guydickinson
Well-Known Member
Any advice please on what current underwater cameras (on a stick or similar) are available (and are any good) for checking underneath boats please?
Underwater cameras
- Thread starter guydickinson
- Start date
Muxey
Well-Known Member
I have an olfi camera in the water proof case tried it in the carp pond on a long stick worked fine providing it is not too dark.
Buck Turgidson
Well-Known Member
GoPro.
guydickinson
Well-Known Member
Thanks v much
zoidberg
Well-Known Member
alan_d
Well-Known Member
I have a wi-fi endoscope from Toolstation I was thinking of trying, but so far I have only tested its water resistance by dipping the camera in a glass of water. (It survived.)
Draper Wi-Fi Endoscope Inspection Camera
Draper Wi-Fi Endoscope Inspection Camera
guydickinson
Well-Known Member
The thing is though - do any operate on the end of a stick so you don't have to go in oneself?! And with controls out of the water - perhaps a big 'ask'?
Ammonite
Well-Known Member
These are great for inspecting the prop etc and generally very useful to have on board
Wireless Endoscope,DEPSTECH Upgrade 5.0MP HD WiFi Borescope, 16 inch Focal Distance, Semi-Rigid Snake Inspection Camera with 2200 mAh Battery for iOS & Android Smart Phone & Tablets-16.5Ft https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07SC5N...abc_HDKVW7Y4167XS6QW4SEY?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
guydickinson
Well-Known Member
That looks very interesting! Thanks. Amazon say there is a newer one for an extra fiver but very unclear what's better about it.
Northern Star
Well-Known Member
I use the Veho Muvi K2 cameras on my boat as they are far cheaper than GoPro and if they get trashed it not as big a hit to the wallet.
They do an underwater housing and I have used it to check the bottom of the boat several times.
They do an underwater housing and I have used it to check the bottom of the boat several times.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
We have also used the Depstech endoscope cameras effectively. But wow, prices are going up fast - ours cost £29.99 a couple of years back.
Ammonite
Well-Known Member
Some of the more expensive models have a camera in the side as well as one looking straight ahead but I went for this one due to the longish focal length but it may have been superceded...
Last edited:
Ammonite
Well-Known Member
Indeed. Mine was £30 a year ago
Neeves
Well-Known Member
For best results - a bright sunny day to see the sunny side of the hull., for the other side of the hull, turn the yacht around. After a period of heavy rain the water is more cloudy and clarity really drops off. Having a light does not really help as the light is reflected by the particles reducing the visibility. I have been using a really cheap camera , stg10, - the sort Aldi (and I presume Lidl) have sold in the past and then down load immediately to a computer - I might need to go back and take another batch of pictures - but works for me to look at the prop and keels, noting we only draw 1 metre. I simply lean over the dinghy, camera in hand (and tied to my wrist) and go click, click, click - nothing sophisticated.
I have, had, an expensive, relatively, Pentax WG1 - it developed a leak and no longer works. I really don't notice the difference in quality from the cheap and expensive version (though you might in really clear water).
Video would be more complex as you can take as many random shots as you like to say look at the prop - but random video would not work
But I'm not into vid - so to me does not matter
Jonathan
I have, had, an expensive, relatively, Pentax WG1 - it developed a leak and no longer works. I really don't notice the difference in quality from the cheap and expensive version (though you might in really clear water).
Video would be more complex as you can take as many random shots as you like to say look at the prop - but random video would not work
But I'm not into vid - so to me does not matter
Jonathan
Moodysailor
Well-Known Member
I have a DJI Osmo Action (similar to a Go-Pro). The good thing about an action cam is that is is handy for multiple things as well as an underwater camera. I've used mine to record serial numbers, as a second pair of eyes (with the phone app), and to record some "how-to" guides for a few things on board.
Apart from functional uses, it's also captured dolphins, seals, and some cracking sailing
Super easy to download onto a phone/tablet and edit also.
Apart from functional uses, it's also captured dolphins, seals, and some cracking sailing
Super easy to download onto a phone/tablet and edit also.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
The Amazon one looks tempting but it only says that the cable is waterproof, unless I have missed something. I have a cheapo video camera that works, the only difficulty being getting it into position at the end of a pole or line. Whatever you use, the quality is unlikely to matter in home waters and ease of use would be my main requirement.
PCUK
Well-Known Member
I've got an old infra red black and white outfit that works on a stick underwater. You can borrow it if you are ever near junction 27 M5 to pick it up.
Ink
Well-Known Member
I have a Go-Pro 5 which is really good. Was a present so I wouldn't normally have paid the price at the time.
However, there are now any number of cheap Chinese copies starting from about £30 which will be acceptable for looking at the underside of your boat on the end of a stick.
All depends on what you want the output to look like. If your need is broadcast quality then you just have to spend the money.
I'm
Crazy-Diamond
Well-Known Member
If you need to inspect things underwater then you will need to be able to review what you are seeing in realtime. Most action cameras will transmit a Bluetooth signal to your phone so you can see, but this does not work underwater. I tried looking at my prop anode with a go-pro lashed to the boat hook, despite many attempts I never really got a view that helped me understand the condition of the anode.
I have also had need to look into tiny spaces within the boat. For this purpose I bought a half decent endoscope camera. In fact I was a perfect example of the "buy cheap buy twice" saying as the first one was carp. The second one was about £30 and records in high definition. People say they are not interested in making videos but I can assure you that high definition images are what you need when looking for information - either under the water (condition of anode) or in dark and inaccessible parts of the boat.
The endoscope camera is wired to a small box that contains the battery and also the transmission gubbins, sending the video picture to the phone, where you can of course save images and video.
I have also had need to look into tiny spaces within the boat. For this purpose I bought a half decent endoscope camera. In fact I was a perfect example of the "buy cheap buy twice" saying as the first one was carp. The second one was about £30 and records in high definition. People say they are not interested in making videos but I can assure you that high definition images are what you need when looking for information - either under the water (condition of anode) or in dark and inaccessible parts of the boat.
The endoscope camera is wired to a small box that contains the battery and also the transmission gubbins, sending the video picture to the phone, where you can of course save images and video.
Owl @ 6s and 7s
New Member
This seems to be exactly the one I am using. I have it attached on my hull brush, see image:
edit: thumbnail instead of full img
