Only on paper (so far). I think that a power over ethernet (POE) camera with night vision would be useful mounted on the mast. It is amazing how much they can see in low light. They don't weight much so they won't add too much to the weight aloft and will only require a single ethernet cable for power and data.
Agreed, and you guys that navigate tight lochs and inlets would be able to see what's on the other side if you have the camera on the mast. It would be nice at anchor to take a peek outside without getting out of bed if it were a wifi camera. Guys that go fast under power might like to spot logs or old shipping containers before they hit them at 15 miles per hour.
You guys can all add your own list of things you would want to see if you had a camera on the mast.
I did this with a cheap camera and a car bluetooth transmitter and receiver wanted to see if it was worthwhile to have. Those Raymarine cameras cost a bunch. The camera does have infrared LEDs on it and you can see maybe 30-50 feet ahead at night. What I like most being able to sit below and still have a look ahead and on autopilot I can even steer . The GPS is mirrored on a iPad mounted below.
A hard wired camera on the mast may be better providing you could get a deck plug/jack.
View while motoring in light rain with the "windshield" up: Camera got wet but would dry after a bit.
At anchor:
Spent about $50 on this I think its worth having. One of those fancy Raymarine cameras would be nicer.
I guess the ultimate setup would be a camera off a drone with the gimble so you can turn the camera in the direction you want to see. Would it be possible to get just the camera part of a drone? That would be really light because it's a camera made to fly so it's not going to be heavy, right?
Anyone think they know of a drone camera I can get? I'm willing to be the guinea pig and try to build the first one so you guys can make a cheaper one off my mistakes?
But I need help finding a camera - what should I use?
BOAT wrote: ↑Wed Dec 08, 2021 6:26 pm
Hi Jimmy, glad to see your out there.
I guess the ultimate setup would be a camera off a drone with the gimble so you can turn the camera in the direction you want to see. Would it be possible to get just the camera part of a drone? That would be really light because it's a camera made to fly so it's not going to be heavy, right?
Anyone think they know of a drone camera I can get? I'm willing to be the guinea pig and try to build the first one so you guys can make a cheaper one off my mistakes?
But I need help finding a camera - what should I use?
Maybe a PTZ camera. Mount it on top of the mast or way up there.
I have multiple POE cameras around my house. Many will work on 12v
Outdoor POE PTZ cameras that are good, light, and inexpensive are hard to find (as in "I could not find one time I looked). Fixed cameras will will fit the bill though. You can get inexpensive night or low light versions with a much wider field of view and more appropriate focal length than I've seen in backup cameras. Kudos to Jimmy for getting one to work though!
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
I did indeed look into those - a very good suggestion, but - Too heavy.
The camera and gimble that a drone uses would be way better. Also, security cameras are in the low resolution of HD and 1080P and for long distance you need the 4 to 12K resolution that a drone camera or an action camera uses. That way you can zoom in on objects a mile away. Security cameras are set up to see things that are close to your house.
I sort of guessed this would not be as easy as I noticed that so few people have actually put a camera on the mast. If there are any people on this site that are into drones or know how to make drones that would be a good place to start.
I must add since I read the last post that I have installed many cameras on my van for side view and backup and security and these tiny car cameras are great for seeing what is next to the car but not so good for seeing far away. The only cameras I have seen so far that can see that log in the water 1/2 mile out is a drone, Drone cameras are pretty good - how do we get one???
I have experience with drones (designed/built/bought/flew >30, FAA part 107 certs, etc.)
IMHO, even with 3-axis stabilization that a drone gimbal would provide, a camera mounted at the top of the mast would still have way too much swing to be able to get a "stabilized" video feed.
Everyone has their own approach. Some on this forum have customized and tweaked out their Macs far beyond what the manufacturer ever imagined. (Kind of reminds me of Rolls Royce upgrades to a VW bug.) Really very awe inspiring. Personally, I'm optimizing for simplicity and reliability. A mast-mounted camera seems overly complex and fragile.
Better functionality is readily available for ~$200 with a cheap drone. Launch when needed... fly up to 400' for an even better view... take those all-important boat selfies. Admittedly, a drone can't stay aloft forever, but it has a lot of other uses that a mast camera cannot touch.
Piddle and Futz wrote: ↑Thu Dec 09, 2021 10:50 am
I have experience with drones (designed/built/bought/flew >30, FAA part 107 certs, etc.)
IMHO, even with 3-axis stabilization that a drone gimbal would provide, a camera mounted at the top of the mast would still have way too much swing to be able to get a "stabilized" video feed.
Everyone has their own approach. Some on this forum have customized and tweaked out their Macs far beyond what the manufacturer ever imagined. (Kind of reminds me of Rolls Royce upgrades to a VW bug.) Really very awe inspiring. Personally, I'm optimizing for simplicity and reliability. A mast-mounted camera seems overly complex and fragile.
Better functionality is readily available for ~$200 with a cheap drone. Launch when needed... fly up to 400' for an even better view... take those all-important boat selfies. Admittedly, a drone can't stay aloft forever, but it has a lot of other uses that a mast camera cannot touch.
I was afraid that I would not be able to land the drone on the boat. Can an amature land the drone on a moving boat?
If connecting a camera to a MFD chart plotter check the specs. My Raymarine specs are for a 720P camera when using video in. There's a network input on the chart plotter maybe time to upgrade....
The new Raymarine Axiom MFD's have a app for connecting and controling drones.
Once my brother had me launch his drone and I hit the drone while it was going up it flipped and went for a swim oops I jumped in and got it we dried it out after that it worked for week then died.
BOAT wrote: ↑Thu Dec 09, 2021 11:13 am
I was afraid that I would not be able to land the drone on the boat. Can an amature land the drone on a moving boat?
Excellent point. I haven't flown a drone from a boat... Sure that is rife with peril.
Let's just Velcro the drone to the top of the mast. Batteries will run the camera for hours if it doesn't need to fly.
Last edited by Piddle and Futz on Fri Dec 10, 2021 7:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
BOAT wrote:
I was afraid that I would not be able to land the drone on the boat. Can an amature land the drone on a moving boat?
Same here. I have been practicing drone flying for the past two years and we have a good "landing platform " on the solar panels deployed above the engine--but never dared to fly the drone off the boat. I tell myself that the rigging might get in the way... or I'd drop it in the water....
The "Follow me" function is pretty shoddy--at least when it comes to my drones
I've got a second drone from Goodwill for something like $20.00 and I am STILL nervous about flying it--even though I can land it pretty well, fixed point, on the shore.
Wonder if it's only a mental thing, LOL
oops I jumped in and got it we dried it out after that it worked for week then died.
