Using cameras for situational awareness

[SailingFan]

JD1, NASCAR has been using tear sheets for decades, and I think they do use cameras with wipers under the car chassis now. Still, the cost must be astronomical relative to the cost of a normal consumer level unit. I agree, it is probably not feasible for this application yet.

[a64pilot]

The big box looking security cams have windshield wipers, but good question, maybe a stream, of water every now and again?

[Symphony]

I sailed on a big Amel, pilot house was nice but made it difficult to see the sails for trimming (with the power winches!). Awesome boat, but I immediately thought to put small external IP cameras at the spreader level on both masts. with IR lighting you could also be able to trim sails at night and bad weather.

having a third camera up top and focused 50' ahead of the bow would be a great bommy hunting tool.

[Skagway]

I dont own a sail boat yet, but I am working on solving that problem. I am however a professional pilot with considerable experience in mounted cameras. I recently was bouncing this threads central idea around, and I believe its all very do-able. A pilot friend of mine who has been working with drones for the fun of it showed me some of his stabilized camera gear. It has gotten quite small. I could easily see putting a gyro stabilized camera with zoom on the mast head assuming that there is real estate to mount on. Such a camera could be set to send a blue tooth signal to a receiver (cell phone or Ipad). Assuming no issues with a package of 1.5 to 2 lbs on ones mast.

Regards the watch. This would be to supplement a proper watch, not replace it. For example a view from 65 feet is 10 miles roughly, compared to 3 miles at 6 feet. If something is showing on radar and not providing AIS this would be one way to have an early look. I would suspect that it would be handy in shallow waters too. Not bad for whale spotter either. I can imagine many uses to include mooring. Regards keeping the lens clean I would expect the use of some rain-x type repellent should help? Total cost probably $ 2500.00? How much is it worth?