During the past few years there has been an explosion of new products providing boaters with nighttime thermal imaging capabilities. Lead by companies like Flir and Raymarine the industry has introduced a series of long range high resolution thermal imaging (TI) products that are typically integrated and networked with marine chartplotters and MFD devices.
Two hallmarks of these thermal imaging devices are that they are are not portable and are definately expensive. Installation is bolt on and fairly complex. Once installed these products likely will stay with the vessel through out the products lifespan, as well as, multiple owners. Your financial investment is also considerable. The price range for typical TI systems range between $7,000 to upwards of $20,000 not including required physical installation and system integration services.
These realities of TI technology lead even the most affluent of boats to consider the cost vs. benefits of purchasing these devices. If your evaluation criteria consists solely of owning all the toys you can before your time is up, the evaluation process is complete. Buy now!
If your needs bend more to the practicle application of these devices, safety and positional awareness will rank high on your criteria list. There is no question that TI devices provide great functionality in both areas, but is the functionality unique or merely a duplication of features found in existing devices? Radar, Chartplotters, AIS, and VHF/DSC devices also provide the benefits of saftety and positional awareness. Here personal preference come into play.
Where TI devices shine is the direct picture provided with little need for analysis. Intended use also should be a determining factor. If you do alot of night time voyaging, TI technology should be on your product consideration list. In terms of locating a MOB or determining the type of vessel approaching you in the dark, one picture is worth a thousand words!
This Month's Boating Direct Product Specials feature two great products from Bushnell. Both serve as portable entry products into the night vision arena. Before investing $6,000 or more on thermal imaging cameras, check out these infrared night scopes for under $210.
First is Busnell's entry level NightVision IR monocular scope. With a viewing range of approximately 100 meters and a featured price of $112.75 the NightVision scope allows you to explore the capabilities of IR imaging at reasonable cost.
Second is Bushnell's NightWatch 2x24 IR monocular scope. With a viewing range of up to 400 meters, the NightWatch scope incorporates features that can serve as a great safety aid during night time cruises. This moth we are offering the NightWatch scope for $209.75.
Find out what Night Vision imaging is all about without breaking the Bank! Click below to learn more about these exciting new products from Busnell-
http://boatingdirect.net/raymarinee77multi-functiondisplayrayt70000-1.aspx We recently had the opportunity to install one of Raymarine's new e7 HybridTouch Multi-Function Display's on a Catalina 32.5 sailboat. This product launches Raymarine's entry into state-of-the-art marine electronic navigation technology. Utilizing integrated high speed networking, digital signal processing and touch screen process selection, I think Raymarine has hit a home run with it's new product line. Users will immediately notice how much the MFD's functions are modeled after Apple's application based user inerface. Chartplotter, Sonar, and Radar functions are accessed as icon based applications. Processing options related to specific applications are contained within the application menu. Generic system functions are accessed on the home page screen. This system architecture is a great step forward in intuititively navigating through an increasing complex range of features found on current marine navigation devices. Users of IPhones and other similar devices will find the new Raymarine MFD's reasonably easy to understand and utilize. A word of caution to the boating do-it-yourselfer. Plan your installation prior to installing your new toys. Knowledge of basic computer concepts and data transmission protocols is essential. After some head scratching we we able to install third party AIS and DSC products as well as ST60 instrumentation via SeaTalk and NMEA 0183. A full product suite installation is not a weekend job!
Tom
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog. Great stuff, well done.
Gerry
During the past few years there has been an explosion of new products providing boaters with nighttime thermal imaging capabilities. Lead by companies like Flir and Raymarine the industry has introduced a series of long range high resolution thermal imaging (TI) products that are typically integrated and networked with marine chartplotters and MFD devices.
ReplyDeleteTwo hallmarks of these thermal imaging devices are that they are are not portable and are definately expensive. Installation is bolt on and fairly complex. Once installed these products likely will stay with the vessel through out the products lifespan, as well as, multiple owners. Your financial investment is also considerable. The price range for typical TI systems range between $7,000 to upwards of $20,000 not including required physical installation and system integration services.
These realities of TI technology lead even the most affluent of boats to consider the cost vs. benefits of purchasing these devices. If your evaluation criteria consists solely of owning all the toys you can before your time is up, the evaluation process is complete. Buy now!
If your needs bend more to the practicle application of these devices, safety and positional awareness will rank high on your criteria list. There is no question that TI devices provide great functionality in both areas, but is the functionality unique or merely a duplication of features found in existing devices? Radar, Chartplotters, AIS, and VHF/DSC devices also provide the benefits of saftety and positional awareness. Here personal preference come into play.
Where TI devices shine is the direct picture provided with little need for analysis. Intended use also should be a determining factor. If you do alot of night time voyaging, TI technology should be on your product consideration list. In terms of locating a MOB or determining the type of vessel approaching you in the dark, one picture is worth a thousand words!
This Month's Boating Direct Product Specials feature two great products from Bushnell. Both serve as portable entry products into the night vision arena. Before investing $6,000 or more on thermal imaging cameras, check out these infrared night scopes for under $210.
First is Busnell's entry level NightVision IR monocular scope. With a viewing range of approximately 100 meters and a featured price of $112.75 the NightVision scope allows you to explore the capabilities of IR imaging at reasonable cost.
Second is Bushnell's NightWatch 2x24 IR monocular scope. With a viewing range of up to 400 meters, the NightWatch scope incorporates features that can serve as a great safety aid during night time cruises. This moth we are offering the NightWatch scope for $209.75.
Find out what Night Vision imaging is all about without breaking the Bank! Click below to learn more about these exciting new products from Busnell-
http://boatingdirect.net/index.aspx
http://boatingdirect.net/raymarinee77multi-functiondisplayrayt70000-1.aspx
ReplyDeleteWe recently had the opportunity to install one of Raymarine's new e7 HybridTouch Multi-Function Display's on a Catalina 32.5 sailboat.
This product launches Raymarine's entry into state-of-the-art marine electronic navigation technology. Utilizing integrated high speed networking, digital signal processing and touch screen process selection, I think Raymarine has hit a home run with it's new product line.
Users will immediately notice how much the MFD's functions are modeled after Apple's application based user inerface. Chartplotter, Sonar, and Radar functions are accessed as icon based applications. Processing options related to specific applications are contained within the application menu. Generic system functions are accessed on the home page screen. This system architecture is a great step forward in intuititively navigating through an increasing complex range of features found on current marine navigation devices. Users of IPhones and other similar devices will find the new Raymarine MFD's reasonably easy to understand and utilize.
A word of caution to the boating do-it-yourselfer. Plan your installation prior to installing your new toys. Knowledge of basic computer concepts and data transmission protocols is essential. After some head scratching we we able to install third party AIS and DSC products as well as ST60 instrumentation via SeaTalk and NMEA 0183. A full product suite installation is not a weekend job!