Access
The lake is free. The helm is optional.
Water routing, 20,000+ nav aids, depth charts, live conditions and float plans stay free on every charted lake. The Helm Pass is for people who plan runs, carry a chartplotter, and go out where the signal drops.
Open water
$0/ forever
Everything you need to get across the lake without hitting anything.
- Water-only routing
- Nav aids & hazards
- Live lake level & weather
- Depth contours & soundings
- Float plans & live position
Helm Pass
$39/ year
Everything on the water, unlocked.
- Satellite basemapsSwitch from street tiles to satellite imagery.
- 3D helm navigationCar-style 3D view that follows your boat along the route.
- Saved multi-stop tripsPlan a run with stops, name it, keep it, share a link.
- GPX exportSend any route to a Garmin, Lowrance or Simrad chartplotter.
- Offline lake packsCache a lake and keep routing with no signal on the water.
Cancel anytime. Your saved trips stay readable if you do.
/ Side by side
What each tier gives you
| Capability | Free | Helm Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Water-only routingPoint-to-point routes that never cross land, on every charted lake. | ||
| Nav aids & hazards20,000+ buoys, beacons, rocks, wrecks and locks from NOAA + OSM. | ||
| Live lake level & weatherNWS wind, temperature and forecast, plus USGS lake level where a gage exists. | ||
| Satellite basemapsSwitch from street tiles to satellite imagery. | ||
| Depth contours & soundingsCharted depth areas and spot soundings shaded by depth. | ||
| 3D helm navigationCar-style 3D view that follows your boat along the route. | ||
| Saved multi-stop tripsPlan a run with stops, name it, keep it, share a link. | ||
| GPX exportSend any route to a Garmin, Lowrance or Simrad chartplotter. | ||
| Float plans & live positionShare your plan and live position with someone ashore. | ||
| Offline lake packsCache a lake and keep routing with no signal on the water. |