Visibility off Port Bow

C

C-Val

Member
Hi Everyone

Even though I have a permatrim on my F90, my visibility off my Port bow is not that great. Mostly my wife is on the lookout on that side for me.

I was just wondering if I travel by myself, would a go-pro camera clipped onto the port bow rail and live streaming onto an iPad work?

Wondering how others have dealt with this problem. I am afraid to travel without someone watching on that side for me

I remember as a young person being on the bridge of my dads boat. I could see everything there!

Thanks for your thoughts

David and Valeri
 
C-Val":t00hdst0 said:
Hi Everyone

Even though I have a permatrim on my F90, my visibility off my Port bow is not that great. Mostly my wife is on the lookout on that side for me.

I was just wondering if I travel by myself, would a go-pro camera clipped onto the port bow rail and live streaming onto an iPad work?

Wondering how others have dealt with this problem. I am afraid to travel without someone watching on that side for me

I remember as a young person being on the bridge of my dads boat. I could see everything there!

Thanks for your thoughts

David and Valeri
Click to expand...

I would say, make sure you are trimmed well. I also find that if I want to see all around I stand in the center aisle at the entrance to the v-berth and steer the boat with my right hand on the wheel. Bit of a stretch to the throttle though.

I think that the very wide angle on the GoPro is going to make it difficult to make out a lot detail on objects that are not near the boat.

Also, when live streaming with a GoPro the battery will last maybe and hour and half (probably less). You will need to hook up an external power lead. Unless you rig something up, using the external power may mean that the GoPro is no longer waterproof (that's the case with the Hero 3 series, not sure on newer models).
 
Standing in the center works, and I do that maybe half the time. (Also, standing is way easier to ride in rough water conditions.)

And, You can look farther out ahead of the boat. Like you do for driving the car.

For docking, use the starboard side, and you can see where you are with where you want to be.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP1612.thumb.jpg
 
Personally I wouldn’t want to put that much trust in a GoPro. Aside from the short battery in live mode, I find it sometimes is grainy and can be a bit choppy or even delayed in live mode. Maybe that just mine though, I think I have the Hero 7’s. Another alternative to consider is adding some height to the captains chair. I have a suspension seat on order that may help.
 
Thanks for all the ideas!

A tech friend said same thing-go-pro not clear enough

I have never tried standing in the middle as was suggested.
I have a trip next weekend. I am going to give it a try!

Maybe I will even be able to get standing Points on my smartwatch at same time!

Thx
😊
 
C-Val":5crn5y8a said:
... I have never tried standing in the middle as was suggested.
I have a trip next weekend. I am going to give it a try! ...
Click to expand...

Standing in the middle is also great when I get tired of sitting during long passages.
 
If you want a camera, you could look at automotive back-up cameras. That would give you a big screen, sharp image and you could wire it from the boat's 12V system.
 
The same visibility problem exists from the "A" post in cars.
As helmsman, it helps to move and look around a bit.
You can't blame a collision on a camera that doesn't happen
to be working.

Aye.
 
Foggy":3ahinwrx said:
The same visibility problem exists from the "A" post in cars.
As helmsman, it helps to move and look around a bit.
You can't blame a collision on a camera that doesn't happen
to be working.

Aye.
Click to expand...

You might spend more time futzing around with the camera app/screen than paying attention with what is actually going on off the port side.
 
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