speedometer averages 5.0 from 20 ratings.
Do Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Boat Speedometer have ads?
Neither Race Master Sail Timer + Speed nor Boat Speedometer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed or Boat Speedometer?
Race Master Sail Timer + Speed ships an update every 2 weeks, and Boat Speedometer every 5 days. Most recently, Race Master Sail Timer + Speed was updated on October 24, 2026 and Boat Speedometer on October 28, 2026.

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