The one and only reason I purchased a smart phone, an Android ON5, was for safety while sailing. Sailboats are slow and comfortable riding, even during times when you would be getting your ass handed to you while aboard a similar size powerboat. The only problem is you cannot go faster than hull speed, which in my case, on a 33-foot, 15,000-pound displacement hull, is just about 10 MPH maximum speed - and that's under ideal conditions under sail. Under auxiliary power, about 7 MPH is tops. When you're in the middle of Chesapeake Bay and 10 miles from land and moving at 7MPH, it is hard to dodge a severe thunderstorm headed at you at 45 MPH. My onboard radar only has a 25-mile range, but with the phone I can see those storm fronts rolling at me from hundreds of miles away and find a sheltered creek or cove to take cover long before it hits.

When there are thunderstorms approaching, I need some advance warning, therefore the smart phone allows me to get that warning from a NOAA Weather Radar app. Additionally, there is a complete, marine, navigational GPS/Plotter app, which I have installed, which has charts of the entire US and most foreign nation waterways, including depth, current and tidal information - all at the touch of a finger.

For all the other stuff, texting, etc..., I just rely on the old fashioned and extremely efficient method - a good old telephone call works just fine. I can then have a two-way conversation with the person at the other end and they can do the same with me. Very fast and convenient, those phone calls.

The camera is pretty darned good, but doesn't compare with my conventional digital camera and my GoPro.

All the best,

Gary