When connected to a wind instrument, true and apparent wind direction can be displayed as graphic arrows on the chart. TIKI has several alarm features, including depth alarms when connected to a depth sounder. The Anchor Watch pop-up window shows your anchoring data, options to set an alarm radius and a zoom of the chart showing your boat location. TIKI Navigator Pro can also send steering data to your autopilot. Again, implementation is streamlined: create a route, press the autopilot menu button and TIKI steers the boat via your autopilot, giving a warning as the vessel reaches a waypoint on the route and when the autopilot changes course.TIKIOnce an AIS target is selected, TIKI opens a panel allowing you to continually assess any threat of collision

TIKI Navigator Pro's latest version adds AIS support and a feature called BuddyTracking. Although most charting and navigation applications now include AIS–seemingly the latest trend in e-charting–Jenssen has clearly put quite a bit of thought into TIKI's AIS interface.

AIS targets change color if they are predicted to become a hazard according to time and distance parameters set by the user. Each target shows a line representing the vessel's course and speed. An additional line to the left or right indicates if the vessel is turning. You can roll the display forward between two and 10 minutes to simulate courses and proximity, assuming no changes to course or speed. Selecting a target displays detailed information on that vessel through an AIS Watch pop-up window (see photo).

BuddyTracking, which requires an additional piece of software called GpsGate, lets you exchange position data with your friends and see them on the chart with course line and speed indicators. If your buddy boat's location is off your main chart display, TIKI's split screen capability automatically displays a small separate chart window with their location (see photo). This feature is great for yacht club cruises or long-distance cruisers who travel in company.

ASSESSMENT

TIKI Navigator Pro is an innovative charting and navigation program that is intuitive, easy to learn, and includes many great features for the price.

TIKI gets very high points for a creative and efficient graphical user interface. It is easy to use–but not because it is de-featured or stripped-down. Although it does not include some very important features, such as vector chart support, weather downloads, tide and current predictions, or integrated data import/export, it does the basics and does them well.

Its clean simple interface focuses on features that a real boater needs, like creating routes from tracks, anchor watch, and autopilot control. It also continues to add extras such as AIS and BuddyTracking.TIKIAIS targets (blue), buddy boats (green), and your vessel (red) are visible in the main chart display. BuddyTracking even allows you to keep track of buddy boats off your chart in a separate window (bottom center).

We had no trouble either installing or using TIKI. If you do need technical support, and the FAQ page doesn't answer your question, TIKI asks that you send email through its website, leaving your telephone number for a return call. At this time, TIKI does not have a printed or online English manual, relying instead on its integrated pop-up help windows. The English manual has not been updated for the newest edition and was therefore removed from the site.

TIKI Navigator Pro doesn't do everything. But don't let the list of "cons" deter you from considering what we think is an innovative and truly seaworthy package. Its creator, Fred Jenssen, is refreshingly in touch with his product and market demands. He has a realistic assessment of upcoming features to add to TIKI, with plans to integrate Navionics chart support, GRIB weather downloads and S-57 vector capability in future editions. To his list we'd add GPX waypoint and route portability and waypoint and chart folder management. When Jenssen completes these additional features, TIKI Navigator Pro will be a world-class product. But like its namesake, TIKI is already a program that can weather the storms and go to sea.