mounting a camera on the back of a boat

[chrisbitz]

I've seen lots of video with the camera on the back, looking forward, capturing all the action on the boat.

How are these mounted? is it hung form the backstay, or is that a bit too wobbly? is there a tripod tied to the backstay?
Maybe a tiller mounted camera?

Does anyone have a picture of this setup at all?

 

[Giblets]

You can buy clamp type brackets that fit on the pushpit tubing (but don't forget a suitable lanyard!!! - don't ask )

 

[Jabamusic]

Look for Go-Pro...............excellent kit (a new version came out recently), comes with all sorts of fixing attachments including suckies for "along the waterline shots"!

 

[claymore]

Contact Lakesailor - a veritable pioneer in this field

 

[reeac]

I'm currently considering doing this on my 18 ft. dayboat using a flagstaff in the socket on the aft deck. Will need something like a shaped block of balsa threaded onto the staff cut to give a for'ard facing vertical surface. Hoping that I can get a compromise position where the camera not obscured by either the mainsail or the helmsman's head. You can, for example, get a Kodak compact camcorder for £80 which is waterproof and has several hours of run time.

 

[contessaman]

I know the sort of video you mean, im pretty sure they are a GoPro on a goal post style gantry thats already there for radar, solar panels etc etc. I personally despise goal posts and you certainly dont want one on your mini tonner but im sure you could achieve a similar vantage point with something like a broom handle with some chunky cable ties (you can even buy ones that have a release mechanism) on your pushpit. I think the backstay would be too wobbly, also because of the angle by the time you've gone six feet up it you will be a foot or two forward. if you want the whole boat in the vid a vertical pole would be your best bet. hell, with a bit of ingenuity you could even have it raked aft of the transom so you really get the whole boat in. I guess the lighter the camera the better so something like a GoPro would be the way forward and the fish eye/wide angle lens would really help you out.

 

[chrisbitz]

Thanks for the ideas, unfortunately, as cool as the go pro is, I want to use a proper camera, as the fisheye lens just isn't what I'm after.

I quite like the idea of a pole sticking up, as unfortunately I don't have a pushpit! Maybe I can clamp it onto the grp seam at the back?

 

[Giblets]

On the Coast programme last night they had a camera fitted to the aft end of the boom which gave some "interesting" shots.

BTW the GoPro can be adjusted from fish-eye to an acceptable normal lens.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

Thanks for the ideas, unfortunately, as cool as the go pro is, I want to use a proper camera, as the fisheye lens just isn't what I'm after.

I quite like the idea of a pole sticking up, as unfortunately I don't have a pushpit! Maybe I can clamp it onto the grp seam at the back?

I don't use a go pro either, I have a cheap and cheerful Xacti and a better X900. The Xacti is ideal for lashing to a boat hook (or oar) which then acts as an extension to your arm. It is definitely best, if you can, to lash the whole set-up so as to reduce wobble. A couple of bungees and a long stick is all you need!

Good luck,

Pete

 

[josephmoore]

Depends what you want from it, but I have a £10 MD80 copy that I tape to the pushpit. It's not glamorous and I'm certainly not shooting a feature film with it, but it gives me another pair of eyes to see what I might be doing wrong when I'm single handed

So yes - even cheap and cheerful electrical tape works just fine.

 

[Hadenough]

Is this to provide evidence if you are cut up by a cyclist?

 

[Lakesailor]

Any compact with HD video and a wide angle (28mm equivalent at least) will do. Go Pros are a bit OTT for this. My Panasonic FT3 is shockproof, waterproof and gives bloody good images. The previous Canon Ixus was good but not robust enough.
You really need a gimball arrangement as people complain about the horizon heeling and not the boat. This si where it gets tricky. My own builds ranged from too"sticky" to too "fluid". You can buy various types of steadycam gear but it's not so cheap.

Here are some vids of the various tests

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_5-2Sb1ykk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vElHbLYY9v8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5rjNTVj_cQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0__J9bVVbV4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22hcbXFOFpc

Camera mount with clamp and bendy arm from Maplins.

An early mount using a swivel tripod video head

Modified

I did move on to a more complex, home-made, design which was also rubbish.

 

[chrisbitz]

You really need a gimball arrangement as people complain about the horizon heeling and not the boat. This si where it gets tricky. My own builds ranged from too"sticky" to too "fluid". You can buy various types of steadycam gear but it's not so cheap.

Thanks very much for the pictures - I've seen loads of your videos, and always wondered about the mechanism! I love the wood and clamp idea too - much more simple than I was thinking about too!

 

[Lakesailor]

I had the advantage of a cockpit drain hole at the bottom where the pole stood, so I put a plastic bung on the bottom which located in the drain hole. I could have put a cross piece the width of the cockpit to prevent the post falling over sideways.

 

[dylanwinter]

the cheapest option is a maplins tripod

http://www.maplin.co.uk/57-inch-tripod-with-carry-bag-589158

and some bungees

it is perfect for the job and can be used for other things as well

bungee it to all sorts of places

you can also bungee it to a boat hook or paddle for higher shots

Naburn to York and above



and I agree with those above who dislike the fish eye on the go pro


they are robust - but expensive and useless for capturing anything other than a bit of quick action

bad sound ansd viewfinders cost extra

Dylan

 

[single]

Laugh all you like but I knocked this up with some of my sons mechano and bolted it to an old carbon fibre advertising flag pole(light and 30' long) It works brilliantly with the gimbal always sorting the angle.

View attachment 31591

 

[theoldsalt]

I use a RAM mount. Available direct or from other outlets such as Amazon.

You choose components to suit your particular needs.

http://www.ram-mount.co.uk/?gclid=CNrw3fzdiLcCFdDJtAodShQAGg

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

the cheapest option is a maplins tripod

http://www.maplin.co.uk/57-inch-tripod-with-carry-bag-589158

and some bungees

it is perfect for the job and can be used for other things as well

bungee it to all sorts of places

you can also bungee it to a boat hook or paddle for higher shots

Naburn to York and above



and I agree with those above

the fish eye on the go pro is really annoying

they are robust - but expensive and useless

bad sound ansd viewfinders cost extra

Dylan

This was one of my attempts:

The only trouble is that the lense keeps steaming up on the Xacti... Hence the sepia effect to hide it better.

Pete

 

[dylanwinter]

This was one of my attempts:

The only trouble is that the lense keeps steaming up on the Xacti... Hence the sepia effect to hide it better.

Pete

how often do you get the misting up problem

if that inside the lense or on the outside?

D

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

how often do you get the misting up problem

if that inside the lense or on the outside?

D

It happens consistently if the camera is left in the sun for anything over a few minutes... It mists up inside the glass between the lens and the covering. The camera is waterproof, although I have never tested it (so not sure how the dampness got in there). Its a bit of a pain and makes time lapse a bit useless!

Pete