Apple CarPlay will soon move beyond cars, with Crest and Balise adding the platform to select pontoon boats starting with the 2027 model year. The new setup will bring familiar iPhone controls and marine navigation tools directly to the helm display.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will come standard on every new Balise model, along with Crest Conquest and Caribbean boats. The first compatible models will launch next month, while buyers will also receive access to Savvy Navvy Premium.
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CarPlay brings marine navigation to the helm
Savvy Navvy will power the navigation experience through CarPlay, allowing boaters to view nautical charts, create routes, monitor nearby traffic, check live weather, and follow tidal data from the main display.
Users can choose between day, night, and satellite views, while 2D and 3D charts provide a clearer look at lakes, coastal waters, and nearby routes. The app also shows live speed, estimated arrival time, remaining distance, current position, and upcoming manoeuvres.
Boaters can plan a route on their phone before leaving home, and the route will appear on the helm display after they board. They can also search for marinas, harbours, anchorages, and saved locations without switching between separate devices.
The integration also supports live location sharing, bathymetry, active GPS tracking, and nearby boat traffic controls. These features place the main navigation tools in one interface that many iPhone users already understand.
Crest and Balise will include the system across their selected 2027 pontoon range, giving buyers a more familiar way to manage navigation, weather, and trip planning directly from the helm.
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