Ask the boats around you
Post a request and the phones of boaters within your radius light up. Whoever has the part or knows the job simply writes to you.
- Expert assistance
- Spare parts
- Tool needed
- Crew needed
- Looking for hitch
Free app for sailors & motorboaters
Assistance, one marina away.
Ask nearby boaters for help, a spare part, crew or a lift. Find drinking water, fuel and a slip in a pilot book we build together. And see what's on: regattas and tall ship festivals near you.
— sailors already on board
Free. No ads. No commission.
- Free for every sailor
- No ads, no commission
- iPhone & Android
- Manual in 13 languages
- Built by a tall ship captain
What AppSail does
Everything around you, on one chart
Requests for help, the shared pilot book and sailing events: three kinds of information on one map around you.
A pilot book we write together
Water, fuel, power, border clearance, a crane or a slip. The practical things you look for underway. Any sailor can add a spot, and we check each one before it goes on the map.
- Services
- Great spots
- Navigate there
Events on the map
Regattas, tall ship gatherings, boat shows and festivals near you, in the map and the feed. Organising one? Send it to us and we'll add it.
- Regattas
- Tall ships
- Boat shows
Your radius1 to 25 NM. Keep it local or cast a wider net.
Skill matchA request that fits your skills gets an exclamation mark.
Direct chatAgree on details right in the app.
Active SailorShow up regularly and get an extra request slot.
The shared pilot book
The chart you can't buy
In a marina everything is obvious. At a fishing harbour, a small port with no staff or a single jetty, knowing where to fill up with water or find a socket is priceless. That knowledge isn't on any official chart. It's in the heads of sailors who have been there.
Every spot you add helps the next crew that arrives somewhere new, with no one around to ask.
Services · amber pins
Water
Fuel
Power
Border clearance
Crane / slip
Toilets / showers
Laundry
Dinghy dock
Waste disposal
Pump-out
Gas / LPG
Great spots · teal pins
Bar / tavern
Restaurant
Maritime museum
Viewpoint
Beach
Sailing shop
Dive spot
Simple & fast
How it works
01
Set up your profile
Create a free account and tick your skills: mechanics, electrics, rigging, sails and more. That's how the app knows when you can help.
02
Need help? Post a request
Pick a category, describe what you need, add photos and set the radius. Boats nearby get it straight away.
03
Can help? Reply
You get a notification when a new request appears within your listening radius. A pin with an exclamation mark matches your skills. Reply in the chat and agree on the details.
04
Share your harbour
Add a place to the shared pilot book, in the app or on the website (we check each one before it goes on the map), or report a sailing event. The next crew will have it easier.
Swipe to see more screens.
Need it written down? Get the manual The whole app explained step by step — free PDF in 13 languages. Download →
From the logbook
All news →
Latest news
Sailing guides
Learn with AppSail
Real-world advice for boaters, and a free navigation series on YouTube.
Sail Smart · YouTube
Sail Smart by AppSail
Celestial navigation explained step by step, with free PDFs for every episode. New episodes on Saturdays.
How to find crew for a sailing trip
Reliable ways to find crew — from marina noticeboards to reaching nearby sailors in real time.
Where to find spare boat parts
Track down the part you need fast — often without ordering from a distant supplier.
How to find a sailing hitch
Catch a lift as crew — where to look and how to reach boats leaving nearby.
How to find technical assistance
Engine, electrics or rigging trouble — how to find skilled marine help fast, even in a strange port.
Before you cast off
Questions & answers
Is AppSail really free?
Yes. No ads and no commission. Finding help, chatting and getting on board are free. If you want to support the servers and maps, you can buy us a coffee.
Does it work at sea?
AppSail needs internet on the phone (mobile data or marina wi-fi). It is built for harbours, marinas and coastal waters. Offshore, out of coverage, requests are neither sent nor received.
Is AppSail an emergency service?
No. In an emergency call VHF channel 16 or 112. AppSail is for everyday help between sailors, not for search and rescue.
Who can see my position?
You decide in your Profile. Switch off “Show my position on map” and you don't appear on the map as a sailor. Switch off “Show my info when tapped” and others only see that you prefer to stay anonymous.
How do events get on the map?
Organisers and sailors send them through the event form on this page. We check each one before it goes on the map.
AppSail does not replace a call for help. In an emergency use VHF channel 16 or call 112.
Follow us
Join the crew online
Independent project
AppSail is free
AppSail is free
for every sailor.
No ads, no commission. Finding help, chatting and getting on board are free. Built by one sailor, for all sailors.
Servers, maps, push notifications — it all has a cost. If AppSail ever helps you out in a foreign port, you can buy me a coffee. Every contribution goes directly into keeping the app running and building new features.
Buy me a coffeebuymeacoffee.com/appsail · no account needed · one-time or monthly
Share your thoughts
Rate AppSail
Your feedback may be featured on this page. Email is optional and never shared.