MasterCraft to Fit 2027 Pontoon Fleet With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
The boat builder is partnering with Savvy Navvy to bring native smartphone mirroring to its 2027 Crest and Balise models.
MasterCraft Boat Holdings Inc. will equip its 2027 model year Crest and Balise pontoon boats with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard factory equipment, marking the marine industry’s first native integration of the smartphone display systems for on-water navigation.
The system, debuting next month across the company’s Crest and Balise Conquest and Caribbean lines, links Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s dashboard software with specialized marine navigation tools from technology firm Savvy Navvy.
Under the integration, helm screens will mirror compatible smartphone applications while using Savvy Navvy to process marine-specific navigation data. The system generates water-depth routing, tidal information, hazard alerts, and live weather forecasts alongside day, night, and satellite chart views.
“Boaters have wanted a modern, simple system at the helm for years,” said Jelte Liebrand, founder and chief executive officer of Savvy Navvy, noting that users can plan routes on mobile devices at home and access them automatically on the helm display without manual syncing.
Nasdaq-listed MasterCraft will include a limited Savvy Navvy Premium subscription as standard with the 2027 models, reflecting a broader push among recreational boat builders to replace proprietary marine electronics with familiar automotive software ecosystems.
