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Boat Buddy Privacy Policy

The short version: your trips, catches, boat records, and waypoints stay on your iPhone unless you choose to export or share them.

Effective: 2026-07-09
App: Boat Buddy (com.qnsub.boatbuddy.app)
Publisher: QnSub Tech
Contact: support@boatbuddy.app

This is a plain-English explanation of what Boat Buddy does with your data. Boat Buddy is local-first: QnSub Tech does not require an account, does not run a Boat Buddy user-data server, and does not include analytics SDKs or advertising SDKs.

What Boat Buddy stores on your device

Boat Buddy stores app data locally using Apple's SwiftData framework and iOS preferences. This can include:

  • Trips — title, start/end time, distance, speed, water type, notes, and tide summary.
  • Track points — timestamps, latitude, longitude, accuracy, speed, course, and altitude for recorded routes.
  • Waypoints — ramps, marinas, hazards, anchor points, fishing spots, notes, optional photos, and coordinates.
  • Tide stations and predictions — favorite NOAA station IDs, station names, coordinates, cached tide predictions, and cache timestamps.
  • Fishing logs — species, length, weight, bait, lure, notes, optional photo, location, water type, and tide context.
  • Boat records — boat profile, registration details you enter, notes, optional boat photo, checklist items, and maintenance entries.
  • Settings — units, demo mode, low-power trip mode, cached entitlement flags if purchases are enabled, and other app preferences.

Location

Boat Buddy uses location for map position, trip recording, speed, heading, distance, waypoint marking, catch location, nearby tide station sorting, and anchor watch.

  • When-in-use location supports map and planning features while the app is open.
  • Background location may be used during an active trip or anchor watch so recording can continue while the app is not frontmost.
  • Recorded coordinates are stored locally as part of your trips, waypoints, catches, and boat logbook.
  • You can change location permission at any time in iOS Settings.

NOAA tide data

Boat Buddy downloads station directories and tide predictions from NOAA CO-OPS over HTTPS. Requests include the station ID and normal technical data every HTTPS request includes, such as IP address and user agent. QnSub Tech does not receive these requests and does not operate the NOAA service.

Tide predictions are cached locally for offline use. They can be wrong, delayed, unavailable, or outdated, so always verify with official sources before making boating decisions.

Apple Maps and MapKit

Boat Buddy uses Apple's MapKit to display maps, the user location annotation, route trails, map compass, map scale, waypoints, and anchor watch circles. Apple's privacy practices apply to Apple Maps and MapKit services.

Camera and photo library

Boat Buddy uses the camera and photo library only when you choose to add photos to catches, boat records, waypoints, or documents.

  • Photos you choose can be stored locally in the app as compressed image data attached to your records.
  • When you add a catch photo, Apple's on-device Vision framework may suggest possible species. This processing happens on your device.
  • Boat Buddy does not upload your photos to QnSub.

Motion and heading

Boat Buddy may use device motion and heading data to improve compass and heading behavior during active trips. This data is used for the live experience and route context; it is not sent to QnSub.

Face ID / Touch ID

If you use protected boat documents or private records, Boat Buddy may use Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode to unlock them. Biometric authentication is handled by iOS. Boat Buddy does not see or store your biometric data.

Notifications

Boat Buddy uses local notifications for tide reminders and anchor drift alerts. Notification content is created on your device. Anchor drift alerts are reminders only and are not certified safety alarms.

Exports and sharing

Boat Buddy can create local exports such as CSV, GPX, and PDF files. These files are generated on your device and are shared only when you choose an export destination through iOS.

Purchases

Boat Buddy is planned as a paid-upfront app with every feature included. The project also contains disconnected StoreKit code for a possible Pro unlock. If purchases are enabled in the future, purchases are handled by Apple, and Boat Buddy may store a local entitlement flag so the app can remember purchase state.

What we do not do

  • We do not require a Boat Buddy account.
  • We do not use analytics SDKs.
  • We do not use advertising SDKs.
  • We do not sell your trips, catches, routes, or boat records.
  • We do not run a QnSub server that collects your Boat Buddy logbook data.
  • We do not track you across apps or websites.

Deleting your data

You can delete data inside Boat Buddy from Settings using Delete All Data, which removes trips, catches, waypoints, boat records, and cached tides from the device. You can also uninstall the app; iOS removes the app's local data container when the app is deleted.

Children

Boat Buddy is not directed to children under 13.

Safety reminder

Boat Buddy is a planning and logbook companion. It is not a substitute for official nautical charts, certified marine navigation equipment, emergency communication devices, Coast Guard guidance, weather forecasts, or local boating regulations.

Changes to this policy

If Boat Buddy's privacy practices change, we will update this page and the effective date. Material changes, such as adding a backend that collects user logbook data, will be highlighted.

Contact

Questions or requests: support@boatbuddy.app