Experiences with FLIR cams?

Hallo again,

What kind of FLIR system and what branch is it ? Is it a mobile system or fixed and intergrated into the Nav- system?

FLIR is a great onboard system both on boats / ships and on planes, if coupled with the Nav / bridge systems. The Raymarine FLIR 300 / 400 / 500 for example can be coupled to the RADAR coursor, means if You track and lock on a radar return with Your radar, the FLIR system looks and focuses automatically to this point. A great feature for MOB and night operations.

On bigger classed yachts it is almost neccessary for the safety and ease of operations. I have it both on my larger boat and on my larger aircraft. If You get used to it, You will not like to miss it ever again. Especially the IR head up display overlay in planes is great feature.

Maintenance of FLIR systems, if made in the US, is pretty expensive, as the FLIR technology is export restricted by federal law. Simple IR systems with low resolution and low range are a nice gimmic but not worth the money spend on it. The more advance systems, especially the multi sensor systems are very expensive to buy and if the IR sensor is cryogenically cooled, the system has to be returned to the factory in pretty short regular intervals.

My advice would be, use it as long as it works properly, if it breaks, sell it or throw it away. But check its calibration regulary.

+1 on Pascals remarks.

HTMO9

It's VERY useful if it comes with a boat that you are buying, because after selling it on eBay you can use the money for something much more worth, like restocking your wine cellar.
And depending on the exact model, you might even throw in some bottles of Cristal Roederer!

PS: I'm saying this based on a first hand experience of being on watch at night, together with the boat owner who was keeping his eyes on the FLIR screen almost constantly, while helming the boat.
And when we were on a collision course with a stand-on vessel whose red and white I clearly saw approaching on our stbd side with Mk1 eyeball, I had to warn him about that, because it was just outside the camera FoV and he saw nothing at all.

I will not own a boat that I might ever use at night without FLIR. I don't use it in place of other tools but in addition to them. In the example Mapism cites, radar would have been the primary tool. Where FLIR is of great benefit is if you ever find yourself entering a port or approaching a marina at night and also for getting starts on voyages at night.

Also, if anchored at night, tremendous for checking what is going on around you. Even just docked if you hear sounds on the dock you feel the need to investigate.

It's also useful in daytime as it picks up kayakers and paddleboarders well. And in MOB situations is a very useful tool for picking up the targeted MOB.

In other ways, we use FLIR for searching for leaks of all types from air to water. Great tools for problem solving.

Not really. In my example, the night was crystal clear, and in such conditions radar only comes second, after eyeball.
Depending on sea conditions, a very small boat can be missed by the radar (been there), even if its navlights can still be easily spotted.
In fog or any other low-vis conditions, then yes of course, radar becomes the primary tool.

That said, I agree that in completely dark anchorages or a MOB situation, a thermal camera has its purpose.
But not while cruising, where I wouldn't even bother turning it on if I had it on my boat.
Overrated is the first adjective that springs to mind with FLIR, imho.

PS: On the other hand, I wouldn't mind a tool like the Caterpillar S62 for checking all sort of onboard systems - in fact, I'm considering to get one - but that's a totally different kettle of fish, of course.

I simply don't agree with your evaluation of overrated. Perhaps you never fully learned how to use it.

Well, maybe. By definition, I am unaware of what I don't know - I'm not different from any other other human being in this respect!
And overrated or not is to a large extent a matter of personal viewpoint (and wealth!), anyway.
I would call also the stuff that Roederer put in their bottles overrated, FWIW.

But as long as you agree that it's pointless for "normal cruising" conditions, we aren't too far away, I reckon.
Essentially, my point - as also the OP said, BTW - is that I never missed the thing, in the overwhelming majority of days of boating spent without it vs. just some spent with it. And I can't think of one single case in decades of boating, inclusive of both night cruising and anchoring, where I felt limited by not having a thermal camera.
Each to their own, though.

PS: nice to read that Pascal shares my view on eyeball relevance.

From what HTM09 mentioned " as the FLIR technology is export restricted by federal law" I'd be careful about that.

Well, I run with both a HD Flir for daytime and a thermal for nights. I rely heavily on radar, AIS, and my own eyes on the horizon, but having the Flir is a very comforting additional tool, very useful and great to have. I make several long runs overnight throughout the year, and I wouldn't want to go without it now that I have had it and benefitted from it. As Pascal stated I typically dedicate one of the displays on the helm to the camera view where it's on a large display. It provides an excellent additional reference for traffic, buoys, even crab pots.

The 232 unit is not that low budget, if it is the M version. It is just low range. New it costs about 4.000,- Euro. But compared to the multi sensor M400 for 300.000,- Euros or the multi sensor cooled M500 for 500.000,- Euros it is a bargin . As long as it works, I would use it. With its Joystick control and zoom function it is pretty practical. As long as it interfaces properly with Your Nav displays, keep and use it. Raymarine Germany or Nordwestfunk Emden can give You an estimate for a service of the unit, if its performance deteriorates.

I would use it during night or bad visibility for identifying radar returns or shadowy sightings in joystick controlled search mode and in centerline locked mode with only changing magnification, when operating in close quarters. And keep in mind, the Mk I Eyeball is always the number one source of navigation. Keeping the the sensor clean from salt spray also helps a lot.

I agree with Pascal. Floating items in the water, especially when floating for longer times will not be recognized by this recreational FLIR systems unless You are quite close (if at all). For those minimal temperature differences, You will need a cooled IR sensor ($$$). But MOB will be visible pretty good. And anything is always better than nothing.