Find the solution with TZ iBoat, the latest generation of marine navigation apps

Yes. TZ iBoat was originally available only on iOS, but Android support was introduced with TZ iBoat version 4, released in June 2026.

TZ iBoat is compatible with iPhones and iPads running iOS 14.2 or later, and with Android phones and tablets running Android 11 or higher with at least 4 GB of RAM. On Android, the app is only supported on Play Protect certified devices, as certification is required for proper operation. TZ iBoat for Android is not compatible with Chromebooks or devices running the Android Go operating system.

For the best experience on iPad, we recommend using a model with Cellular connectivity, which includes a built-in GPS receiver. “Wi Fi only” iPads do not have an internal GPS and therefore require either an external Bluetooth GPS or a connection to an NMEA 0183 wireless gateway. Access to an NMEA 0183 wireless gateway requires an active TZ iBoat Essential subscription.

TZ iBoat is designed to work offline once your charts have been downloaded. After purchasing a TZ MAPS area, you can store the chart locally on your device from the “Offline Charts & Weather” screen, along with weather forecasts for offline use during your trip.

The following content requires an active Internet connection:

• Streaming charts that have not been downloaded for offline use
• Satellite Photo overlay (satellite imagery cannot be stored locally)
• TZ Online AIS (worldwide AIS data via Internet, available with the Essential plan)
• Downloading new chart updates or weather forecasts

Yes, under specific conditions. TZ iBoat is designed to keep running in the background when it needs to maintain a critical navigation task.

TZ iBoat continues to run in the background when any of the following is active:

• Trip recording
• An active route (navigation to a destination) or FishIt is active
• A chart or weather download in progress
• Anchor Watch
• Depth Alarm
• Wind Speed Alarm

In any of these cases, TZ iBoat continues to track your position, trigger alarms, and maintain the active task even when your screen is off or you switch to another app.

If none of the above is active, the app may be terminated in the background. You can resume where you left off by reopening the app.

Note: Running TZ iBoat in the background uses your device's GPS continuously, which may have a noticeable impact on battery life.

iOS: settings that affect background operation

For TZ iBoat to track your position in the background on iOS, make sure that:

• TZ iBoat has Location permission set to "Always" (Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → TZ iBoat → Always). If set to "While Using the App," position tracking stops as soon as the app is in the background.
• Background App Refresh is enabled for TZ iBoat (Settings → General → Background App Refresh)
• Low Power Mode is turned off during long trips, as it can reduce background activity

Android: manufacturer-specific battery optimization

Some Android manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, OPPO, and others) apply aggressive battery optimization that can close apps in the background even when those apps need to keep running. If you notice that Trip recording stops or alarms fail to trigger when your screen is off:

• Open your Android device's Settings
• Navigate to Apps → TZ iBoat → Battery (the exact path varies by manufacturer)
• Set the battery optimization for TZ iBoat to "Unrestricted" or "Don't optimize"

If TZ iBoat is not displaying your position, or if your position works near the marina but disappears once you are offshore, the issue is usually one of the following.

Your device does not have a built-in GPS.

Some devices, including Wi-Fi-only iPads, do not include GPS hardware. Near a marina, the device can estimate position from nearby Wi-Fi networks, which is why position may appear correctly there. Once you are offshore, this is no longer available and no position can be determined. To use TZ iBoat for real navigation on such a device, add an external position source: a Bluetooth GPS receiver, or an NMEA0183 GPS connected through a Wi-Fi gateway (see "Can I use a Wi-Fi only iPad?").

TZ iBoat rejected the position because accuracy was too low.

TZ iBoat applies strict thresholds to the location accuracy reported by the device's operating system:

• Over 10 meters: a ring is drawn around the vessel symbol to indicate the uncertainty.
• Over 20 meters: a "Poor GPS" warning is triggered (this warning can be disabled in Settings → Alarms).
• Over 50 meters: the position is rejected, and a "Position Lost" alarm is triggered if accuracy does not improve within 30 seconds.

In poor satellite reception (indoor use, blocked sky view), these thresholds may cause TZ iBoat to show no position even when the device itself has a rough fix. Moving to an open area or waiting for better satellite visibility usually resolves this.

On Android: TZ iBoat uses Raw GPS, not Fused Location.

Android offers two location sources: "Raw GPS" and "Fused Location." Fused Location combines GPS with nearby Wi-Fi networks and cellular data to speed up position acquisition, which works well on land but introduces inaccuracies in a marine environment. For example, a Wi-Fi router on your boat appears stationary to Android, but in reality moves with the vessel, producing a false reference.

By default, TZ iBoat uses Raw GPS to avoid this issue. As a result, you may sometimes see a position in another app (such as Google Maps, which uses Fused Location) when TZ iBoat shows none. For troubleshooting, the GPS Source can be switched to Fused Location in Instrument Connections → Internal GPS.

Why is TZ iBoat stricter about position quality than other apps?

Marine navigation depends on accurate position data. A general-purpose map app showing your location off by 100 meters is a minor inconvenience; the same error on a chart near rocks, shoals, or a narrow channel could put your boat at risk. Rather than display a position we cannot trust, TZ iBoat prefers to show no position and warn you.

Route Assist is a planning aid included with TZ MAPS that automatically suggests a navigable path between two points based on chart data and your boat's specifications. It is designed to save time during initial route planning and to highlight potentially unsafe areas based on the chart information available.

Route Assist is a planning aid, not a guarantee of safe passage.

Like any automatic routing tool, Route Assist depends entirely on the accuracy and completeness of the underlying chart data. It cannot account for:

• Shoaling, dredging, or other recent changes not yet reflected in the chart
• Temporary hazards such as floating debris, fishing equipment, wrecks not yet charted, or ice
• Real-time weather, sea state, current, or visibility
• Local navigation rules, traffic patterns, marina entry procedures, or local knowledge
• Bridges, locks, and clearance restrictions not fully encoded in the chart data

The captain remains responsible for verifying every route before using it for navigation. Always review the proposed route on the chart at a sufficient zoom level to see hazards along the path, and adjust waypoints manually where needed. Pay particular attention in shallow areas, narrow channels, near port entrances, and in unfamiliar waters.

Recommended workflow:

1. Use Route Assist to generate an initial suggestion between your start and end points.
2. Review the proposed route on the chart, zooming in to inspect each segment.
3. Adjust waypoints manually where the suggested path is sub-optimal or where your local knowledge indicates a better path.
4. Re-check the route under current conditions (tide, weather, daylight) before starting navigation.

Note: Route Assist is a TZ MAPS exclusive feature and requires an active TZ MAPS subscription for the area you are planning in.

Yes. TZ iBoat supports importing and exporting routes and marks in GPX format, the standard interchange format used by most marine navigation software and chart plotters. This lets you transfer your data between TZ iBoat and other apps or devices.

Note: If you use TZ iBoat alongside other TimeZero products with the same My TIMEZERO account, your User Objects (marks, routes, trips, boundaries…) are shared automatically without needing a manual import or export.

The My TIMEZERO account is the central account that links your TZ iBoat installations across all your devices. Signing in with the same My TIMEZERO account on each device ensures that your purchases, your User Objects (Marks, Routes, Trips, etc.), and your boat profile are available on every device you use.

The My TIMEZERO account is free to create and can be set up directly from within TZ iBoat the first time you launch the app, or at mytimezero.com. The same My TIMEZERO account is also used across the broader TimeZero ecosystem, including TZ Navigator (PC), TZ Professional (PC), and compatible Furuno MFDs.

You can create a My TIMEZERO account the first time you launch TZ iBoat. Three sign-in methods are supported:

• Email and password (default)
• Sign in with Apple
• Sign in with Facebook

You can also create your account online at mytimezero.com before installing the app, then use the same credentials to sign in on TZ iBoat. Creating a My TIMEZERO account is free and does not require any purchase.

Note: If you already have a My TIMEZERO account from another TimeZero product (TZ Navigator, TZ Professional, or a compatible Furuno MFD), use that existing account to sign in on TZ iBoat rather than creating a new one.

You must use the same sign-in method every time you sign in to your My TIMEZERO account. If you originally created your account with Apple, you cannot later sign in using email and password, even with the same email address. Each sign-in method creates a separate account.

If you would like to switch sign-in methods (for example, to convert an Apple or Facebook account to email and password), please contact our support team at support@mytimezero.com. This is a manual process that we can handle on your behalf.

If you have forgotten which method you used to sign up, our support team can help you identify it.

If you signed up using email and password, the easiest way to reset your password is from a web browser:

• Go to login.mytimezero.com
• Click “Forgot password”
• Enter your email address
• Follow the link sent to your inbox to set a new password

If you signed up using Sign in with Apple or Sign in with Facebook, password management is handled by Apple or Facebook, not by TZ iBoat. To reset your sign-in credentials, please use the password recovery tools provided by Apple or Facebook directly. We cannot manage these credentials on your behalf.

If you would like to switch from an Apple or Facebook sign-in to email and password, please contact support@mytimezero.com.

The email address associated with a My TIMEZERO account cannot currently be changed from within the app. If you need to update your email (for example, because you have changed email providers), please contact our support team at support@mytimezero.com with both your current email and the new email you would like to use.

Yes. You can install and use TZ iBoat on up to 5 devices at the same time. These can be any combination of iPhones, iPads, and Android phones or tablets. Just sign in with the same My TIMEZERO account on every device.

When you sign in with the same My TIMEZERO account on multiple devices, the following items are automatically shared:

Purchases:

• Chart subscriptions (TZ MAPS areas)
• Subscription plans (Essential, Premium, Elite)
• One-time module purchases (Furuno DRS4W Radar module, Furuno FCV600/800 Sounder module)

User objects:

• Marks
• Routes
• Trips (including recorded position, speed, depth and wind)
• Boundaries
• Catches
• Photos

Boat profile:

• Boat name
• MMSI
• Boat Dimensions

Note: Charts that have been cached locally for offline use are stored on the device itself. When you sign in on a new device, your chart entitlement is immediately available, but you will need to re-download the areas you want to use offline from the "Offline Charts & Weather" menu.

Settings are individual to each device and are not synchronized through your My TIMEZERO account. This includes:

• Display preferences (chart layers shown, day/night mode, color palettes)
• Units (meters vs. feet, etc.)
• TZ Bar customization
• NavData widget layout
• NMEA Wi-Fi gateway / instrument connection configuration
• Alarm configuration

This is intentional, so you can configure each device for how you actually use it. For example, a phone with a minimal display for quick checks, and a tablet at the helm with full instrument data visible.

Yes. Because TZ iBoat purchases are tied to your My TIMEZERO account rather than to the App Store or Google Play, your purchases follow your account across platforms. Sign in to TZ iBoat with the same My TIMEZERO account on your other device and your purchases will be available.

However, billing is managed by the store where you originally subscribed. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, renewal, payment method changes, and cancellation are handled through your Apple ID. If you subscribed through Google Play, these are handled through your Google account. To switch which store handles billing, you would need to cancel the original subscription, wait for it to expire, and then subscribe again from the other platform.

Simply follow the steps below:

1. Install TZ iBoat from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
2. Open the app and sign in with the same My TIMEZERO account you used on your previous device.
3. Your subscriptions, modules, and User Objects (Marks, Routes, Trips, etc.) will be immediately available.
4. To use charts offline, open the "Offline Charts & Weather" menu and re-download the areas you need.

If you originally subscribed through the App Store or Google Play and don't see your subscription on the new device, you can also tap "Restore Purchases" from the in-app Store to refresh the purchases from your Apple ID or Google account.

TZ iBoat displays only the purchases and User Objects associated with the account you are currently signed in to. If you switch accounts on a device, you will see the data for that account, and the previous account's data is no longer visible on that device.

If you accidentally created multiple My TIMEZERO accounts and need to consolidate your purchases or User Objects, please contact our support team at support@mytimezero.com.

You can delete your My TIMEZERO account directly from TZ iBoat:

• Tap the TZ icon
• Select Profile
• Tap Delete Account

Account deletion is immediate and permanent. All User Objects (Marks, Routes, Trips, etc.) stored under your account are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.

Important things to know before deleting your account:

• Active subscriptions are NOT automatically cancelled. You must cancel any active TZ iBoat subscriptions separately through the Apple App Store or Google Play to avoid being charged at the next renewal.
• If you later create a new My TIMEZERO account, even with the same email address, your previous purchases will NOT be automatically reactivated. This includes one-time module purchases (such as the Furuno Radar or Sounder modules), which are normally for life but are tied internally to your previous account. If you need to recover access to previous purchases, please contact support@mytimezero.com.