Would the estamed members be able to recommend a snake camera, or endoscope, or key-hole camera to look inside masts, hard to get places below deck, hidden chainplates etc.
I googled the subject, l would like to hear of u s e r s experiences and recommendations if possible.
I bought a Wifi wireless camera a while back to look at the top of my mast so I could see where to drop a fishing sinker down inside to hoist up a lost halyard.
It was about the size and shape of a small egg, battery powered and $59. I hoisted it up with a halyard. Tricky operation but worked.
Try Jaycar. Its possible they discontinued that model it but may have a new better version now. I think I got mine from there. They are on Ebay too.
Search boroscope on eBay. They're probably not suitable for hoisting up a mast, but would be good for down holes, around corners etc. The wifi bit in these transmits from the handle or cradle to your phone, not from the eye/lens/head.
The type mentioned in the post above looks like it would transmit from the head, which would allow longer distances - if the wifi is strong.
A boroscope is on my shopping list, but I worry the field of view of the lens will be too small to be often useful. At $140 I'll keep thinking.
BTW, there are cheaper ones with generic USB plugs, but I want one to talk to my iPhone, thus the wifi.
I spent a very pleasant morning in hospital having my 'mast' investigated with said camera,
I recommend the general anaesthetic.
Thanks for your input. Especially yours spongeblob!
I am still searching for someones opinion, who used such device with success in the past.
I have a usb endoscope on a 7m cable. I have used it for many jobs in the workshop. It works alright but sometimes its hard to interpret what you are looking at and unless it is fixed to a rigid handle, orientation of the image can be confusing, but in most cases I have been able to figure it out.
Plugged into my tablet I can take stills or record movie which has been handy. It also has a LED that has a dimmer control which is pretty important when using it. I think I bought it from jacar for about $20.
Select to expand quotesirgallivant said..
Thanks for your input. Especially yours spongeblob!
I am still searching for someones opinion, who used such device with success in the past.
I bought one from Aldi last year to look at awkward engine bits. I'll be using it next
week to see inside the engine when I drain the water for an anode change. I descaled
the engine a year ago and I want to see if any salt build up has started. I've had no
trouble with the unit I bought and it comes in a handy tidy box.
Have one we use all the time at work, easy to use, relatively clear screen, "snake' itself is relatively stiff and is easily fed into tight spaces.
Used endlessly in marine environment ..... been everywhere from bilges to the void above deckheads
Ours came from Hare and Forbes (from memory) ... has extension pieces as additional option, so far no complaints so will do your mast easy peasy.
