Ditch, an AI-powered navigation app, introduced its Smart ETA feature at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October. The launch coincides with the app’s one-year anniversary.
In addition to Smart ETA, Ditch is launching a new live navigation view that provides real-time updates on route distance, time to arrival and speed over ground. Smart ETA considers factors that are sometimes overlooked by ETA calculators including no-wake zones and a boat’s cruising speed.
Ditch says users will experience more accurate ETAs, reducing stress and providing more accurate arrival times. The app also provides live updates on route distance, time to arrival and SOG, delivering the information in real time.
“We’re incredibly excited to celebrate our first anniversary at FLIBS with the launch of Smart ETA,” Owen Davies, cofounder of Ditch, said in a statement. “It always bugged us that ETAs were never quite right. You know, leaving the marina, you’re stuck at 4 knots for a bit — and that throws off your whole trip. I’d find myself doing mental math on the water, trying to figure out the real arrival time. We wanted to take that frustration away. So, we started using data to identify slow zones and build them right into the ETA. This is just the first step. In 2025, we’re going to take it even further, making those ETAs truly smart with real-time data and predictions.”
Ditch uses patented Smart Path technology to create the safest route for a given trip. AI lets Ditch analyze billions of data points, including all historical AIS directly on the chart, letting a captain see where other boaters have been previously.