Cheaper thermal cameras?

[GTom]

Thermal cameras are frequently used for boat survey. I was wondering if the cheaper, smartphe-attached (by microUSB/etc) cameras like the Seek Thermal Compact PRO or FLIR ONE PRO can be of any use for a boat buyer/surveyor?

I understand that you won't get a fullHD image and can't depict a 60' boat in one go, but that's an acceptable compromise.

Any experience with these?

[UNCIVILIZED]

If you do a search, you'll turn up some info in various threads on these. Including some comments by our resident surveyors. One of the recurring themes of these comments is that a huge component of how useful a good camera is, is the level of training of the guy reading & interpreting the pics. As there are levels of certification for using these tools to determine what's going on in/with a structure.

Boatpoker, & some others are fairly smart on this stuff. And you can also do some reading on various NDT forums (non-destructive testing), or NDI (non-destructive inspecting).

[LakeSuperior]

The technical training is critical otherwise they are like giving guns to monkeys.

[dsmith14469]

I have a SEEK Thermal, it is of some use for drafts and cold/hot spots but it is low resolution.

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

The technical training is critical otherwise they are like giving guns to monkeys.

Maybe more like giving scopes to monkeys. I have multiple optical devices for small arms and for my RC platforms as well as hand held devices for both visible and IR. None can really do any damage in and of themselves.

If you are trying to point out someone can make silly decisions when using a thermal camera I have to point out a lot of folks make silly decisions on their own with no help from thermal cameras or anything else.

[GTom]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

The technical training is critical otherwise they are like giving guns to monkeys.

No problem with that part, worked with thermal imaging about 10 years ago - never dreamed actually owning such a device. Probably need a tech update though.

[Matt Johnson]

It's actually interpreting the data that's the problem. Just like a moisture meter, too easy to OK or condemn a boat without fully understanding what you're seeing. It's very marine specific training.

Here is a good surveyor using the equipment:

Thermal Imaging |

Matt