Seeing Under the Sea

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Seeing Under the Sea

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Ever wish you had X-ray vision and could see under the water—without going for a swim—to check the anchor or prop, or to inspect your hull? Well, Aquabotix Technology Corp. developed a product with the goal of giving you that power—at least a limited version of it.

Made in the USA, the AquaLens underwater viewing system features a boat hook-mounted plastic housing with a color video camera and LED lighting. A cord connects the housing to a battery-power supply worn on the user’s belt, and a video output cord connects to a 3.5-inch LCD display that is worn on the user’s forearm and streams real-time video. An articulating connector allows you to aim the camera in the desired direction. Eight AA batteries should run the device for about 10 hours.

PS testers used the AquaLens to inspect the hull of a test boat from the deck and from the dock. We found the 3-pound device easy to set up and easy to use; however, the telescoping boat-hook mount limits the area and depth that is viewable, especially when using it from a boat with high freeboard. From the dock, we were able to see most of the Cape Dory 25’s hull, but not the keel, and viewing the seafloor (in 15 feet of water) was impossible in average-visibility conditions. Testers also had difficulty viewing the LCD in sunlight.

Bottom line: We would not classify the AquaLens as a must-have gadget—especially with its $475 price tag, one-year warranty, and inability to record footage. We like the idea of an underwater surveillance tool, but the boat-hook mount limits its practical uses. (Some users have rigged the camera to a long line to view deeper areas, but we can’t imagine trying to control the camera without the pole for guiding it.) The device is a step in the right direction, and we hope Aquabotix continues to improve on its product. We’d like to see it have more range and a lower price.

Seeing Under the Sea

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Contact
Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.