Thermal Imaging Cameras for Boats and Yachts
Are looking for prices of thermal imaging cameras to install of your boat or motor yacht?
Infrared cameras will vary in price based on the application. For example, if you are only using the boat 1 night per month, then a smaller camera may be all you need. Please keep in mind that an IR camera will work the same both day and night, as it’s a ‘heat based’ camera… and doesn’t work off light.
Some would argue that you might get better use out of it during the day. If there is a single seat kayaker (harder to see), paddling through choppy water then you will dramatically increase your chances of seeing the person, because they will show up ‘hot’ on the screen compared to the water temperature, so either way you look at it, an infrared camera is a smart tool to have onboard for safety.
Here’s an article from an Auckland based boating company on the topic…
“Cameron Burch, Raymarine product manager at major marine importer and distributor Lusty and Blundell Ltd, says thermal imaging not only has many advantages over radar on boars, it is also becoming both more compact and more affordable.
“At the moment, Kiwis’ first choice of marine electronics is a VHF radio, followed by a depth sounder or fishfinder,” he says. “Their next choice tends to be a GPS chartplotter, followed by a radar and then ‘extras’ such as autopilots, infrared thermal imaging or underwater cameras.
“We believe that is about to change and thermal imaging units will soon be preferred on a wide range of recreational boats, from mid-sized trailer boats up.”
Burch says thermal imaging camers offer real benefits for recreational boaties.
“While radar only shows that there is something out there, thermal imaging shows exactly what it is that’s there. It is great for picking up kayakers, jetskis, people in the water, partly submerged logs and even craypots and longline floats.
“Thermal imaging also clearly shows breaking waves and the difference between water and land, making it ideal when crossing a bar late at night or in poor visibility, or when navigating in confined waterways such as rivers, estuaries or marinas.”
Burch says that one of the advantages of thermal imaging units is that they are easy to install and to interface with many of the multi-function devices now found on large and mid-sized trailerboats, yachts and launches.
“All you need is a thermal imaging camera, a video cable, a power source and either a MFD with a composite video input or a separate display screen,” he says.
“It is like having a really powerful set of headlights, without any of the disadvantages,” says Burch. “There, is for example, no effect on the skipper’s night vision, nor on that of any other boats in the vicinity.
Even entry level thermal imaging cameras will display objects up to two nautical miles away, while the top of the range models can ‘see’ right to the horizon.
Burch expects that leading marine manufacturers will start installing a thermal imaging camera as part of an electronics package that also includes a GPS chartplotter and a digital depth sounder.
He says he also expects to see more existing boat owners adding a thermal imaging camera to their on-board arsenal.
“These cameras used to cost more than $15,000. Now they are just $5000-$6000. They are also very easy to retrofit and, if the boat has a display with a composite video input, the thermal images can appear as part of a split screen, alongside the chartplotter or sounder, or as a full screen display.
“Alternatively, owners can simply connect the camera to a separate, relatively inexpensive, stand alone display screen.”
