Just about everyone has a smartphone, and most of us take it everywhere. This simple device (and its bigger cousins, tablet devices such as Apple’s iPad) contains more computing and navigation power than any other device on your boat. It also has features that your other electronics do not, primarily the ability to connect to the internet along most of New Zealand’s coastline.
So, what can your phone do for you?
First, you need to understand the technology built into it, and the list is quite impressive: GPS receiver, compass, accelerometer (to measure movement), inclinometer (to measure tilt angles), clock, light, strobe, 4G radio receiver, speaker, WiFi and Bluetooth capability.
Batteries generally last a full day or more, and most phones have a bright light that can serve as an…
