iPod Touch/ iPhone Tide App...WITH PICS!

[Pete Markantes]

Let's try this again. It's been so long since I've posted here that I overlooked the fact that you can't upload from the server of another site.

As a big time music fan I got my dream gift for Christmas...an iPod Touch. I immediately began searching the iTunes App Store for a tide program. I have been using "Mr. Tides" for several years on my Mac and was glad to see that the author had written "Aye Tides" for the iPhone and iPod Touch. What follows is an outline of the features of this program and how it can assist in safe navigation.

After launching the application you will be given the opportunity to select from a list of virtually every tide station in the world. You can add your most frequently used locations to a list of Favorites.

The first screen displays the data for the selected day:
View attachment Tide Station.jpg

By rotating the device 90 degrees you will see a graph of the tide with the cursor placed on the real-time level:
View attachment Graph.jpg

For me, the real value of this display is in knowing the tide level at any time of the day. By placing your finger on the curve you will see the time and tide level for that particular moment. For example, this shows the level of 3.65 feet at 7:12 AM. If I can safely navigate to my destination at that level I can then determine what time of the day I must plan my exit from the hunting location. In this case I need to be out no later than 1547 (3:47 PM). There is great peace of mind in knowing exactly how much time I have available for the hunt. (Note: The 16:34 at the top is the time of day of the screen capture.)
View attachment Graph 4.jpg

While most GPS units have the same information available I like having it available at my fingertips for planning and reference purposes.

In addition to the above, tapping on the "i" icon in the first screen brings the following display:
View attachment Map.jpg

If you have WiFi access (iPod Touch) or phone service (iPhone) you can double tap the map to show a scalable Google map of the area. Tapping "Standard" at the top of the screen launches the area in Google Earth:
View attachment Map 3.jpg

There are other tide programs available at lower cost and some are free. My personal belief is that $9.99 is a very fare price for the outstanding features contained in this app.

Happy New Year, Good Luck, and Be Safe!

 

[Pete McMiller]

Pretty cool Pete. I remember years ago when I was stationed on Whidbey Island I never went anywhere without a tide book in the car. Now just don't forget to take it along.

 

[Pete Markantes]

Pete, since I spend so much time on the coast and the Lower Columbia, being "tide aware" has become an obsession. Between crabbing, clamming, fishing and hunting there is hardly a day that goes by without planning around the tide. The boat has a built-in GPS/Sounder and I carry a handheld Garmin 76S as backup, both with tide functions. There are way too many ways to get your ass in a sling out there and I figure if I can eliminate or minimize just one factor I can focus more on the others.

 

[Pete McMiller]

"When the tides out, the table's set" was the refrain of an old family friend from Seattle who I stayed with when I was first stationed to Whidbey Island. I've often thought of coming back to the NW just for that reason. Of all the "God's Country" places in the world, the Pacific NW has to be up near the top.