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Night vision "goggles" on a boat
Posted on 11/20/25 at 9:37 am
Posted on 11/20/25 at 9:37 am
Has anyone tried this? I launch before dark probably 1/2 dozen times a year and probably half that is not on my personal offshore boat, so its damn tough to justify radar or a mounted unit.
So, what are the other options? I do carry a handheld spotlight, but that's not really kosher around boat traffic. Has anyone tried night vision goggles?
I'm not looking to run wide open and be dumb, just looking for that one small next step of being able to see a stray buoy or log and being able to run 25mph or so for 30 mins or so occasionally?
So, what are the other options? I do carry a handheld spotlight, but that's not really kosher around boat traffic. Has anyone tried night vision goggles?
I'm not looking to run wide open and be dumb, just looking for that one small next step of being able to see a stray buoy or log and being able to run 25mph or so for 30 mins or so occasionally?
7
Posted on 11/20/25 at 9:51 am to baldona
Legit NV is pretty expensive. Probably more than a radar. I have seen some people using Sionx cameras on boats. I have a few of them and they work as advertised, but work even better with IR illumination.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 11:00 am to baldona
Never seen anybody do this or heard of this professionally or recreationally.
Complete blackout, let eyes adjust to preserve night vision, and no phones or screens of any kind.
Towboats typically will quickly flash their spotlight on the bank every now and then to orient themselves.
Handheld flashlight will work have done it to point out obstructions to whoever is driving but you risk messing with your night vision.
Handhelds like a full size Q-beam are bright as frick and too bright to be practical most of the time.
Towboat guys tend to rage at people going off with a spotlight.
Complete blackout, let eyes adjust to preserve night vision, and no phones or screens of any kind.
Towboats typically will quickly flash their spotlight on the bank every now and then to orient themselves.
Handheld flashlight will work have done it to point out obstructions to whoever is driving but you risk messing with your night vision.
Handhelds like a full size Q-beam are bright as frick and too bright to be practical most of the time.
Towboat guys tend to rage at people going off with a spotlight.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 12:07 pm to baldona
Old nvg’s have a delay from what’s happening to what you’ll see.
Some yachts have IR cameras, but that’s probably out of reach for your needs.
Some yachts have IR cameras, but that’s probably out of reach for your needs.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 12:39 pm to baldona
You can get night vision/Flir on boat. Is it worth a few K to you?
Posted on 11/20/25 at 6:02 pm to baldona
Maybe something like a nitetrak/Sionix low light camera, portable screen, and power with cigarette lighter plug for portability?
Can get one of those cheap 7” or 9” portable displays for screen and fix it to suction cup or something?
That’s best I can think of outside of adding radar or permanent FLIR install, both of which would be significantly more expensive.
I had nitetrack on last boat. It was cool to have, but I rarely actually used it and ran radar when running at night over using the camera
Can get one of those cheap 7” or 9” portable displays for screen and fix it to suction cup or something?
That’s best I can think of outside of adding radar or permanent FLIR install, both of which would be significantly more expensive.
I had nitetrack on last boat. It was cool to have, but I rarely actually used it and ran radar when running at night over using the camera
Posted on 11/20/25 at 6:20 pm to baldona
Get you a bull-eye baw
Posted on 11/21/25 at 7:52 am to Stat M Repairman
quote:
Handheld flashlight will work have done it to point out obstructions to whoever is driving but you risk messing with your night vision. Handhelds like a full size Q-beam are bright as frick and too bright to be practical most of the time.
My use is something like 5am boat launch until sunrise 1/2 dozen times a year, running out of the Destin pass. A Q beam works for something’s, but going through the Destin pass is no bueno.
I’ve used Qbeams without issues on the rivers.
I was just thinking if I could buy wearable night vision goggles in the $2500 or less range I could also use it for other things.
ETA: I’m not trying to go burning speed, 25mph would be nice. I just want to be able to see 100 yards or so to avoid the random floating debris, boat with poor lighting, errant buoy, etc
Basically what we do now is qbeam where possible and very slow anywhere it’s not
This post was edited on 11/21/25 at 7:59 am
Posted on 11/21/25 at 8:11 am to Saskwatch
quote:
You can get night vision/Flir on boat. Is it worth a few K to you?
Cousin has the Sionx camera on a 28' Tidewater integrated to Garmin screens. It's definitely a cool product.
ETA: I'll snap a few photos of it in the morning headed out of PCB
This post was edited on 11/21/25 at 10:39 am
Posted on 11/21/25 at 8:33 am to EagleEye99
Watch the classifieds on The Hull Thruth, there are always guys on there upgrading electronics. A Flir or Sionx camera would be a much better and cheaper option, a good pair of NOGS are 7k+, even the cheap ones are 4.
Posted on 11/21/25 at 9:35 am to baldona
We did this 10 years ago, we had a monocular that we would scan the passes for anchored shrimp boats, etc. before stepping on plane. I kept it in a pelican case. After a while, we just got away from it. You have to realize it takes time for your eyes to adjust should you need to take them off. Those few seconds are critical.
I have a family member that I've seen wear his pair at times when he was doing offshore tournaments along the coast. He does a lot of predator hunts, so he probably is acclimated to it. They aren't cheap.
I have a family member that I've seen wear his pair at times when he was doing offshore tournaments along the coast. He does a lot of predator hunts, so he probably is acclimated to it. They aren't cheap.
Posted on 11/21/25 at 10:03 am to baldona
8 seconds to go 100 yards at 25 mph, I don’t see your plan working. Only a camera is going to spot floating debris imo.
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