Automotive-style marine infotainment is bringing familiar connected-car functionality to recreational boating through a partnership between Crest, Balise and Savvy Navvy. Beginning with select 2027 pontoon models, boaters can use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to access Savvy Navvy directly from compatible helm displays. The integration provides nautical charts, smart routing, GPS tracking, weather forecasts and tidal information while allowing users to plan trips on their phones before seamlessly continuing navigation onboard.
For boat manufacturers, adopting familiar automotive interfaces can reduce the learning curve associated with specialized marine electronics and make connected features more accessible to recreational users. The partnership also gives Crest and Balise a technology-focused differentiator within the competitive pontoon market. For marine software providers, integration with factory-installed displays creates opportunities to expand subscriptions, strengthen manufacturer partnerships and make app-based navigation a standard part of the boat ownership experience.
Image Credit: -Crest and Balise Pontoons
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Connected Marine Infotainment
- Automotive-inspired helm systems are reshaping recreational boating by making navigation, media and trip data feel as intuitive as in-car connected experiences.
- Cross-device Trip Planning
- Seamless movement between phone-based planning and onboard navigation creates new value around continuity, personalization and subscription-based boating services.
- App-based Nautical Navigation
- Consumer-friendly marine apps embedded into factory displays are lowering barriers to advanced routing, weather awareness and real-time waterway decision-making.
Where This Applies
- Recreational Boating
- Pontoon and leisure boat makers can differentiate models through familiar digital interfaces that simplify ownership and expand connected feature expectations.
- Marine Electronics
- Factory-integrated displays are becoming platforms for software ecosystems, opening space for partnerships that blend hardware, apps and recurring digital services.
- Navigation Software
- Marine mapping providers gain new pathways to mainstream adoption as app-based tools move from personal devices into built-in helm environments.
