MacGregorSailors.com

Since I can't go sailing - I'm thinking of toys er... research equipment for next summer.

Any thoughts on this aerial camera?

http://www.amazon.com/Panther-Drone-Cam ... +HD+Camera

I have thought about attaching my gopro to a kite with some heavier line in case it ditches in the ocean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGupz_9mGc

I started playing around with quads this summer when I ordered a Syma X5C and absolutely fell in love with it. Keep in mind, the one you inquired about and the Syma are "toys" which generally means short flight times (about 9 minutes on mine) and light weight camera (not gopro quality). The Syma flies well outdoors although strong winds (above 7 mph) should be avoided unless you want to chase it into the next county. I suspect the Panther would be a little more sensitive to wind due to the shape of the fuselage. With the X5C you can take stills or video and control the camera from the remote. I've also played around with kite aerial photography and built a rig to hang my Contour camera from for those windier days. Oh, another bonus for the X5C, the price is quite a bit cheaper than the Panther... http://www.amazon.com/Syma-X5C-Channel- ... s=syma+x5c

I have a Parrot Drone 2.0 that I haven't worked up the nerve to fly over open water yet, but on land based stuff it works great.

I last used it to take aerials of a controlled burn at my Father in Law's farm.

Drones have been making a lot of news in the aviation community lately. A recent decision upholds the authority of the FAA to regulate UAS (quad-copters are an example). Please read and understand the rules. We recently had and incident where a quad was buzzing around a riding arena,clipped a light pole and crashed into the arena. As a result, a young lady fell off a spooked horse. Thankfully she was uninjured, but the FAA could still take enforcement on the operator for operating an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner, if the parents want to report it.

https://www.faa.gov/uas/

~Rich

BOATUS's 2014 gift guide has something right on your wish list. Gift item number one on their list. And it floats

Ray

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2014/dec ... s-2014.asp

Check out this video. From a a DJI Phantom 2 Vision +, http://youtu.be/8RgoL1dv9RU. The video is amazing and make sure you watch the entire video past the credits.. Follow the thread at the Trawler Forum and learn more about the guy's experience. http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/q ... 16669.html

Bob

At that price point, it's a good entry point. I have about $1,000 into Phantom 2, Gopro and gimbal. Takes some amazing video, however I don't have the nerve to fly it over water. Most recent purchase is a "get it back" float that is used to retrieve fishing poles if they sink.
Once you see the video you can take it's pretty addictive.

As Rich pointed out, with so many of these quadcopters making it into people's hands, there are idiots who cause problems. I predict it's a matter of time before they are banned. There are regs: Can't fly near airports or crowds or over 400 feet. I've seen some go way over 2000 feet.

I believe Doug bounced his Phantom2 off his backstay and dove in after it breaking his toe. No joy retrieving it, however he said the gopro came loose and ended in the cockpit. Expensive hobby, but fun.

yukonbob wrote:I have thought about attaching my gopro to a kite with some heavier line in case it ditches in the ocean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGupz_9mGc

Like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHjFpX19p6o

For you guys concerned about water retrieval and getting it wet, here's one for ya' ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEzesXgNwEI

...that might fill the bill. Came across it a while back; its at its early stages of marketing, but looks pretty economical for what it does.

An submersible drone would be more useful to me. Send it out to check the anchor, or prowl for lost treasure. It could be solar charged and would live mounted outside someplace so you could just toss it in at a moments notice. It would beam video back to your phone. It would have an optional torpedo mount plus be able to stealthily stick onto other peoples boats and deploy a drag device. It could also be used to fish instead of a pole. When it was done with all that, it could clean the bottom of your boat like an underwater roombo.
Ix

seahouse wrote:For you guys concerned about water retrieval and getting it wet, here's one for ya' ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEzesXgNwEI

...that might fill the bill. Came across it a while back; its at its early stages of marketing, but looks pretty economical for what it does.

Nice. Too bad I already have so much invested in mine now. There are waterproof cases for the Phantom. The problem with all that is weight and flight time. I've seen landing gear with flotation. Lots of solutions, but all at a cost of weight which for these birds is a high cost. The get er back seems like a decent solution. If it splashes it will sink like a rock and this float will pop up and provide a tether to the bird for retrieval.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4yDcOgcqzs

Here's a test video I made with my new gimbal and my marina in the spring before the water levels came up (without gimbal).
http://vimeo.com/113359404

Ixneigh wrote:An submersible drone would be more useful to me. Send it out to check the anchor, or prowl for lost treasure. It could be solar charged and would live mounted outside someplace so you could just toss it in at a moments notice. It would beam video back to your phone. It would have an optional torpedo mount plus be able to stealthily stick onto other peoples boats and deploy a drag device. It could also be used to fish instead of a pole. When it was done with all that, it could clean the bottom of your boat like an underwater roombo.
Ix

Ix, you need to check out OpenROV:

http://www.openrov.com

I've been thinking about this problem as an automatic hull cleaner, and kind of waiting for my brain to come up with something novel and useful in my sleep.

mastreb wrote:

Ixneigh wrote:An submersible drone would be more useful to me. Send it out to check the anchor, or prowl for lost treasure. It could be solar charged and would live mounted outside someplace so you could just toss it in at a moments notice. It would beam video back to your phone. It would have an optional torpedo mount plus be able to stealthily stick onto other peoples boats and deploy a drag device. It could also be used to fish instead of a pole. When it was done with all that, it could clean the bottom of your boat like an underwater roombo.
Ix

Ix, you need to check out OpenROV:

http://www.openrov.com

I've been thinking about this problem as an automatic hull cleaner, and kind of waiting for my brain to come up with something novel and useful in my sleep.

Now this is a great idea

I got a phantom 1 - bought used on EBay with FPV & GoPro gimbal & a phantom 2 that I think has brain damage. It won't fly straight / normal for nuthin

I bought the 1 after shoulder surgery & didn't have the nerve to use it for over a year. I thought my 1300 bucks was gonna fly away - & never to return

So I bought the cheap non GoPro camera Ph2 for 500 - & had to put a string on it - to keep E.T. From flying Home!
Sheesh! They're like women: They're [Tony the Tiger] Great - if ya got a good one - u don't want to let her go. & the wild ones ya gotta tie Down!

They take a lot of time, practice & batteries

But, good for windless days you can't go sailing