Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Are Coming to Boats

MasterCraft Boat Holdings is adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to its Crest and Balise pontoon boats. Starting with the 2027 model year, all new Balise pontoons and Crest Conquest and Caribbean models will have helm displays that work with both systems and integrate the marine navigation app Savvy Navvy, as reported by Business Wire.

MasterCraft says this setup turns the helm into an environment similar to what people do in their cars. Boaters connect their iPhone or Android phone to the helm display and then use CarPlay or Android Auto in the same way they do it in their cars; in this case, Savvy Navvy handles the on‑water navigation. The app gives nautical charts, smart routing, GPS tracking, live weather forecasts and tidal data, all this on the same screen as music, messaging and other apps.

Crest and Balise are the first boat brands to have CarPlay and Android Auto with integrated marine navigation as standard equipment instead of them being an add‑on. The first compatible 2027 models are scheduled to launch around September 2026, and buyers will also get access to Savvy Navvy Premium, which unlocks the app’s full navigation tools on their boats.

Savvy Navvy says its CarPlay and Android Auto apps work anywhere around the globe on any compatible marine display or aftermarket head unit, so owners who want to use it on their boat, all they have to do is install hardware that lets their phones connect.

Maybe a little Starlink dish for long-distance roaming?