Night vision goggles

[antlouhay]

probably been asked a number of times in which case sorry but here goes again !
Does anybody have any experience of night vision goggles / binoculars on a boat ? have you found them useful or are they just a gimmick gadget ? is there a make that is more suited to the purpose? would they help spot the lobster and crab pots around Christchurch ledge
Any information would be useful...
Thanks

 

[fergie_mac66]

we bought a night VI's monocular from aldi 69£ works well 2/modes only used it occasionally for pot bouy spotting when night sailing

 

[LittleShip]

we bought a night VI's monocular from aldi 69£ works well 2/modes only used it occasionally for pot bouy spotting when night sailing

+1 not great but adequate, beats 2k for the real deal.

Tom.

PS I think mine were £100

 

[fergie_mac66]

aldi usualy do sailing stuff coming up to spring they only do them 1ce or 2ceayear when there gone they aregone

 

[Searush]

I have a set of the Aldi ones too. they work well, but do take care that you don't accidentally look at a light with them, it will dazzle you dreadfully. I don't bother with them any more as they actually ruin your night vision after using them. So I have reasonable vision from the stars, moon & land lights, use the IR monoscope to check a detail & then find I can't see a damn thing out of that eye for five minutes. OK if you have a gash crew member who can be given them & told to look for unlit buoys while everyone else retains their night vision.

BTW, the Aldi ones have some distortion around the edges of the lens, as you might expect from cheaper lenses, but they are well worth the money you pay - if you actually need them. I thought they would be useful for wildlife in the garden in winter - but it's too bloody cold to be hanging round out there at this time of year & passing car headlights could blind you!

 

[Robg71]

All NVG's ruin night vision unfortunately.

 

[fergie_mac66]

hence better to use a monocular and or use a specific crew member to spot pot bouys

 

[Searush]

All NVG's ruin night vision unfortunately.

Yes, but non-users may not be aware of it which is why I mentioned it.

 

[henryf]

Beer goggles. Every pub in Gosport sells them.

Henry

 

[antlouhay]

Beer goggles. Every pub in Gosport sells them.

Henry

Its the beer that makes us late back to harbour in the dark to start with ...hence the night vision

 

[Just_sayin']

I tried some NVG's a few years ago and found that, as said above, they impaired my night vision when I took them off.

Last year we had to enter a strange port at night with very little time to prepare. Lots of random pot markers around. I still have a pair of Carl Zeiss Jenautic 7x50's that I was given probably 25 years ago and the observed detail was amazing.

I don't envisage the SAS adopting them but they certainly lowered our stress levels.

 

[colhel]

Would a wifi night vision camera and a tablet be capable of picking out pot markers etc?

 

[henryf]

I suspect it would be too wide an angle and so the optical range would be too short to be of use.


Henry

 

[colhel]

So not an entirely stupid idea then?, for me.

 

[henryf]

So not an entirely stupid idea then?, for me.

We need to be 3 sheets to the wind after a good meal to best discuss your ideas


Henry

 

[Searush]

So not an entirely stupid idea then?, for me.

Hiya, Colin, It would probably work as long as any other electronics on a boat - in my case possibly a couple of trips.

Trust you are looking after Helen properly! all the best SR

 

[fergie_mac66]

Lorry reversing camera

I did know someone who fitted a lorry reversing camera with a 6in monitor B&W facing forwards it almost like daylight except in pitch black a few super bright IR LEDs facing forwards not available then might might make the difference., Bw cams see IR like day almost the camera cost 10£ from a scrap yard about 15 years ago

 

[colhel]

Hiya, Colin, It would probably work as long as any other electronics on a boat - in my case possibly a couple of trips.

Trust you are looking after Helen properly! all the best SR

Just shown Helen this, she said likes you and kwaka cos you're nice, ... No doupt we'll see you again soon And you were right it was the injectors, a good dollop of fuel cleaner, a full tank and she's running like a dream. The engines working well too.

 

[colhel]

I did know someone who fitted a lorry reversing camera with a 6in monitor B&W facing forwards it almost like daylight except in pitch black a few super bright IR LEDs facing forwards not available then might might make the difference., Bw cams see IR like day almost the camera cost 10£ from a scrap yard about 15 years ago

I was thinking of doing this and having a monitor on a forward facing bulkhead so when single handed I can keep a look out from down below for short periods. Then I wondered if it it would work with a night vision camera.

 

[Searush]

Reversing camera is a good idea. I have one on the motorhome & it's ability to see in the dark is pretty good. They don't see very far though, you'd only get a moment's notice & only if you happened to be looking at that time.