Skip to content

Location Sharing

Location sharing puts your boat on the chart of everyone else in a group you have chosen to share with. It is per group, it is opt-in, and you can stop it at any time.

Turning it on for a group

  1. Open the Tools tab and scroll to Groups.
  2. Tap a group to expand its card.
  3. Tap Start Sharing Location.

The button changes to Stop Sharing Location while sharing is active, and a Location Shared marker appears on the group's row.

Sharing is decided per group. Being in three groups does not mean all three see you -- you turn each one on separately.

Seeing other boats

Two switches on the same group card control what you see:

Setting Description
Display on Map Show or hide that group's member positions on the chart
Show Label Show or hide the vessel name next to each member's icon

How those markers are drawn -- size, transparency, and the profile photo badge -- is covered in Fleet & Vessel Icons.

Background Location Sharing

At the top of the Groups section there is a Background Location Sharing switch. With it off, your position only goes out while the app is open on screen. With it on, it keeps going when the app is in the background.

The first time you turn it on, Bristol Maps shows a Background Location Access disclosure before asking the operating system for permission. The disclosure states that Bristol Maps collects your location data to share your real-time GPS position with your fleet group members, even when the app is closed or not in use, and that it is used for:

  • Sharing your vessel position with fleet group members for safety coordination
  • Recording your vessel track line while navigating
  • Continuous location updates while you use other apps on your device

Tap Enable to continue, or Not Now to leave it off. Choosing Not Now flips the switch back.

Battery

The disclosure warns that using background location may increase battery usage, and that a notification will be shown while location sharing is active. You can turn it off again at any time from the same switch.

The disclosure also states that your location is only shared with members of your fleet groups and is not sold or shared with third parties.

Sharing interval

How often your position goes out is set in Settings > Navigation & Display:

Setting Description
Location Sharing Interval (seconds) Seconds between position updates sent to your fleet. Minimum 3 seconds.

A longer interval sends fewer updates, which is easier on a weak connection and on your battery. A shorter interval keeps other boats' pictures of you fresher.

Internet required

Position sharing goes over the internet. With no data connection your own navigation, charts, and track lines keep working, but nothing is sent or received until you are back in coverage.

Turning it off

  • Stop Sharing Location on a group card stops that one group.
  • Turning off Background Location Sharing limits sharing to when the app is on screen.

Related