Endoscope to check below waterline

[killick]

I want to buy an endoscope to check my boats anodes and screw.
There is such a vast number of different models available that I am at lost as to which one to buy.
Could someone kindly advise which features should be looked for to suit my purpose

 

[Daydream believer]

Why not a go pro on a stick
Has more uses than poking up your b..m & looking at your anode

 

[maby]

Check the reach of them before purchasing - most to the relatively cheap devices cannot reach far enough to be very useful. We have a friend who is a plumber and has a drain monitor CCTV - the probe must be more than 10m long - that works very well, but I believe he claimed that the purchase price was well on the way to £10k...

The resolution of the cheap devices is typically 640x480 or less and the probe is rarely much more than a metre long. That may be enough for a relatively small boat with a shaft drive but as soon as you get up to 30 foot or more or have a saildrive, you will probably not be able to get the lens close enough to the object that you want to inspect to see it in any detail.

 

[maby]

Why not a go pro on a stick
Has more uses than poking up your b..m & looking at your anode

far more difficult than you would think to get it into a position where you can see the thing you want to inspect unless you have a live feed. Even with a live feed, it is a fiddly job.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

far more difficult than you would think to get it into a position where you can see the thing you want to inspect unless you have a live feed. Even with a live feed, it is a fiddly job.

If bluetooth will work through water, and I have no idea if it will, then a live feed with a Go pro is very easy to setup.

 

[WF36]

If bluetooth will work through water, and I have no idea if it will, then a live feed with a Go pro is very easy to setup.

Nice thought, but neither of my GoPro's use Bluetooth??

 

[maby]

If bluetooth will work through water, and I have no idea if it will, then a live feed with a Go pro is very easy to setup.

I would be very surprised if bluetooth would penetrate any depth of water - it's running at microwave frequencies very close to those used in a standard microwave oven - absorption by water will be high, I would expect.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Nice thought, but neither of my GoPro's use Bluetooth??

Sorry, you're right. I should have said "Wireless". The go-pro flashing blue light confuses me. :ambivalence:

 

[nigelmercier]

I've got one of these, best I've tried: http://amzn.to/1h2yzjC

 

[maby]

I've got one of these, best I've tried: http://amzn.to/1h2yzjC

That is remarkably good value! Ordering one right now...

P.S. Pity it has to come from China!

 

[Martin_J]

Nigel.. How do you then direct the camera where you need it to be? or is the cable more like a spring?

I have something more like this... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-Endoscope-Inspection-Camera-Borescope-Snake-Scope-Ultra-thin-7mm-Camera/130993507412?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D22703%26meid%3D7896000840937092166%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D9178%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D221061271843

but 3m long and is quite easily directable to wherever it needs to be behind cabinets, cupboards etc.

I have not tried it underwater yet but will try to take a look at the anodes using it this weekend.

 

[lpdsn]

I bought one. Not really that useful for checking the anodes as field of vision quite small. I have found it invaluable for tracing wiring and checking in difficult to access places. Apparently also suitable for ear, nose & throat operations, but I've not attempted any of those yet.