Hey everyone, getting ready for summer, how important are binoculars, my local chandlery wants 370$ can. What do I really need, the ones offered have built in compass.
Binoculars
- Thread starter fred1diver
- Start date
We have 3 pairs of binocs onboard, one simple pair of Bushnells, a pair with built in compass, and an image stabilized pair. They are seldom used. Since leaving last July, I think the we have had the Bushnells out 2 or 3 times, never for any essential reason other than curiosity.
With that said, binoculars are nice to have, but with a new boat needing many other things I would not put them high on the list. Back in the day before good chart plotters were available they were handy for seeing buoys in the distance, GPS has reduced that need.
With that said, binoculars are nice to have, but with a new boat needing many other things I would not put them high on the list. Back in the day before good chart plotters were available they were handy for seeing buoys in the distance, GPS has reduced that need.
Kind of a personal question. I find binoculars very useful, I run a pair of 7 X 50 no frills. Mine are actually antiques (almost) but have very good optics. I've thought about going to a new pair with the compass. I actually took my antique pair and compared them with the Steiner Navigator Pro. The optics were quite similar (I was impressed). I almost bought the Steiner's but decided that they were a bit too heavy compared to mine, and I was only getting the compass extra (and a number of bills lighter wallet).
I'm looking for a great deal on a new pair. When I find the deal, I'll get a set...
dj
I'm looking for a great deal on a new pair. When I find the deal, I'll get a set...
dj
I like good Binocs. When we brought a boat South from the Chessy to Florida it was the item I missed the most. That's with the ship GPS not working, the engines in the safe
mode for much of the trip and many other problems. But Binox was what I missed.
They are just useful. Maybe it's my aging eyes but I would not embark without them.
Buy the best optics you can get. I've never had image stabilized but that seems like a good option.
Compass is nice but optics rule. Somewhere in the sailing press there was a recent review.
Don't go too cheap.
mode for much of the trip and many other problems. But Binox was what I missed.
They are just useful. Maybe it's my aging eyes but I would not embark without them.
Buy the best optics you can get. I've never had image stabilized but that seems like a good option.
Compass is nice but optics rule. Somewhere in the sailing press there was a recent review.
Don't go too cheap.
I'm with @shemandr A good set of binoc's is your friend. Can you get by without it. Probably, but if you need them you really need them. Electronic navigation is convenient but it is not foolproof and I like to confirm my progress visually. I don't advocate buoy hopping but its better than running aground. They are particularly useful when offshore about 3 to 12 miles especially where fast moving boats are heading offshore or back in for fishing. I like to know what I'm dealing with a ways out and the binocs with good optics can help with that.
Plus, I frequently use them to get the name of a passing boat so I can hail them and communicate if necessary. It may be my old eyes too. You also never know what you're missing like that Osprey nest on the marker with the chicks in it. Those and the young lady lounging on the foredeck of the yacht that is passing you.
Plus, I frequently use them to get the name of a passing boat so I can hail them and communicate if necessary. It may be my old eyes too. You also never know what you're missing like that Osprey nest on the marker with the chicks in it. Those and the young lady lounging on the foredeck of the yacht that is passing you.
Plus,when you are closer to shore, if you have guests aboard when you are not actively working lines they can marvel at the shore scenery and houses along the shore and on the hills/cliffs. I enjoy that too. Without Binocs my eyes aren't good enough to pick out much detail.
I got a used pair of Fujinon 14x40 image stabilized bonoculars. They weren't cheap, but I really love them. No comprison to non-stabilized ones, especialy when the water is bumpy.
I don't think you need to spend $350 for a set of 7x50s. When you need them your gonna regret not having them. Picking up buoys and markers without them can be tough to do and nothing beats getting a visual on something. I wouldn't cruise or race without them. B&H is a company I have dealt with and have been quite satisfied with them on a mail order basis. They have some models that would serve well for a lot less. See the link below. I would not recommend going with more powerful than 7 x 50 as the motion of the boat can make centering in on a target hard to do with more powerful models. Certainly the stabilized models must be great, but I have cruised the Great Lakes for 50 years with just a regular pair that I bought at a marine flea market for $25. They continue to serve me well even in rough conditions.
water proof binoculars 7x 50 | B&H Photo Video (bhphotovideo.com)
water proof binoculars 7x 50 | B&H Photo Video (bhphotovideo.com)
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They may not be used frequently, but when they are needed they can be worth their price in Gold. I have not found the need for the detail that premium optics and stabilization may offer. I use a pair of 7 X50s which I paid like $40 a few years back. It may be hard to read the Port of Call of a boat at a distance but it helps find the way into a Port's entrance or identify a sailing obstruction without getting too close.
Optics as far as lense quality agreed. However with binoculars there is the alignment of the two optical paths - that's much harder to get right.
When buying inexpensive instruments, you should make sure the two optical paths are well aligned. I typically take the binoculars and get them very stable in a viewing position, like use a tripod or find a way to hold them very steady. Then sight an object fairly far away that has some kind of well defined horizontal feature. Get the object well focused (I personally don't like the always in focus types, always feel image is slightly fuzzy in all distances), then close one eye then the other. Check to see that the horizontal feature does not move up or down between the image seen in both eyes. Takes some time to do this evaluation....
dj
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
I have 3 pairs. Bushnells that came with the boat. A Nike set I bought for hunting. And a new Mertech $139 pair with compass I purchased 2 years ago that work surprisingly well.
Like the compass. Provides a bearing on the vessels when they are far away. If that bearing stays constant I know that unless one of us alters course we are likely to pass close together. Little boats no much of an issue. Container ships get more respect.
7x50 HD Waterproof Military Marine Binoculars w/Internal Rangefinder & Compass for Water Sports,Hunting,Bird Watching, and Boating…
Like the compass. Provides a bearing on the vessels when they are far away. If that bearing stays constant I know that unless one of us alters course we are likely to pass close together. Little boats no much of an issue. Container ships get more respect.
It’s much more fun for me when sailing to lay for a visible mark using my binoculars than by focusing attention on the chart plotter. Arriving to destination with the admiral at the helm (for example), I’m free to survey the route and obstacles, if any, ahead. I suppose I developed my fondness for it when racing in a time before every crew member had a hand-held GPS or cell phone chart plotter of his/her own to “advise” me my course. I actually had to tack and lay for a mark visually, using me binoculars.
A few years ago I had the comical experience, for me at least, involving a crew member, IPad in hand, advising me my course while I’m looking at the mark (entrance to Powell River North Harbor, BC) through the binoculars in clear conditions to go lower when the mark was clearly higher. But after I handed him the binoculars the “discussion” ended. Maybe a first time for him?We came up. (There was another crew at the helm.) So, I love ‘em.
A few years ago I had the comical experience, for me at least, involving a crew member, IPad in hand, advising me my course while I’m looking at the mark (entrance to Powell River North Harbor, BC) through the binoculars in clear conditions to go lower when the mark was clearly higher. But after I handed him the binoculars the “discussion” ended. Maybe a first time for him?
We came up. (There was another crew at the helm.) So, I love ‘em.
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I'm going to recommend Steiner Marine binoculars $275.(on Amazon) We've used them during races to see marks, cruising to see deer on Elizabeth islands, fishing to see birds/other fishing boat hauls, and sight seeing lighthouses along New England coast. They work so well my goat herding Albanian father-in-law, requested me send two of them to his farm to keep an eye on the flock.
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I have one from West Marine with built in compass. I really like them. To be honest, it's mostly for checking things out to satisfy my curiosity, but then: what's the point of all sailing? To enjoy yourself! The compass seems like a good safety feature for taking bearings, but I can't say I ever used a compass bearing from binoculars in anger, so...
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
Thinking about that. Perhaps.
Racing.
Avoiding a tug boat or a BC ferry that looks to have a mind to run me down.
These come to mind.
Maybe too literal, John. My reading is that he just never used them when it really mattered.
I think one review I read said the compass on a magnified image isn't accurate enough to be useful. But I've used them and it seems reasonable to take a bearing which is important in navigation. If you put the compass on an approaching vessel until the compass is fairly still, and re-do that a minute later and it's basically the same - yikes. I don't know why operators would want to leave that capability ashore. I carry a hockey puck and it has its uses. It is always operational. No menus to wade through.
I think one review I read said the compass on a magnified image isn't accurate enough to be useful. But I've used them and it seems reasonable to take a bearing which is important in navigation. If you put the compass on an approaching vessel until the compass is fairly still, and re-do that a minute later and it's basically the same - yikes. I don't know why operators would want to leave that capability ashore. I carry a hockey puck and it has its uses. It is always operational. No menus to wade through.
