Ocean Viewing From Deck - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: The Whaler GAM or General Area
  Ocean Viewing From Deck

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Ocean Viewing From Deck

Newtauk1 posted 11-01-2010 10:05 PM ET (US)
I have good binoculars on my Boston Whaler. I would like to buy quality equipment to view the harbor and beyond from my deck that looks over the local harbor and on clear days far beyond.
Should I buy binoculars on a tri-pod or something else?
I want to view out over the ocean from my roof top deck.
lizard posted 11-01-2010 10:15 PM ET (US)
Have you thought about a nice sporting scope? Nikon, Zeiss, etc.
contender posted 11-01-2010 10:19 PM ET (US)
Lizard is correct
AZdave posted 11-02-2010 01:09 AM ET (US)
Add Swarovski to the list of excellent spotting scopes. The initial cost is high, but you will be sharing the fun of amazing performance for the rest of your life.
Newtauk1 posted 11-02-2010 01:45 AM ET (US)
Yes-A sporting scope was one idea. I want to view freighters in the distance and try to view some far away land structures. I can't believe I have waited this long to buy a quality device. The view has been very clear lately. I specifically look South over Gloucester's Outer Harbor in Gloucester Ma. Thanks for the responses.
-John
AllanR posted 11-02-2010 05:26 AM ET (US)
Since you are going to use them from your deck you have several choices but first I would visit a site called "cloudynights.com" it is an astronomy based group but it has a tremendous amount of info on binoculars, spotting scopes and telescopes.
Another great site for binoculars, etc is "birdforum.net". They have forums on all the different brands.
Personally, I would prefer binoculars over spotting scopes. It is just a better view using both eyes.
Also you will likely need a powerful pair of 15x or more to get the reach for what you want . That also means that you will need either a tripod or stabilizing system to take out the "shakes" from hand holding.
I have a similar use from a condo in Hollywood, FL where I look over the ocean from my balcony. I use a pair of Canon 18x50 image stabilized binoculars. They are amazing. I can read ships names from miles away. And no tripod is needed, I prefer to hand hold them, which is no problem with these.
Newtauk1 posted 11-02-2010 07:34 AM ET (US)
I guess I need to get out and try soem of these different options. A tri-pod would be fine for my set-up.
jimh posted 11-02-2010 07:39 AM ET (US)
Quality binoculars are a good investment. For hand-held use there is a practical limit to the magnification power of about seven times.
tjxtreme posted 11-02-2010 08:27 AM ET (US)
You will need to decide if you want a wider field of view for closer viewing, or for really far, but narrower viewing. Both have their benefits, it will depend on the situation and distances.
I suggest trying them out to see if you prefer high or low power binoculars or a spotting scope. Higher power optics tend to be darker (and for me less pleasurable)... but I'm sure if you're willing to spend enough that won't be a problem.
Dave Sutton posted 11-02-2010 08:31 AM ET (US)
I'd suggest that you look at a god pair of 10 power gyro stabilized binoculars. I added a pair of Cannon 10 power gyros to my collection of binoculars two years ago, and they have pproven to be absolutely perfect for almost everything. They can be hand-held without any shake,work fine from the Whaler (!!) when it's not too rough, are carried in the truck at all times, and have just been super. The lack of shake is amazing. No tripod needed at all. Try a set and you will be amazed.
If you go to a spotting scope (I have one of these too), you will be locked into using a tripod. If that's OK, then these are good tools. If you do decide to go to a tripod mounted device, I'd seriously look at some of the Russian and East German military surplus tripod mounted observation binoculars that are available. A little Googling will find sources. These are generally copies of the WW-II Zeiss artillery spotting and opservation binos. Compared to a monocular spotting scope they are night and day.
Dave
.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Ocean Viewing From Deck
Newtauk1	posted 11-01-2010 10:05 PM ET (US) I have good binoculars on my Boston Whaler. I would like to buy quality equipment to view the harbor and beyond from my deck that looks over the local harbor and on clear days far beyond. Should I buy binoculars on a tri-pod or something else? I want to view out over the ocean from my roof top deck.
lizard	posted 11-01-2010 10:15 PM ET (US) Have you thought about a nice sporting scope? Nikon, Zeiss, etc.
contender	posted 11-01-2010 10:19 PM ET (US) Lizard is correct
AZdave	posted 11-02-2010 01:09 AM ET (US) Add Swarovski to the list of excellent spotting scopes. The initial cost is high, but you will be sharing the fun of amazing performance for the rest of your life.
Newtauk1	posted 11-02-2010 01:45 AM ET (US) Yes-A sporting scope was one idea. I want to view freighters in the distance and try to view some far away land structures. I can't believe I have waited this long to buy a quality device. The view has been very clear lately. I specifically look South over Gloucester's Outer Harbor in Gloucester Ma. Thanks for the responses. -John
AllanR	posted 11-02-2010 05:26 AM ET (US) Since you are going to use them from your deck you have several choices but first I would visit a site called "cloudynights.com" it is an astronomy based group but it has a tremendous amount of info on binoculars, spotting scopes and telescopes. Another great site for binoculars, etc is "birdforum.net". They have forums on all the different brands. Personally, I would prefer binoculars over spotting scopes. It is just a better view using both eyes. Also you will likely need a powerful pair of 15x or more to get the reach for what you want . That also means that you will need either a tripod or stabilizing system to take out the "shakes" from hand holding. I have a similar use from a condo in Hollywood, FL where I look over the ocean from my balcony. I use a pair of Canon 18x50 image stabilized binoculars. They are amazing. I can read ships names from miles away. And no tripod is needed, I prefer to hand hold them, which is no problem with these.
Newtauk1	posted 11-02-2010 07:34 AM ET (US) I guess I need to get out and try soem of these different options. A tri-pod would be fine for my set-up.
jimh	posted 11-02-2010 07:39 AM ET (US) Quality binoculars are a good investment. For hand-held use there is a practical limit to the magnification power of about seven times.
tjxtreme	posted 11-02-2010 08:27 AM ET (US) You will need to decide if you want a wider field of view for closer viewing, or for really far, but narrower viewing. Both have their benefits, it will depend on the situation and distances. I suggest trying them out to see if you prefer high or low power binoculars or a spotting scope. Higher power optics tend to be darker (and for me less pleasurable)... but I'm sure if you're willing to spend enough that won't be a problem.
Dave Sutton	posted 11-02-2010 08:31 AM ET (US) I'd suggest that you look at a god pair of 10 power gyro stabilized binoculars. I added a pair of Cannon 10 power gyros to my collection of binoculars two years ago, and they have pproven to be absolutely perfect for almost everything. They can be hand-held without any shake,work fine from the Whaler (!!) when it's not too rough, are carried in the truck at all times, and have just been super. The lack of shake is amazing. No tripod needed at all. Try a set and you will be amazed. If you go to a spotting scope (I have one of these too), you will be locked into using a tripod. If that's OK, then these are good tools. If you do decide to go to a tripod mounted device, I'd seriously look at some of the Russian and East German military surplus tripod mounted observation binoculars that are available. A little Googling will find sources. These are generally copies of the WW-II Zeiss artillery spotting and opservation binos. Compared to a monocular spotting scope they are night and day. Dave .