TZ iBoat – Marine Navigation Reviews

by Fleming 55

I bought TZiBoat thinking it would be a good tool to easily plan future routes and transfer them to my existing Furuno Black Box system. TZiBoat does not allow you to easily transfer points or routes to your Furuno plotters. You can pull up a tide or current prediction for a particular point within TZiBoat but there is no capability to get this data for a future date which renders this feature useless from a planning standpoint. The graphics are good, especially the transition between 2D and 3D and it’s helpful to visualize an entrance into a harbor you have never been to before. There is zero capability to use the data from TZiBoat on a Mac and the CloudZero feature is worthless because it only contains base data from a Raster chart. Would I use this instead of Navionics on my IPad and Mac? No. It’s not worth the money. It needs a huge amount of data input just to get up to speed with Navionics. Note: I have no financial ties to either Garmin or this app and nothing to gain by the success/failure of either company.

by Fisher 767

I like TZiBoat I like to see more fishing information like sea surface temperatures and temperatures at 30 m down as well as plankton and even fish if you had like a fish or mapping program.

by Ratsix

As an avid nav app user who has tried everything for our sailing and fishing boats, TZ iOS is very good. Best anchor alarm, best raster maps. Wish the PC App was in OS for Mac for routing and weather. I still use B&G for sailing features and Garmin for ActiveCaptain, as well as Predict Wind for routing and forecasts, so it is not a total replacement yet. The UX of the vector charts is a little lacking compared to the competition but I tend to use this as my raster backup/compare option to enriched vector C Maps.

by Piggings

I’ve been using the computer version of TimeZero and older versions of Nobeltec for a very long time, and this has almost all the features of the computer version. It seems like they replaced the track line recording feature with the ability to share with your followers, which is kind of annoying, but not too big of a issue. For $20 a year it is not the professional navigation program that the $3000 one for PC is, but it is much better than the other app I had. They also seem to make improvements based on feedback, so I hope they bring back the old way of recording track lines. One other thing, and this is not that much of an issue for average use and is probably less of a problem with TZiBoat than the actual GPS in my phone, is that if you’re going slow, as you do while setting a longline, it sometimes doesn’t show the boat icon facing the right way. Again, not too much of a problem for average use, but one of the times it happened I was setting a longline and I thought the boat was pointing towards a 25 fathom sounding on the chart, but the icon was pointing the wrong way and it ended up being 49 fathoms. The other small things that could be improved is it would be nice if you could see the SOG without having the whole sidebar open. Overall, while it has a few small issues, it is great for navigating skiffs and much better than the competition.

by Jimjim25grady

Are use TZiBoat for planning my offshore fishing trips. I find it very detailed in the weather information and wave information. It’s super convenient to plan waypoints on my mobile device and have them sync directly to my boat. Love it!

by "Silver Lining"

I just loaded the software into my iPad and purchased charts. The first thing that I noticed was all the courses that I have set up in my TC software from my pc are loaded into the iPad software. I think this is great stuff! TZ software is the reason I’m looking into for Reno hardware.
Thank you!

by Sailor 1

TZ iBoat is one of the easiest and most complete aids to navigation on the market. The seamless charting works flawlessly, the detailed tides and currents right on the chart make it easy for anyone looking on. There is no time needed for flipping between programs which enables you to keep your eyes out on the water and not always buried in the screen. The distance and bearing feature is so easy ito use that identifying navigation aids and points of land with a hand bearing compass is fast and accurate. iBoat is clearly a fantastic navigation aid that when used with other aids such as hand bearing compasses, depth sounders, binoculars, etc, will help to make your trip as safe as possible. This aid to navigation does so much more including being able to add and remove features from your screen easily in order to keep your screen uncluttered works extremely well. I would rate this Nobeltec product higher than anything else seen on the market today. Look it up and I challenge you to find a more complete easy to use program.
Captain Thomson.

by El Callejon

I had a very old laptop that didn’t function as a backup to my main, newer GPS. I replaced it with TZ iBoat and have been thrilled with the product. I still need to play with it more but, it seems to do do everything I need and more.

by George Forge

TZ Makes it possible to manage data that was only possible to monitor across several apps all in one clean and organized interface. Let’s support companies who actively optimize and develop their products over time.

by Sjiyc

I’ve been a owner of Nobeltec from day one and love the iPad version of TZ for my sail boat that I don’t use that often. It is great that it works so well and doesn’t have a new learning curve to use.
Keep up the good work. I reconnected TZ to others and they are very happy with their decision to go with TZ.
Mike Henry
Commodore SAn Juan Island Yacht Club

by Zenarcher6

Excellent tool for planning trips before going and while under way as a way of seeing the bigger picture as an augment to the chart plotter. I only wish it had the ability to show tides and current at a set time rather than current time.

by TZ Mike

I like this working in conjunction with my Pc version of Time Zero. Happy customer for well over a year. like the Customer support personnel very much long after the initially purchasing the software product TZ and really like the weather module for planning. Keep up the good work at TZ.

by GaFlaBoy

The free version is adequate, but updating maps is probably money well spent for almost anyone, and it’s cheap. I downloaded to test it prior to buying a Furono wireless radar dome that works with TZiBoat. Still haven’t pulled the trigger yet, but it does look promising. They do need to offer an “all inclusive” deal though. Having too many subscriptions is going to be a problem.

by SV Brick House

And TZ Iboats is really first rate! So feature rich, so intuitive! I have a great Raymarine chart plotter which is still my primary navigation system, but TZ iBoat is one of only a few applications I have running on my iPad should the chartplotter fail at an inopportune time. I love the C-Maps Charts on it...wish it had a Navionics option too, like the laptop version does! I likely underutilize the application..it just has so much to it!

by Xavier Itzmann

This is now nearly a full chart plotter. In addition to the previous features, including ability to display AIS and data such as depth, SOG, etc., it now displays wind data (Apparent, True, etc).

In addition, the transition from the old app MaxSea TZ TimeZero was done correctly for us pre-existing customers who had “purchased” maps. Those carried over! Excellent show of respect towards customers and very confidence-inspiring with regard to future "subscriptions".

TimeZero for iPad remains the gold standard in raster (paper chart-like) charting, with only official charts from the best official government hydro-graphic institutions (UKHO, Canada CHS, U.S. NOAA, France SHOM, Italy IIMI, Spain IHM, etc., etc.)

The branding is weak and a very poor marketing choice (“iBoat”), because it makes it sound as if this is some sort of toy. It is not. This is a very serious navigation program we use every day out in the water.

by Navigator Josh W

The TZ iBoat app is really a fantastic app to have onboard. So many unique features are packed in, yet super functional. Easy and intuitive to switch back and forth between this and Furuno TZTouch 3’s interface with lots of integration. I especially love the Premium Weather offline service options, the UI layers are so clear and easy to use that both my wife and I prefer TZiBoat for weather forecasts over NOAAs confusing radar apps for looking up local weather conditions. Great job!

by CO Miner

This navigation app works across the Apple device spectrum and integrates many features you want if you are planning to use a tablet/iPad as a chartplotter - easy wireless AIS integration, vector and raster charts, and even wireless radar overlay (specific Furuno instrument). TZ keeps adding useful functions like anchor watch, weather app integration and route tracking so it’s clear they are paying attention to their customers’ wish lists. A bargain compared to the competition that keeps getting better!

by Mglyman

I can’t say enough good things about TZiBoat. Either as a stand-alone tool, or in conjunction with our TZT19F, it function’s flawlessly. I love the cloud integration to keep them all synced and the amount of info they cleanly display. I came from Garmin, so it took a bit of playing around to learn the UI, but once I did I think it’s 1000x a better system.

If I could give one critique, it would be on the web browser side, I’d rather edit routes and makes on the iPad or my MFD then the computer.

by Chesapeake Bay Cruiser

I have been using the TZ iBoat app for a few months now and can’t say enough good things about it. It’s simple, easy to use UI along with its extensive feature set make this one of the few navigation apps truly worth having. It’s seamless integration with my Furuno TZT2 system just makes an already great app even better. I love being able to build routes for upcoming trips at home and have those routes show up on my TZT2 network. I just upgraded to version 2.0 this morning and am already loving the addition of weather features. Keep up the great work.

by Googull

The latest release is over the top - so well thought out and usable on both iPad and iPhone. The weather is on par with the solution delivered in TimeZero Pro and the routes and marks synchronize instantly over the WAN or LAN - perfect when off grid. I appreciate that TZ iBoat can source Navigation inputs from our boat’s instruments including AIS. The perfect backup for our primary navigation system. Fantastic!

by Tolly 57'

If there is an anchor watch alarm feature on the system, I cannot find it. The system tutorial is less than adequate. It should come with a written manual with detailed instructions and an index to find the features you are looking for.

by Blahblahpoker

But looks like they are addressing the shortcomings and look forward to the update.

by Capt. Fletcher

This is a very good app for those maritime people who want to know what the weather is in an area of your choice. Has improved over the course of 8 years that I have been a member.

by Seacap8

TZiBoat looks worth while. Very interested in radar module which cost an extra $50, but worth it if it includes a few more features for the Furuno DSR4W.

by Fertnit

I recently set up an onboard WiFi network to feed gps and ais to my iPad running the TZboat app. Even though I’m not yet familiar with all its features, TZiBoat has been easy to use and works great. Goodbye dedicated chartplotter

by Pecosjk

Great app, I have changed all my chartplotting and radar to my iPad with this program. It has worked out great and is portable to work out routes down below. The seamless charts are excellent.

by Whosailsme

For the first time using my iPad on a 70 mile trip from New Hampshire up the coast of Maine, this along with paper charts found our way home. Easy to use and accurate.

by Lorette S

This is the best navigation app I have used so far . It is easy, fast, accurate and with all the details you need . You have everything with one app. Definitely recommand it.

by Paul _L

Finally an all-in-one user friendly marine app with possibility to only pay for charts you need but know you can go around the world if you want to! As a former naval/watch officer, I feel equipped with professional tools again - thanks for that

by PYLON ONE

Thank you for a reliable chart plotter on my 12.9 inch I-pad pro .