FLIR First Mate
I really enjoy night fishing- there are few boats around, the wind and waves seem to calm down, there is no brutal sun to avoid, and the fishing is usually great. I head out before dusk, find a nice spot to anchor, fish for a few hours then pull anchor and head in. That last part can be scary. Some boats run without lights (I don't want to know why), lobster and crab trap buoys are everywhere, and unwelcome stuff floats on the surface.
To make this trip back to port easier I once bought a night-vision monocular. It amplified available light and was supposed to enable me to see where I was headed. It was dangerous. Not only could I not see much more than green speckles, while trying to adjust it I wasn't seeing anything.
So, I have always been attracted to FLIR's night vision products. FLIR uses heat, not light, to present night-vision images so they can work without any light at all. I have used them and they work very well, but weren't really practical for a 25' boat. Fortunately, FLIR recently released their First Mate maritime thermal night vision camera. This is a lightweight, hand-held monocular similar in concept to my old night-vision monocular. Last week I had an opportunity to try one at night. I could see anything of interest on the water- it feels like you are looking at a daylight black and white image. No green speckles. No constant fiddling with the controls.
I have been seriously considering a FLIR for about a year, but they were too large, heavy and expensive for my boat. This one is small, light and less expensive ($2999 for the base model, $1000 more with 2x magnification and built-in camera). The controls are logically placed and easy to use. I could pick it up and use it periodically without losing situational awareness. It also has a built-in hot shoe with a video output so I can mount it on a tripod and view its output on my bridge's multifunction display (a Raymarine E120). After the trip I can remove it and store it in a secure place. This is a great product.
FLIR's First Mate will take the fear out of that last leg of the night fishing adventure.
You can view FLIR's First Mate video at http://www.flir.com/cvs/americas/en/maritime/products/firstmate/
Please take the time to visit this site and consider this product. It is worth it.
Captain Bruce Pelkey