Endoscope: A must have boaters tool

[Fluer de Mer]

FYI, I ordered this nifty wireless waterproof Endoscope last week and just used it today for the first time to look into some inaccessible areas including between the liner and the hull via the limber holes, the prop and saildrive zincs, the keel + rudders. It works with phones, tablets and PCs and takes really sharp video and photos. For ~$40 it is a worthwhile tool that I’m told also works in all the tanks (water, diesel, waste). See photos of interior lining and anodes. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[mike d.]

Hey Thanks Fluer de Mer ! Just what I've been looking for to check my bilges !

[motion30]

I was thinking of ordering one so I could do my ownso I could colonoscopy

[Pete7]

I tried one of the cheaper $10 ones and wasn't very impressed. Had to reduce the quality to get an image and then had difficulty working out what I was looking at. Needed a separate torch to view the chain plates as the built in LED wasn't strong enough. However, that one looks better.

Pete

[taxwizz]

Originally Posted by motion30

I was thinking of ordering one so I could do my ownso I could colonoscopy

Using it could be a Pain in the Ass.

[ftamburrano]

I use an endoscope since two years ago. Il was very useful to discover an intensive bacterial contamination in my diesel tank, which had already started giving me problems with the engine. The latter was sometimes caughing , hesitating, and even stopping suddenly after a period of uneven sound and decreasing/increasing RPM's. I tried everything for months; changing pre-filters and filters, changing the diesel pump, the upstream block valve (maybe leaking with air bubbles entering due to the de-pression existing upstream the pre-filter. Nothing worked-out. Finally an endoscope helped to discover the problem. After tank emptying, dismounting, purging - steaming, and thorough cleaning, the problem was over. I added an inspection port at a flange welded on top of the tank: a quicker way to inspect, with the endoscope it was complicated somehow. Two years of perfect running, so far: a can afford the sea at large, again!
Francesco Tamburrano

[robbievardon]

Pete just what did you expect for $10 ? I bet your torch cost more Perhaps your translation of the chinese was not quite right!!!!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Fluer de Mer

FYI, I ordered this nifty wireless waterproof Endoscope last week and just used it today for the first time to look into some inaccessible areas including between the liner and the hull via the limber holes, the prop and saildrive zincs, the keel + rudders. It works with phones, tablets and PCs and takes really sharp video and photos. For ~$40 it is a worthwhile tool that I’m told also works in all the tanks (water, diesel, waste). See photos of interior lining and anodes. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hot tip; thanks!

[HopCar]

Just ordered one. I'm going to use it to look into my bee hives without removing the lids. It's probably too big to get between the frames but I think it will be fun to try. I'm sure I'll find lots of uses for it on my boat.

[LoudMusic]

I'll definitely be adding one of these to my toolbox. Has anyone seen a model that has some kind of right-angle attachment to it so you can see perpendicular to direction the cable is running? Or maybe a fisheye so it's just big and wide?

EDIT:

Ah! There's addons. Exactly what I was wanting.

https://www.amazon.com/Supereyes-Bor...YM56FW1MC9JX61

[Seas the Day]

I tried to order one but Amazon indicated it couldn't ship to Oz so I've contacted the manufacturer to see if it can be done direct. Will let you all know.

[CaptTom]

I'd like to hear some pros and cons from people who've used them on and around boats.

When they say "waterproof," does that mean they can be used underwater, or just that a little rain won't kill them?

Is it better to have a stiff but somewhat flexible goose-neck design, or just a camera on a flexible cord?

Some connect wirelessly to a smart phone, some have to be wired to a laptop or phone. Any preferences?

So many choices!

[John Holbrook]

Try EBay.

Originally Posted by Seas the Day

I tried to order one but Amazon indicated it couldn't ship to Oz so I've contacted the manufacturer to see if it can be done direct. Will let you all know.

[senormechanico]

Capt Tom,

I have an old style with a USB cable (longer is better) which is totally up to the cable connector, and the first thing I did to it was to zip tie a solid ten gauge wire to it to stiffen. It can be bent around, but will hold its shape. I've never found any need to take it off and it's been years since I purchased it on eBay.

The only thing keeping me from replacing the camera, I'd like to see one with better resolution.
When I do, it's going to be a wifi version for sure. Why mess with cables?

My old one is only 1/4 VGA with four white LED's for illumination and the blue LED feature sounds like a good idea.

[FriscoKid]

Really, an unexpected answer to a true concern of mine, having bought a boat that has sat with diesel fuel in the tank for who knows how long. I just bought one and will use it right away to determine the condition of the detritus on the tank floor. Great thought and thanks very much for sharing.