Navigation today is a lot like politics: two dominant camps are on board. On one side are the traditionalists loyal to their chartplotters and suspicious of new tech. On the other hand, the progressives, casual smartphone navigators who dismiss multifunction displays as old-fashioned. As for the old-school purists still practicing celestial navigation and scorning electronics altogether? Well, unlike in politics, they’re mostly extinct.
But now, even skeptics and enthusiasts might find common ground in what could be called the “Orca Coalition.” Named after one of the ocean’s smartest species, Orca is a Norwegian marine electronics startup. Founded in 2020, Orca has grown to over 300,000 active users in just five years.
At the helm are Jorge, Amir, and Kristian, three developers who began by building a free navigation app for smartphones. Next came the hardware: a tablet. It sounds simple, but the buzz around Orca suggests there’s much more to it. So what sets it apart from conventional marine electronics? And why is it winning fans so fast?
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Co-founder Jorge Sevillano tells the story of a user in northern Germany who posted in the “Orca Owners Club” forum. While sailing near Kiel one night, the skipper’s conventional multifunction display failed.
It was pitch dark, and the skipper couldn’t find a safe place to tie up. “But he had Orca.” Orca granted him, among other things, access to the boat’s autopilot. Using his smartwatch to control propulsion and steering, he positioned himself at the bow for the best visibility. “He arrived safely.”
Orca’s system links directly to a vessel’s electronics: depth sounder, GPS, wind instruments, and more—all managed through the Orca app and a small onboard computer called the Core. It’s brand-agnostic and wirelessly connects to any smart device. “We collect data from all the boat’s systems and send it wirelessly to your devices,” says Sevillano.
It’s a kind of open-source approach to navigation electronics. “That flexibility is exactly what our customers value,” he says. You can tailor your setup to match your boat and your needs. “We offer a hybrid of chartplotter and mobile solution.”
Integrated compass and GPS receiver
The Core includes an integrated compass and GPS receiver, with a wireless link to the app. For those who want a larger screen, Orca also offers a ruggedized tablet called the “Display,” a high-speed Android tablet designed for marine use. It runs all standard apps and is readable in direct sunlight. It doubles as a reader or movie screen and comes preloaded with weather tools and a planning app for route sketching. Once you’ve reached port, your whole trip is automatically saved in a digital logbook.
The interface? “Modern, intuitive, easy to use,” says Sevillano. He and his co-founders worked for major marine electronics manufacturers before striking out on their own, with a clear sense of how to design a user experience that sailors enjoy. Judging by Orca’s growth, they got it right.
