Does anyone have any experience using the FLIR Navigator thermal imaging camera for navigating at night? Would you recommend one? What are the pros/cons?
I used a NVT camera before off shore at night. I quickly realized that any thing far out in the distance you can not see with the camera or on it's screen that is. Some thing close up you can see like it is day light out, no problem. I think it would be good maybe for getting into unfamilair ports at night where it might be really dark? Yet still not sure if the camera is really needed or useful at all.. I would not mind hearing some other opionins..
I have installed a Seenite Multi-role/Dual Field of View stabilised camera inetrfaced with the JRC RADAR/ARPA comprising of Dual Axis Uncooled Thermal Imager Narrow FOV, Uncooled Thermal Imager Wide FOV, Daylight colour zoom camera x 14 +, Ultra low light camera 0.00015 lux and Analogue proportional controls in the fly and wheel house. The performance of the system is just excellent, the only disadvantage was the long delivery time and the paperwork
The Seenite sounds like a much more expensive system. The Navigator II has an MSRP of about $9,000 in the US. How do you use the other cameras? What is the advantage of the low light camera when you also have a thermal camera?
Flir I have a FLIR system on my boat and love it. It works great and definitely provides additional protection for locating floating objects, markers, bridges or anything else in the water.
I used the FLIR system recently while tied up ar Shooter's in Fort Lauderdale for the Hot Bod contest. We thought it was a good experiement to test the capabiliities of the system. I actually did use it while underway also, and have used the old Raytheon system, and previous to that, the Texas Instruments Night Vision. It is another tool that can assist in night time navigation. It certainly can show on the screen what is not visible in the dark. The sensitivity to show details is amazing, since it is based on temperature. If you are thinking of getting one, ask your installer if they can arrange a demonstration at night on a nearby boat.
