Apple CarPlay becomes Apple BoatPlay too – taking to the waterways with navigation and apps

Apple CarPlay has been available in cars since 2015, but until now, it hasn’t been available on boats.

That’s all about to change for those on the water. MasterCraft Boat Holdings’ premier pontoon brands – Crest and Balise Pontoons – has announced a partnership with the marine navigation app Savvy Navvy. Yes, that’s really what it’s called and what a name it is.

What boats will get CarPlay and when?

Anyway, back to the story. MacRumors picked up the news after it was announced during Crest Marine's annual dealer meeting and published on Business Wire.

The partnership will allow Crest and Balise boaters to sync the Savvy Navvy mobile app directly to the helm to access nautical charts, smart routing, active GPS tracking, live weather forecasts, and tidal data. The navigation screen will appear on the same screen as other CarPlay or Android Auto apps, and there’s a choice of day, night or satellite views to select from.

According to Jelte Liebrand, CEO of Savvy Navvy: “Boaters have been asking for a modern infotainment system for years. Plan your trip on the couch, step aboard, and it is already at the helm. No complicated ways to synchronise things; it just works.

"Savvy Navvy for CarPlay works on iOS and Android with any compatible display. I’m thrilled to see Crest and Balise put CarPlay in front of their boaters.”

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with Savvy Navvy compatibility will come standard on all new Balise and Crest Conquest and Caribbean models launching next month.

Boaters who buy a new 2027 Balise or Crest with CarPlay or Android Auto functionality will also get access to Savvy Navvy Premium, unlocking the range of features available within the app.