The Waterway Guide team brings years of deep boating knowledge to your fingertips, helping you expertly plan your voyages. Whether you’re charting a course, pinpointing the best marinas and anchorages, or locating efficient fuel stops with the latest pricing, Waterway Guide is an indispensable tool. It also keeps you informed about crucial navigational details like bridges, locks, and important alerts, empowering you to navigate confidently. Within the settings of your Aqua Map application, you can fully customize your Waterway Guide experience to perfectly suit your needs.
Understanding Your Waterway Guide Settings
Accessing the Waterway Guide settings page within Aqua Map unlocks a range of customization options to enhance your navigational experience.
-
Data Download: This is the gateway to enabling the full functionality of Waterway Guide. By initiating a data download, you equip yourself with essential information for offline use. The initial download may take a few moments, but rest assured, you can continue using the app while it works in the background. This feature is crucial for areas with limited or no internet connectivity, ensuring you always have access to vital waterway data.
-
Update Now: To guarantee you’re always working with the most current information, the “Update now” button allows for immediate database updates. Tapping this ensures you download the latest available data, keeping your charts and guides as up-to-date as possible. Regularly updating is recommended to benefit from the newest marina information, hazard alerts, and navigational changes.
-
Automatic Update: Customize your update preferences with the automatic update settings. Choose “Never” for manual updates only, giving you complete control over when data is refreshed. Opt for “WiFi” to automatically update daily when your device is active and connected to a WiFi network, conserving mobile data. Selecting “Always” provides daily updates using any data connection, including cellular, offering maximum convenience but potentially incurring mobile data charges depending on your plan.
-
Show on Map: Take control of what you see on your navigational charts with the “Show on map” feature. This setting allows you to toggle the visibility of Waterway Guide objects directly on the map display. Further refine your view by using the six object icons: marina, hazard, anchorage, bridge, free dock, and gate. Tapping each icon enables or disables the display of its corresponding objects, decluttering your map and focusing on the information most relevant to your immediate needs. It’s important to note that these display settings also influence the Route Explorer search engine; objects hidden from view will not be included in Route Explorer search results.
-
Icon Size on Map: Personalize your map view by adjusting the “Icon size on Map”. This setting lets you select your preferred size for Waterway Guide icons, ensuring optimal visibility and readability based on your device and personal preference. Larger icons can be beneficial for quick recognition, while smaller icons can reduce clutter when viewing densely populated areas.
-
Show Names on Map: Enhance object identification by enabling “Show names on map”. This feature displays the names of Waterway Guide objects directly beneath their icons on the map. Keep in mind that names are intelligently displayed only at detailed zoom levels to maintain map clarity and prevent information overload when viewing broader areas.
Delving into Waterway Guide Object Information
For in-depth details about any point of interest, simply tap its icon on the map and select the designated detail option. This action opens the comprehensive information page for that specific object.
Within each object’s information page, you’ll discover six distinct categories of information, each accessible via tabs at the bottom menu: General, Navigation, Dockage, Fuel, Service, and Reviews. The Reviews tab conveniently displays the number of available user reviews with a red circle indicator, offering quick insight into community feedback.
Contributing your own experiences is simple. To leave a review, just press the review icon located on the right side of the top bar. This will seamlessly redirect you to the Waterway Guide website, where you can share your valuable insights with the boating community.
By mastering these settings and utilizing the wealth of information within Waterway Guide object pages, you empower yourself with the knowledge and tools needed for safer, more enjoyable, and well-informed boating adventures.