Night Vision problem

[AussieCrawl]

Ausfishers I am hoping someone can help this problem I imagine has happened to others...
Just taken delivery of a new boat - it has an enclosed hardtop - all round windows - no clears.
At night, if there is any light in the boat at all, it is impossible to see out of the windscreen. Total blackout needed - even if someone in the cockpit gets a phone call that causes the phones' screen to light up it is difficult to see out. I imagine this problem has been around since windscreens!

Has anyone got a suggestion apart from a total BLACK OUT?

Thermal Imaging looks great, but too expensive (it's only a trailerboat)
Infrared is cheap, but not sure it can do the job.

It will be needed predominantly when cruising canals at night (boats and kayaks common)
Rarely it may do a night run from the island (craypot floats the biggest obstacle)

Can anyone share their experiences with the above technology, or any other ideas to help?

[scottar]

Thermal camera and radar are the only options short of sticking your head out the window

[AussieCrawl]

...and before someone asks, the reason we don't want a total blackout? We can't see how many beers are left in the esky. (OK, and the fact that we need nav lights on too)

[AussieCrawl]

Thanks Scottar I would stick my head out the window, but the window opening is too small (or my head is too big)

[Feral]

2 big LED spotlights on the bow.

[AussieCrawl]

Cheers Feral. I think spot lights are illegal on boats in enclosed waters. In WA at least. Spotties are an option for the open ocean run.

[aussiebasser]

Use dull red lights in the cab, these will not ruin your night vision. Nav Lights should have been placed out of the line of sight of the skipper.

[ranmar850]

You have just discovered one of the major problems with hardtops. Very dim lighting on instruments and electronics is your only answer while underway, red does help. Have you considered a moonroof? I am an ex-commercial operator, spent nearly 3 decades operating out of a narrow rivermouth on the west coast with reef and swell to work around. Earlier boats I operated didn't have a flybridge. I drove with my head and shoulders out the hole standing on the seat steering with my foot. Sounds funny but works very well. Clear vision and you have the through-roof spotlight handle close to hand. Last boat before I gave the game away had a flybridge with all the lighting you could imagine--bloody luxury.;)
The moonroof will also solve another big problem with hardtops--hot wheelhouse. Fitted hinged to the rear, they give very good airflow cracked open.

[ranmar850]

You have just discovered one of the major problems with hardtops. Very dim lighting on instruments and electronics is your only answer while underway, red does help. Have you considered a moonroof? Reading your post, looks like you are in WA? I am an ex-crayfisherman, spent nearly 3 decades operating out of the Murchison river, always leaving in the dark. Earlier boats I operated didn't have a flybridge. I drove with my head and shoulders out the hole standing on the seat steering with my foot. Sounds funny but works very well. Clear vision and you have the through-roof spotlight handle close to hand. Last boat before I gave the game away had a flybridge with all the lighting you could imagine--bloody luxury.;)
The moonroof will also solve another big problem with hardtops--hot wheelhouse. Fitted hinged to the rear, they give very good airflow cracked open.

[rexaway123]

a hand held infrared thermal camera does NOT work through the glass windscreen. all you will see is a reflection of yourself body heat in the windscreen. external thermal mounted outside fed back to a screen is different but much more $$$$$$$
military style night vision ( ie green view) does work through the glass but you still need no deck light up and dull/red dash lighting

spot lights mounted on hardtop roof do nothing really in ocean, up in close inside waters perhaps better yes or mounted on the bow nose also

[Noelm]

Using anything as "headlights" is useless, unless (as mentioned) when very close to a jetty or something, far better to have only mandatory and needed lights on, and just keep your eyes open, regardless of how much equipment you have to navigate with! In your case, I'm afraid you have a real problem of you can't stick your head up or out of a window, you will need to take extra care.

[rayken1938]

What is the actual problem with being unable to see?
Is it reflection on the screen from the interior lights?
Is the screen tinted?
Is it only you or do your deckys also Have problems?
Had an optometrist check your eyes lately people with cataracts often have problems with night vision simple procedure to rectify.
Cheers
Ray

[Dignity]

I was also thinking about optometrist but only because they can coat lenses on the inside to reduce reflections, there must be a similar solution for windscreens.

[scottar]

Not uncommon with pleasure boats - especially shiny white fibreglass ones and if you have tinting it will only make it worse. You can reduce the effects by covering everything inside the cab with a matt finish black covering (carpet or paint) which will reduce the secondary reflections and hooding your nav gear so there is no direct path for the light to contact the screen but you will never fix it entirely and it will probably look pretty average. Rexaway is correct - thermal or IR systems do need to be externally mounted and feeding back to a display. The performance of these systems is pretty much directly related to their price tag as well.

The best budget conscious (to a point) option would be a specialist short range radar for my money. Standard radar will struggle with things like kayaks and simply won't see a float. Something like the Navico 4G radars might but in rough water it will probably need to be "detuned" to the point it won't to avoid too much sea clutter. I would also be looking at a good quality spotlight.

It's either that or make the necessary modifications to get your head out the window - to the boat or your head - your choice :P

[littlejim]

Last resort - get a hatch put in the lid above the skipper's possy.

had the same problem with my soft top - I was able to get zipperred sections put in at the front.

[FisHard]

I've heard eating more carrots helps

[AussieCrawl]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like it is a common problem with enclosed hardtops and that there is no magic solution. I like the moon-roof idea is a great one - will need to way up the cost of this v the cost of Thermal Imaging/Radar.

[Dignity]

I've heard eating more carrots helps

Ah! You do realize that this was propaganda issued by the British as the Germans didn't know about the newly developed "radar" which strangely enough is part of the proposed solution to this thread.

[vinvaite]

Have you checked out pricing on the latest thermal / FLIR cameras, about $6k i think (fixed unit). When i looked a couple of years back it was more like $12k to $15k. I know its a lot of money but my theory is this bit of equipment is going to extend the time you can fish (or travel to grounds) DRAMATICALLY-- I currently have a hard top and I just don't like travelling at night at all (due to reasons above). So i have to leave first light and like to be back by sundown. With a new boat we are building we are using the $6k FLIR setup. If it works as expected i am hoping i can leave anytime earlier and be out to sea on sunrise. Ditto for coming home, hopefully no qualms returning late. Also will miss rush hour at ramp in the morning and evening. I think it's worth it when you consider the entire value of your rig, all your setups, current electronics, and how much fuel you burn in a year, when you put it into context thermal might not be as extravagant as you think.

[Noelm]

While all these electronic "gizmos" are fantastic, and can aid navigation, and enable seeing in the dark, nothing replaces eyes and a connected brain!

[TruBlue]

make sure u have all your electronics set to night not just the brightness dimmed down this can make a difference
Make sure u reset before morning because it is hard to see this mode in daylight


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[Dignity]

Back to my original thought why wouldn't something like this work, there must be something in these that would assist, I have no idea of cost though.

http://www.jnsglass.com/antireflective.php

http://www.eyesaverinternational.com/products/anti-reflective-anti-glare-coatings-arag-coatings/

[GBC]

Beach towel over the dash. Only check instruments when you need them.

[AussieCrawl]

The anti reflective coating looks promising. I have not heard of anyone using it though??8

[Dignity]

I don't have too much of a problem with lights as generally manouvre at night with the clears open but my sounder and gps get awfully hot during the day with the sun on them and I was thinking of getting a shroud made to protect them from the heat, if properly made I would imagine it would also reduce reflective glare.