Free Marine Navigation Software

• Simple 3-step Quick Start Guide to get up and running with OpenCPN.
• Fungawi Marine Gps. Fugawi Marine ENC supports online maps and charts. Fugawi has a 1-year free subscription to their X-Traverse Data Plan and detailed topography of Canadian and USA maps. The software is also available for Android, Windows Mobile devices or Nokia Symbian. Features: Internet Activation of Navionics Charts.
• OpenCPN OpenCPN is a great marine navigation software that has a wide range of features that will surely make sailing easier for you. All you need in order to get started, is this software installed on a PC and a GPS receiver connected to the computer.

For Your Trip Planning and Navigation Needs

4.9 (16) Dockwa is the only marina management platform that. MaxSea is one of the best marine navigation software. As the name suggests, this works when on water. If you’re into boating or if you’re going on the cruise, this software application would come in handy. Most commercial fishermen and workboats use this software and it is definitely one of the top rated ones.

Raymarine Legacy Product

RayTech™ Navigation Software is now retired and the following information is for reference purposes only.

RayTech™ Features

Raymarine's PC navigation solution for Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems only (Apple OSx, Windows Vista and Windows 8 are unsupported). Raymarine RayTech™ RNS v6.2 provides a comprehensive set of navigation tools including multi-format electronic charting, SeaTalk^HS electronics integration, worldwide tides and currents, and more.

Raymarine RayTech™ RNS Navigation Software (Full and Upgrade Versions)

Features

• Take your PC onboard and access radar, digital sonar, charts and navigation data instantly with compatible Raymarine multifunctional displays
• Support for vector, raster, 3D bathymetric and aerial photo cartography
• Compatible with all Navionics® format charts on compact flash (except Navionics Classic)
• Compatible with Maptech® BSB v2.0-v4.0 Raster Charts, Softchart Raster Charts, NDI Raster Charts and NOAA Raster Navigation charts (RNC)
• Plan waypoints and routes, then transfer them between your PC, Raymarine multifunction displays
• SeaTalk^HS networking through your PC's ethernet port
• Built-in worldwide tides and currents database
• Raymarine analogue and HD Digital radar support
• Raymarine HD Digital Sounder Module support
• AIS target tracking

Raymarine RayTech™ RNS Navigation Software (Planner Version)

Limited version of Raymarine RayTechRNS 6.2 software designed for planning and transferring waypoints and routes, between your PC and Raymarine chartplotters and multifunction displays.

About Raymarine RayTech™ Planner

• PC navigation software for the 'at home' navigator
• Create and plan routes with a simple point and click interface
• Features built-in planning charts for the entire world
• Compatible with a wide range of chart formats including, Navionics Gold, Platinum, and raster charts
• Based on the powerful Raymarine RayTech RNS v6.2 navigation software suite

Transfer Routes and Waypoints to your Raymarine Multifunction Displays

Get the most out of Raymarine RayTech Planner by transferring waypoints and routes between your PC and a Raymarine chartplotter or multifunction display.

• Raymarine RayTech Planner also supports importing and exporting waypoints/routes in the spreadsheet friendly .csv format

Please note, RayTech (all versions) only supports Navionics Compact Flash cards when connected via a compatible MFD or Navionics card reader. mSD and SD Chart cards are not supported and Voyage planner should be used for these types of cards.

Raymarine RayTech™ RNS Navigation Software v6.2
(Full Version)

Raymarine RayTech™ RNS Navigation Software v6.2 System Requirements

Before you can begin installing Raymarine RayTech™ Navigation Software, you need to make sure that the PC you intend to use meets the minimum hardware requirements for running the software. While Raymarine RayTech Navigation Software will run successfully on the minimum requirement, for best performance, the optimum requirements are recommended.

Minimum System Requirements

• Windows XP/ Windows 7
• Pentium 4 processor (or equivalent)
• 1GB RAM
• Monitor - capable of displaying 1024 x 768 resolution, 16 bit colour

Optimum System Requirements

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (or equivalent)
• 2GB RAM or higher
• NVIDIA GeForce FX graphics card or greater

Free Marine Navigation Software

IMPORTANT

In addition to the minimum/optimum requirements, Raymarine Raytech RNS v6.2 will also require one or more of the following, depending on how the PC is to be connected to your instruments/system (None of these are required for the use of Raymarine RayTech Planner):

• Serial port - for connecting to NMEA or SeaTalk
• Ethernet port - for connecting to a Raymarine E Series display using SeaTalk^HS
• Connectivity to a Raymarine E Series Wide display is not supported by Raymarine RayTech RNSv6.2

This adapter is generally not required when networking Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2 with Raymarine E Series Classic, Raymarine C Series Wide or Raymarine G Series displays, as SeaTalk and NMEA data is carried over the SeaTalk^HS network.

Recommended Adapters

Serial to USB Adapter

In the event you are interfacing to SeaTalk or NMEA 0183 equipment, and your PC or laptop is not already equipped with a serial port, we recommend the following adapter:

SeaLevel Systems USB to RS-232 DB9 Serial Interface Adapter, Model Number 2105

This adapter is generally not required when networking Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2 with Raymarine E Series or Raymarine G Series displays, as SeaTalk and NMEA data is carried over the SeaTalk^HS network.

Microsoft Wndows Service Packs and Windows Update

Before installing any software product on your PC, it is a good idea to make sure your PC's operating system is up-to-date. For best system and application performance, Raymarine strongly recommends installing the latest Microsoft Windows Service Pack applicable to your operating system. Microsoft Windows Service Packs are available online at no-charge from Microsoft. Microsoft Windows Service Packs

Additionally, it is recommended that you run the Microsoft Windows Update service before installing Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2. Windows Update is a free Internet tool that provides up-to-the-minute updates for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems, and PC hardware device drivers. The Windows Update tool may be launched at any time by opening the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser, and clicking on the 'Tools' menu, then selecting 'Windows Update'. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the update.

Video Driver Updates

Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2 is a graphics intensive application. For optimal performance, Raymarine recommends installing the latest video driver update for your PC's graphics hardware. For desktop systems, these updates are available from the graphics hardware manufacturer, or possibly through the Microsoft Windows Update service. Notebook PC users should obtain the latest video driver update from the PC manufacturer.

RayTech™ Features

Raymarine's PC navigation solution for Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems only (Apple OSx, Windows Vista and Windows 8 are unsupported). Raymarine RayTech™ RNS v6.2 provides a comprehensive set of navigation tools including multi-format electronic charting, SeaTalk^HS electronics integration, worldwide tides and currents, and more.

Raymarine RayTech™ RNS Navigation Software (Full and Upgrade Versions)

Features

• Take your PC onboard and access radar, digital sonar, charts and navigation data instantly with compatible Raymarine multifunctional displays
• Support for vector, raster, 3D bathymetric and aerial photo cartography
• Compatible with all Navionics® format charts on compact flash (except Navionics Classic)
• Compatible with Maptech® BSB v2.0-v4.0 Raster Charts, Softchart Raster Charts, NDI Raster Charts and NOAA Raster Navigation charts (RNC)
• Plan waypoints and routes, then transfer them between your PC, Raymarine multifunction displays
• SeaTalk^HS networking through your PC's ethernet port
• Built-in worldwide tides and currents database
• Raymarine analogue and HD Digital radar support
• Raymarine HD Digital Sounder Module support
• AIS target tracking

Raymarine RayTech™ RNS Navigation Software (Planner Version)

Limited version of Raymarine RayTechRNS 6.2 software designed for planning and transferring waypoints and routes, between your PC and Raymarine chartplotters and multifunction displays.

About Raymarine RayTech™ Planner

• PC navigation software for the 'at home' navigator
• Create and plan routes with a simple point and click interface
• Features built-in planning charts for the entire world
• Compatible with a wide range of chart formats including, Navionics Gold, Platinum, and raster charts
• Based on the powerful Raymarine RayTech RNS v6.2 navigation software suite

Best Free Marine Navigation Software

Transfer Routes and Waypoints to your Raymarine Multifunction Displays

Get the most out of Raymarine RayTech Planner by transferring waypoints and routes between your PC and a Raymarine chartplotter or multifunction display.

• Raymarine RayTech Planner also supports importing and exporting waypoints/routes in the spreadsheet friendly .csv format

Please note, RayTech (all versions) only supports Navionics Compact Flash cards when connected via a compatible MFD or Navionics card reader. mSD and SD Chart cards are not supported and Voyage planner should be used for these types of cards.

Raymarine RayTech™ RNS Navigation Software v6.2
(Full Version)

Raymarine RayTech™ RNS Navigation Software v6.2 System Requirements

Before you can begin installing Raymarine RayTech™ Navigation Software, you need to make sure that the PC you intend to use meets the minimum hardware requirements for running the software. While Raymarine RayTech Navigation Software will run successfully on the minimum requirement, for best performance, the optimum requirements are recommended.

Minimum System Requirements

• Windows XP/ Windows 7
• Pentium 4 processor (or equivalent)
• 1GB RAM
• Monitor - capable of displaying 1024 x 768 resolution, 16 bit colour

Optimum System Requirements

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (or equivalent)
• 2GB RAM or higher
• NVIDIA GeForce FX graphics card or greater

IMPORTANT

In addition to the minimum/optimum requirements, Raymarine Raytech RNS v6.2 will also require one or more of the following, depending on how the PC is to be connected to your instruments/system (None of these are required for the use of Raymarine RayTech Planner):

• Serial port - for connecting to NMEA or SeaTalk
• Ethernet port - for connecting to a Raymarine E Series display using SeaTalk^HS
• Connectivity to a Raymarine E Series Wide display is not supported by Raymarine RayTech RNSv6.2

This adapter is generally not required when networking Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2 with Raymarine E Series Classic, Raymarine C Series Wide or Raymarine G Series displays, as SeaTalk and NMEA data is carried over the SeaTalk^HS network.

Recommended Adapters

Serial to USB Adapter

In the event you are interfacing to SeaTalk or NMEA 0183 equipment, and your PC or laptop is not already equipped with a serial port, we recommend the following adapter:

SeaLevel Systems USB to RS-232 DB9 Serial Interface Adapter, Model Number 2105

This adapter is generally not required when networking Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2 with Raymarine E Series or Raymarine G Series displays, as SeaTalk and NMEA data is carried over the SeaTalk^HS network.

Microsoft Wndows Service Packs and Windows Update

Before installing any software product on your PC, it is a good idea to make sure your PC's operating system is up-to-date. For best system and application performance, Raymarine strongly recommends installing the latest Microsoft Windows Service Pack applicable to your operating system. Microsoft Windows Service Packs are available online at no-charge from Microsoft. Microsoft Windows Service Packs

Additionally, it is recommended that you run the Microsoft Windows Update service before installing Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2. Windows Update is a free Internet tool that provides up-to-the-minute updates for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems, and PC hardware device drivers. The Windows Update tool may be launched at any time by opening the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser, and clicking on the 'Tools' menu, then selecting 'Windows Update'. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the update.

Video Driver Updates

Raymarine RayTech RNS 6.2 is a graphics intensive application. For optimal performance, Raymarine recommends installing the latest video driver update for your PC's graphics hardware. For desktop systems, these updates are available from the graphics hardware manufacturer, or possibly through the Microsoft Windows Update service. Notebook PC users should obtain the latest video driver update from the PC manufacturer.

If you have a boat (or you're thinking about buying a boat) and you have a cell phone, you’re probably interested in learning all about the best boating apps. And among the many types of boating apps out there, marine navigation apps are some of the most useful. With the best marine navigation apps you can quite literally turn your phone or your tablet into a full-blown chartplotter. That means you have a valuable back-up to the electronics at your helm, and you can carry your tech with you even when aboard small boats with no electrical systems.

We’ve put a number of marine navigation apps to the test through the years, and these are our favorites (in alphabetical order):

1. C-Map Embark
2. iNavX
3. KnowWake
4. Navionics
5. SeaPilot

C-Map Embark

C-Map has been creating digital charts for years and has had other nav apps in the past, but Embark recently replaced previous offerings. The concept behind developing this next-gen nav app was to make it as simple and easy to use as possible. It’s a goal C-Map reached, and although this does by design make it one of the more simplistic apps in our round up, that’s one of the reasons why we love it – it’ll take you all of 30 seconds to figure out how to accomplish essential navigational tasks like going from point A to point B. Nifty bonus feature: the app can “see” the lighting situation you’re in and automatically adjust color and contrast for the best viewing.

Price: Free basic version with in-app purchases of varying costs for some map access and weather data.

iNavX

iNavX provides you with amazing latitude in the charts you choose to navigate with, and has eight different providers in their in-app chart store (NOAA charts come free). This app also allows you to do much more than simple navigational tasks, with quite advanced functionality like overlaying GRIB files (a form of current weather data) on your chartplotter screen, or connecting with NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) compatible instruments on your boat via WiFi to display things like engine data and AIS (Automatic Information System, which uses transponders on commercial ships and boats to broadcast information regarding things like identification, speed, course, and destination) data. Figuring out the navigational basics isn’t made overly-complex by the additional features, but using the advanced functions will take some studying up.

Price: $4.99 for Apple plus in-app purchases; free for Android’s basic version, $19.99/year for the enhanced Pro version.

KnowWake

KnowWake previously made our list of the Best Boating Apps for Navigation, Fishing, Weather and More, so it's no surprise that it found its way to this list, as well.

Diving into the app, you'll immediately see similarities between GPS apps that you might use in your car—like a Google Maps or a crowd-sourcing app like Waze.

KnowWake is home to a real-time community of boaters across North America, Canada, parts of the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, covering coastal waterways and more than 350 inland lakes and rivers. KnowWake provides its users with an easy way to explore all the dockside and waterfront locations available by boat. You'll will find everything from local restaurants, marinas, fuel docks, boat ramps, dive shops, inlets, dive sites, snorkel areas, and so much more.

You'll also find helpful tools like Destination Routing based on vessel draft, Location Sharing between users, Local and Remote Depth Gauge, Vessel Tracks, Pre-Departure Checklists, and a simple Float Plan submission form.

Price: Yep, you're in luck—this one's free.

Navionics

Navionics lays claim to being the most popular boating app available, and its navigational features and functions are comprehensive, to say the least. In fact, it offers many features that some modern chartplotters can’t match. Dock-to-dock auto-routing, for example, creates a route from point A to point B taking things like nav aids and your boat’s draft constraints into account, when you merely tap the beginning and end points. The Sonarchart Live function lets you create bathymetric maps of the area you’re boating in, in real time. User-generated community edits can be displayed with daily updates. And these are just some of the highlights in a long list of unique features.

Price: A two-week trial comes free, then the subscription varies depending on the chart region(s) you want ($14.99 to $54.99).

SeaPilot

Seapilot is a fairly comprehensive navigation app (though some of the more advanced features, like routing and weather forecasting, require upgrading to the premium version), which introduces a different twist into the mix: Facebook integration. Connected friends are displayed like AIS targets on the app, so finding each other and linking up on the water is easier. Seapilot is also unusual in that it can offer polar diagrams (which show the theoretical attainable speed depending on wind direction and speed) for over 300 boats, to determine the ideal path to steer a sailboat taking wind and current forecasts into account.

Price: Free basic three-day-trial version, $7.99 to $64.99 depending on chart area subscriptions.

Looking for more boating apps to try?

Hey, you anglers, wait a sec—don’t put that phone back into your pocket just yet, because when you’re out fishing it’s good for more than just navigation. Also be sure to check out the Best Apps for Fishing so the next time you hit the water you catch more fish.

You Might Also Like: