[PUP] FLIR and Nauticomp display

[Scott Bulger]

Commenting on Johns observations:

John:  the most popular FLIR device on boats, made  
by FLIR Systems, is the Mariner model. They've sold tons of them in  
the last two years, mostly on new boats.

Scott:  This is the system I have, added it to Alanui for the FUBAR.
Addition of a Nauticomp with Dim to Red display

John:  it's completely misnamed -- Forward  Looking Infrared Radar

Scott:  I believe it's Forward Looking Infra Red

John:  It is not 'fog penetrating' in my experience

Scott:  Agree 100%

Scott:  Johns description of what you can see is much better than mine, and
I agree 100%

John:  The drawback is that the brightly glowing black and white screen  
wipes out your night vision, so you become dependent on the FLIR once  
you start using it.

Scott:  This is true, but I wanted to mention the red mode on Nauticomp, it
does help.  However you quickly realize the image you get from the FLIR is
much better than your eye's performance and you find yourself staring into
it.


John:   with 1) good radar, 2) Nobeltec (or similar with the right charts)
eNav, and  
3) a FLIR camera, those of us with weakened night vision can operate  
at night, never looking out the window.

Scott:  On our trip from Pt. Angeles to Coos Bay I did find this to be true.
I was much more comfortable watching the RADAR, Coastal Explorer and FLIR,
occasionally glancing out the window to confirm what the RADAR was saying,
that Wayward Wind and Paloma were a comforting mile away, sigh, it was a
great experience.  


John:  Whether that is good boating practice is another thing.  Frankly, I  
avoid night operations in restricted navigation areas. But if I can't  
avoid, this trio of electronic gadgets does make up for my not being  
able to see very well with nature's eyeballs on a dark night.

Scott:  I agree with John's perspective regarding doing what works for me.
Some may say "your relying on too much technology and should develop the
skills that got the turn of the century sailors around the world".  I'd
suggest if that attitude prevailed there would be far fewer technical
advances available to us to choose from.  When you think about it each of
these technologies is complimenting the basic skills of taking a boat from
point A to point B.  It's all to easy to say "that's not a prudent practice,
you need to do x, y, and z."  I have yet to touch my $1,700 worth of paper
charts and am willing to bet the stack of them that I won't in the next 2
years.  

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA