| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Robski97 |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 10:45:42
Guys,
Thinking of adding this ... Any thoughts ? Billy got some pics u can share of it in use ?
Rob |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Capt. Bill1 |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 19:50:54
Personally I like the picture you get from a ultra low lux camera better. But they both can come in handy at times.
That said, they are a bit pricey for the average boater. And I would recommend getting radar to most people first.
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| PascalG |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 19:33:02
I have spent a lot of time on the water in the past 30 years and have never been in a situation where I had to rescue an MOB whether from my own boat or responding to an emergency call
We can over equip our boats with "what if" gear till the waterline needs to raised, but it s not very efficient.
No I have never used FLIR. As I have said,a standard radar will show pilings, day markers, unlit dinghies and more. Now if you can show me a screen shot of fishing pot buoy nice and visible, then I will agree that for those boaters who routinely operate at night In areas with numerous pots, FLIR would be useful
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| Billylll |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 19:15:31
I'm talking if I ever lost somebody overboard on my own vessel or was in the area of a Pan Pan. I have an advantage if this ever happened I'm just saying it would be a great tool in this situation.
This in addition to it's almost unbelievable ability to pick up floating debris, non reflective private channel markers and crab pots.
It's pretty obvious you have not used a FLIR for any period of time or at all or you wouldn't have just made the grainy image comment that happens only on night vision generation 1, 2 or 3.
The picture posted above is a picture of a picture the grain is in the digital camera taking the picture not the FLIR monitor as seen from a LED TFT screen by the human eyes.
Bill |
| PascalG |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 18:23:18
We re not the CG and our goals our different. How many of us have had a night time MOB?
You didn't get my point about splitscreen... It reduces the size of your radar or plotter window which is the last thing you want
Again, if a standard radar will show the echo of a piling or day marker 200' ahead why do i want and most importantly what do I gain to see a grainy image if the thing?
Just trying to understand...
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| Billylll |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 17:49:25
Not everybody has your piloting skills Pascal. The FLIR takes about as much dash space as nothing now that they are NMEA2000 controlled. Got an MFD with SeaTalk or NMEA2000 no external controller is required. Most MFDs you can split the screen and use the FLIR either left/right or top/bottom. Even if you needed dash spece because you had a dated unit like my Navigator II it takes up the space an AC outlet with a cover plate would or the same space as a dual bow thruster control. If you enjoy cruising at night and have a 2nd set of eyes ( a watch) these are an inredable feature to have on a boat any size. The USCG runs them on some RIBs in my area. If you ever have a MOB situation I can't think of a more useful tool to have other then perhaps a "Big Ear" well I'm joking about the big ear because your generator sound would overload the Big Ear.
Too bad Rob maybe next year?
Bill |
| PascalG |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 12:47:23
using USCG SAR as an example of how useful FLIR can be is as relevant as saying the president rides in an armored limo so everyone should as well
Over the past few years I have done probably close to 20k NM, including a lot of night time or restricted visibility running. A lot of it included running in unfamiliar waters, coming into new harbors or inlets and a radar/plotter has always been enough to get me in safely. I have yet to have a piling or small dinghy not showing up on standard radar...
I remember a run in the Gulf ICW where the fog started just past NOLA and lasted all the way to Galveston... A good chunk of it at night. Ended up anchoring a side canal overnight in Port Arthur arriving around 1am... Must have been 200' wide and I never saw the banks even the next morning we left The plotter and standard radar got us in and out safely. Every pilIing,dolphin and tied tugs showed up cristal clear.
On another memorable trip up the AICW, schedule issues forced me to run at night thru many sections in GA and the Carolina's... Probably did 30 or 40 hours of night running on that trip. Again the radar showed every piling, every range, every small dock jutting out in the channel. What would I have gained with FLIR? Spot a dog in someone s backyard?
And I can go on and on and on with more real world examples.
Besides the cost (most of us live in the real world where $ matters) on most boats under say 50 or 60' the FLIR display is going to take valuable space often reducing the size of your radar and plotter windows. I feel that s mistake. When running at night and/or in rest vis I want one big radar picture one MFD and my plotter data on the other one. I want to see the echo from that piling 150' off my bow... Nothing else matters
The one use I see for FLIR is avoiding pots at night if you boat in areas where pots are a problem like New England or the Keys. But I would like to see a picture showing a lobster/crab pot really visible on a FLIR display as I wonder if the pots are really visible once the are at the same temp as the water? |
| Robski97 |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 11:42:54
Adam,
I actually have a pair that is a few years old. It gets alittle old picking it up to put to ur eye . I guess im just getting old and lazy. All these years later though it still works great.
Rob |
| AF |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 11:20:12
Rob, Have you looked at the hand held FLIR unit? I was considereding the hand held until i found out they don"t work looking through the pilot house glass, they have to be used with no obstructions. Great if you have an open fly bridge. |
| Robski97 |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 07:52:43
Billy, I did not. Its still on my list. My slush fund was raided. I am the proud owner of living room chairs and pillows that no one will ever see or sit in.
UGH |
| Billylll |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 07:48:28
Rob any updates did you get the FLIR?
Bill |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 20 2012 : 13:01:51
Willie 1st the FLIR is no Toy what is really nice about the FLIR is the ability to run and see much better then using a spotlight and ruining other vessels night vision or your crew's. I have the MFD I watch the FLIR on dim/dark and my wife is the lookout/ Watch Commander! I swear she can see things a mile before I can in the dark or even daylight. My FLIR unit cost about $10k. Even though I really like the new NMEA2000 networked units I can not justify spending another $18-$20k and still have my original unit which works AAA+++. Heck with the price of some 34-40 foot Trawlers that need work I could spend $25 to $30k or what I would have in both FLIR units and start rebuilding a used Trawler. Would I use a FLIR in the trawler? Absolutely especially when going under bridges and in poor to no lighting conditions in narrow channels and where the shore lights get confusing. So I will keep the FLIR unit I have and if I ever get that Trawler I'll move it. Unless the new owner of my current boat sticks to the asking price. Otherwise I can negotiate the price down by removing various systems and they would not even know they were ever installed.
Bill |
| stmbtwle |
Posted - Jun 20 2012 : 11:17:44
Sounds like a nice toy but I can't for the life of me see how I could justify it on an old six knot boat. I'd rather the idiots that run around at 30kts in the dark had one. In the meantime I'll just turn on the bordello lights and use a spotlight. |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 20 2012 : 10:53:36
quote:
Originally posted by Robski97
Billy, Email me first at nyc.rr.com
Rob is your e-mail nyc(at)rr.com?
Bill |
| Robski97 |
Posted - Jun 20 2012 : 09:29:41
Billy, Email me first at nyc.rr.com
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| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 20 2012 : 09:10:25
Rob, I will dig up my units specifications and model number it's as easy to control as a bow thruster.
I have the non NMEA2000 unit that pans and tilts.
Bill |
| Robski97 |
Posted - Jun 20 2012 : 07:10:49
I have twin E 120 Rayjunk plottters
Ill go read .. ugh
Rob |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 20 2012 : 06:08:00
Here is the link about interphase or Garmins FLIR type units
http://www.panbo.com/archives/2012/02/garmin_triple_wow_thermal_cameras_ipad_app_and_interphase_fls.html |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 20 2012 : 06:02:53
quote:
Originally posted by Robski97
Billy , what's the flir model of the unit that tracks ?
Rob
It depends on your MFD/Plotter which do you have Rob?
Here is link to a discusssion on the various units.
http://www.panbo.com/5.html
or
http://www.panbo.com/archives/2012/02/cam_crazy_miami_flir_garmin_iris_oceanview.html
Bill |
| Robski97 |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 21:07:47
Billy , what's the flir model of the unit that tracks ?
Rob |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 20:05:53
If you ever have a MOB you will wish you had a FLIR! But for the naysayer's it will be too late.
No they su&k you say? You need to tweak them I thought we were talking about radar compared to FLIR for a moment? If so then why does the USCG use them on search and rescue missions?
Bill |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 19:55:26
FLIR beats radar hands down close in. AIS beats radar if all vessels were equipped with it but they are not. Broadband radar kills regular radar for close in work. It's all about enjoying yourself there is no hard work with a FLIR especially the new FLIR where you can make a target similar to MARPA and it tracks all by itself. However I love it when putting around at night I can't tell you how many small unlit fishing boats I have seen in total darkness I would have never seen without getting a bit close for comfort, the exception being broadband radar and being really good at reading radar. These small boats show up on the FLIR as if the sun was out. A FLIR unit takes all the stress out of total darkness or near darkness cruising. It's so simple to use even a monkey could figure it out.
Bill |
| Robski97 |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 19:35:06
Nite running ! We are not in an open bay . Lots of obstacles . Would make life alot easier .
Isn't boating about less stress more enjoyment ?
Rob |
| walterv |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 19:08:12
Ha Ha Flir, don't get that |
| boatbum |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 19:07:05
What do you need it for? IMHO if you depend on FLIR you are out boating when you should not be. The only case I can see an exception to is running into thick fog unexpectedly, and radar already has this covered. Yes, it would make a great back up to radar but given all the dial tweeking I wonder about the value.
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| Robski97 |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 19:01:48
Ty for ur thoughts !
Rob |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 11:42:34
Since I have Garmin I would chose the NMEA2000 controlled dual night vision/ thermal imager. If I had Raymarine newer MFD's I would go with the FLIR that is controlled by the MFD's.
Bill |
| Robski97 |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 11:36:52
Billy ,
I have 10 year old hand held FLIR . Still works great but i want better.
If u were doing it all over again which would u select.
Thanx
Rob |
| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 11:27:03
The handheld units are nice and not as expensive as the permanent integrated units.
Unless you enjoy watching the FLIR from any MFD or TV in your vessel (great while at anchor).
I prefer the permanent solutions.
Bill |
| abalmuth |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 11:18:26
Rob
My car came with a FLIR system factory installed. Under the right conditions it works very well. It has gotten me out of a few tickets over the past 4 years!
The cement swan shows all the heat it has been collecting from the sun
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| Billylll |
Posted - Jun 19 2012 : 10:58:48
Do it Rob! I don't have any pictures because
1) I su+k at taking pictures
2) it's a low or no light situation and like I said I am terrible at taking pictures.
The units have evolved since I got my original FLIR but I did not buy the low end unit. The new FLIR units work and track targets on Raymarine MFD's and Garmin has an alternative to the FLIR that uses both night vision and a thermal imager all in one expensive package that will also track targets. In addition they are controlled via the boats NMEA2000 network in addition to the joystick control panel. This option was not available when I purchased my FLIR.
I would suggest you check out Ben's blog "Panbo" there has been some recent announcements and pictures of the units in action.
Bill |
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