MasterCraft Pontoon Boats Now Feature Apple CarPlay Integration

Earlier this year, reports surfaced about Sea-Doo’s potential collaboration with Apple CarPlay, which would have introduced Apple’s dashboard interface to watercraft. Although updates on this project have been scarce, another company in the watercraft industry seems to have taken the lead.

MasterCraft Boat Holdings recently announced a partnership with Savvy Navvy to integrate Apple CarPlay into their Crest and Balise pontoon brands. Savvy Navvy is described as the “Google Maps for boats,” and this integration will be available on the 2027 Balise and Crest Conquest and Caribbean models.

While the CarPlay integration in these boats will function similarly to that in cars, the unique aspect is Savvy Navvy’s adaptation for marine navigation. The app provides nautical charts, GPS tracking, smart routing, tidal data, and live weather forecasts tailored for boaters.

Jelte Liebrand, the Founder and CEO of Savvy Navvy, expressed excitement about the modern infotainment system, highlighting the convenience of planning trips from home and seamlessly transitioning to the boat. The integration was unveiled at Crest Marine’s dealer meeting on Lake Lansing, featuring on-water demonstrations for attendees.

Although MasterCraft’s pontoons offer built-in CarPlay integration, there are aftermarket marine head units compatible with CarPlay. Savvy Navvy’s update enhances the navigation experience for all boaters, utilizing the CarPlay navigation frameworks to replace Apple Maps on the dashboard screen.

While the Savvy Navvy app is free to download, the CarPlay integration requires a subscription. Pricing starts at $129 annually for the Premium plan, offering offline charts, 14-day trip planning, weather forecasts, and boat instrument data. There is also a Premium+ plan for global chart coverage.

Crest and Balise owners will receive access to the Premium plan, with different durations for each brand. The CarPlay interface focuses on navigation features, such as Savvy Charts in various views, smart routing, search functionalities, live location sharing, and bathymetry.

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