January 29, 2026

For mariners who want an easy-to-use, powerful navigation tool that enhances your connected boating experience, the free all-in-one ActiveCaptain® app is for you. With access to your nautical charts and maps on your smartphone and Garmin chartplotter, you’ll be able to better plan your adventure and take charge of your boat from nearly anywhere.

If you’re a new user, keep reading as we tackle some common ActiveCaptain questions.

How do I get started with the ActiveCaptain app?

To use the ActiveCaptain app, insert your dedicated ActiveCaptain SD™ card into your chartplotter. Then connect the ActiveCaptain app with your chartplotter through Wi-Fi® connectivity. Pair with a Bluetooth® connection to receive smart notifications on your chartplotter. For integration across your boat, ActiveCaptain can wirelessly keep your vessel updated with the latest charts, software and more.

How can I use ActiveCaptain app for my charts?

To download your charts, zoom into the area you want to see, and your purchased charts will appear. If you want to explore an area you don’t have a chart for, zoom in and you’ll be shown charts that are available for purchase. With your purchase of  Garmin Navionics+™  or Garmin Navionics Vision+ mapping, you’ll have access to 1 year of updates. You can manage your subscription in the ActiveCaptain app by navigating to My Charts.

Once you’ve set up the app, access and wirelessly update your charts on your mobile device and directly to your chartplotter with the OneChart™ feature. Access your charts and plan routes from anywhere, no matter if you’re at home or on the water.

How can I plan my routes and trips on ActiveCaptain?

Planning your routes is not only time efficient but it also makes navigating a bit easier. When you’ve downloaded Garmin Navionics+ charts to your mobile device or chartplotter, use Auto Guidance+™ technology¹  to receive a suggested path to your desired location. Using your preferred depth and overhead clearance as well as chart data and frequently traveled routes, Auto Guidance+ technology calculates a path that leads you through channels, inlets and more. The suggested route is easy to edit if you want to add a stop along the way or make additional adjustments.

When manually creating a route, plot waypoints along your desired route in the app. Sync the route from the app to your chartplotter and navigate to your destination with ease.

When you connect ActiveCaptain to your chartplotter, your data is automatically synced to both devices. This allows you to edit routes and waypoints in the ActiveCaptain app or your chartplotter for a seamless experience.  

How can I share experiences with other boaters using ActiveCaptain?

See photos, read reviews and share information about marinas, hazards and points of interest when you join the ActiveCaptain Community through the ActiveCaptain app. With access to other boaters’ reviews and images, you can plan better for any trip or excursion. When paired with your chartplotter, access community information straight from your display.

The Quickdraw Contours feature helps you create your own custom maps with contours and depth labels from the transducer onboard. When you take part in the free Garmin Quickdraw Community, you can download a community chart with input from other boaters. Depth data coming from numerous sources can influence the detail on the fishing maps for everyone’s benefit.

To share contours to the Quickdraw community from ActiveCaptain, sync your plotter with the ActiveCaptain app and enable the “contribute to community” toggle. Your depth contributions will automatically be shared with other users.

Can I remotely monitor and control my boat with ActiveCaptain?

With integrated connectivity through the Garmin OnDeck™ system, control various switches on your boat virtually anywhere. When you pair the ActiveCaptain app with the hub, you’ll be able to track boat movement; monitor your boat’s battery power, bilge activity, shore power and more through smartphone alerts; and control critical switches onboard.

Stay posted on the status of your boat with the help of Garmin OnDeck.

With a Garmin chartplotter on board, stay up to date on the latest software changes, navigate your favorite routes and explore with ease when you download the ActiveCaptain app. If you don’t have a Garmin chartplotter, check out the Navionics® Boating app.

_{¹Auto Guidance is for planning purposes only and does not replace safe navigation operations}