Real-Time Route Sharing with the Orca Navigation App

Share Routes to your Axiom Chartplotter

Now Axiom users can instantly share a route from their Orca app to their Axiom chartplotter using Wi-Fi. To take advantage of this exciting new feature, Raymarine Axiom owners should update their chartplotters to latest LightHouse Operating System. 

The Orca navigation app is available for both Apple iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. To ensure compatibility with Axiom, visit the app store for your device and make sure you are running the latest release of Orca. Axiom route sharing is available on Orca version 2025.13 or later. Orca’s modern, streamlined interface makes route planning simple thanks to its instant routing. Simply identify your starting point, your destination, and Orca’s advanced navigational algorithms will find the best route for your vessel. When planning a route, the Orca app accounts for your boat’s physical characteristics (draft, height, width) and Orca’s weather-aware routing technology makes route planning effortless. Orca’s routing can also factor in a sailboat’s polar performance data into its calculations.  

Linking the Orca App to Axiom

Creating the Wi-Fi link between Axiom and Orca is simple. Once you have the latest version of Orca on your mobile device and you have upgraded your Axiom to the latest LightHouse OS, follow these simple steps:

1. Turn on Axiom’s Wi-Fi access point.  On Axiom, go to Home…Settings…This Display and scroll down to the Wi-Fi sharing settings. 
2. Turn on the switch for Allow Devices to Connect via Wi-Fi. 
3. Press the Configure button to set up Axiom’s Wi-Fi SSID and password. If you’ve previously set this up, great! There is no need to change anything. Otherwise, you can specify the network name your Axiom will broadcast and create a password. 
4. Notice the on-screen QR code on your Axiom? We’ll use this to link Orca. 
5. Open your Orca app on your mobile device. Open the side menu from the upper-left corner, then enter your boat’s settings by pressing on your boat’s name. 
6. Scroll down and press Integrations…Raymarine…Connect Axiom. 
7. When prompted, scan the QR code from Axiom with your device’s camera. Follow the steps indicated on the screen and you’re connected! You'll also need to respond to one more popup message on Axiom to allow the pairing to complete.

Transferring a Route to Axiom 

On your Orca app you can either build a new route, or use an existing one that is already saved using the Spots and Routes menu. If you’re making a new route, don’t forget to save it.

1. On the Orca app, open the side-menu from the top left and select Spots and Routes. 
2. Find the route you want to share and press the 3-dots icon to the right of the route name. 
3. Press Send to Axiom. The route is sent instantly, and you’ll get a pop-up on your Axiom screen. 
4. The route will be automatically plotted on the Axiom chartplotter, and you’ll have options available to Follow it or View Route Plan details. Pressing the Dismiss button will clear the popup message without following the route or viewing the route plan.

Working with Routes from Orca 

There are a few important items to know about when using the Orca app with Axiom.

First, you should know that only one route at a time is shareable from Orca to Axiom. This is going to be a route that you are actively following. You can follow the Orca route from the chartplotter just as you would create a route on the chartplotter. You can also use your Raymarine autopilot to follow the route. 

Second, except for the Route Color, you cannot edit or change an Orca route from the chartplotter. A route received from Orca route will always use the blue circle waypoint symbol for its waypoints. You must make any route changes in the Orca app, save them, and re-send them. Upon receiving a new or updated route from Orca, Axiom automatically displays it. If you modify this route in Orca and re-send it, or send a different route, it will overwrite the route on the chartplotter. 

If you ever need to disable the connection between the Orca app and Axiom, this is how to do it:   

1. From the Orca app, open the side menu.  
2.  Press your boat name then go to Integrations…Raymarine…Disable app sync.   
3.  Confirm the disconnection by pressing I have disabled app sync in the Orca app.
4. To disable synchronization from Axiom, go to Home…My Data…Mobile Sync…Disable Orca App Sync.   

Note: While both Orca and Axiom have considerations for the boat's dimensions and polar performance data, this information is currently NOT synchronized between them. It is import to make sure that these settings are properly configured in both Orca and Axiom.

Conclusion 

Orca has become a very popular mobile navigation solution for boaters around the world. Orca offers simple navigation, detailed charting, and integration with onboard instruments, autopilot, sensors and radar.   

Orca’s integration with Raymarine’s Axiom chartplotters makes it easier than ever for boaters everywhere to plan a route using a mobile device and share it with the boat’s Axiom chartplotter system and autopilot. 

For more information and detailed instruction on setting up and using Orca sync, please refer to the LightHouse 4 Advanced Operation Guide, available for download. Orca has also has a detailed explanation available online here. To get Orca for your mobile device, visit the Apple iOS or Google Play app store. +