Updating the SatNav & GPS – Are We Really Ready for the Holiday?
Before any sailing trip or driving holiday, there’s one simple check that often gets overlooked… your maps.
We all assume our SatNav or GPS “just works” – until it doesn’t.
Why Updating Matters
Roads change. Junctions get redesigned. One-way systems appear overnight. And if you’re heading abroad, the last thing you want is your SatNav confidently directing you down a road that no longer exists.
The same applies on the water – charts, hazards, and navigation markers can all change.
Car SatNav Checklist
- Update maps on your device (often via Wi-Fi or computer)
- Check European coverage (not always included!)
- Update speed limit databases
- Make sure postcodes/addresses work abroad
- Carry a backup (phone navigation app)
Brands like Garmin and TomTom regularly release updates – but only if you actually install them.
Marine & Sailing Navigation
If you’re heading to somewhere like Croatia as I am:
- Update marine charts on your plotter or tablet
- Check buoyage systems (IALA regions can differ)
- Download offline maps (signal can be patchy at sea)
- Test everything before you leave the UK
Apps can be brilliant – but only if they’re downloaded and working offline.
iPad & Backup Navigation
You mentioned having OpenSeaMap – good start
But consider:
- A second app as backup
- Offline chart downloads
- A power solution (battery packs, chargers)
Because when the main system fails… it will be at the worst possible moment.
The Classic Mistake
You only discover your maps are out of date when:
- You miss a turning
- You end up in a dead-end marina
- Or worse… you’re navigating somewhere unfamiliar in poor weather
Final Thought
Updating your SatNav isn’t exciting.
But getting lost on the first day of your holiday definitely isn’t either.
