Crest and Balise roll out industry-first Savvy Navvy integration for 2027 models
Crest’s 2026 Caribbean pontoon. The 2027 models will integrate Savvy Navvy as standard MasterCraft Boat Holdings pontoon brands, Crest and Balise, are partnering with marine navigation app Savvy Navvy to bring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with integrated on-water navigation to their pontoon boats.
The collaboration is being positioned as an industry first, with Savvy Navvy navigation available directly through compatible CarPlay and Android Auto displays at the helm.
The integration was demonstrated to Crest dealers during the company’s annual dealer meeting in Michigan (4 August 2026), allowing attendees to test the system on the water.
Marine navigation through CarPlay and Android Auto
The technology lets boaters connect the Savvy Navvy mobile app to the helm display, bringing nautical charts, smart routing, GPS tracking, weather forecasts and tidal information onto the same screen used for other CarPlay applications.
Users can also switch between day, night and satellite chart views, with the system designed to allow routes planned on a mobile device to be accessed at the helm.
Responding to boater requests
“Boaters have been asking for a modern infotainment system for years,” says Jelte Liebrand, founder and CEO of Savvy Navvy. “Plan your trip on the couch, step aboard, and it is already at the helm. No complicated ways to synchronise things; it just works. Savvy Navvy for CarPlay works on iOS and Android with any compatible display. I’m thrilled to see Crest and Balise put CarPlay in front of their boaters.”
Rob Nye, director of portfolio and product lifecycle at Crest and Balise, says the integration is intended to improve the ownership experience by making navigation more accessible and intuitive.
“Integrating Savvy Navvy with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto gives our customers a seamless, intuitive experience at the helm, increasing confidence and convenience every time they hit the water,” Nye adds.
Integration coming to 2027 models
The integration will be available from the 2027 model year, coming as standard on new Balise models and on Crest’s Conquest and Caribbean models launching from September. Customers purchasing a new 2027 Balise or qualifying Crest model with CarPlay or Android Auto functionality will also receive access to Savvy Navvy Premium, providing access to the navigation app’s full feature set.
Savvy Navvy – which combines electronic charts, weather and tidal information with automated route planning – says its app has surpassed three million downloads and is used in more than 100 countries. The partnership comes as marine manufacturers increasingly look to bring technology and user interfaces familiar from the automotive sector into the boating world.
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