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Better Underwater Viewing
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=25616		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Slaughter [ Sat May 29, 2010 4:58 am ]
Post subject:  Better Underwater Viewing
Whilst going past Bowen Island the other week, Mickey and I were discussing a method of being able to get a better view below the surface of the water, whilst still sitting in the AI. I was thinking of cutting the bottom out of a small plastic bucket and selastic-ing in a perspex window. But I managed to salvage this broken, ideal, ready-made solution from work.

This perspex dome works a treat.
Image

Before the dome
Image

Using the dome
Image

The dome is a clear security camera cover that's used in most department stores. I was rushed for time with these shots and the water was a bit murky. I'll try to get some better ones later to describe the clarity difference but I hope these give you the picture.
Author:  mickeymouse [ Sat May 29, 2010 7:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Better Underwater Viewing
Slaughter - looks good :) Have you any thoughts/plans of making it a permanent installation :?:
Author:  Slaughter [ Sun May 30, 2010 5:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Better Underwater Viewing
Not yet Mickey. I think I might just tether it to the front aka when needed and let it float next to me. When the water clears up I'll try to get some better photos showing how well it works. All the rain we have had has stirred the the bottom up a bit. I find polarized sunglasses cut out the glare, but unless the water is calm, it's difficult to make out fish etc.
Author:  stringy [ Sun May 30, 2010 3:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Better Underwater Viewing
Great idea Slaughter! 8)
The dome would give a wideangle view. Nice work. :)
Author:  Slaughter [ Sun May 30, 2010 7:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Better Underwater Viewing
stringy wrote:
Great idea Slaughter! 8)
The dome would give a wideangle view. Nice work. :)

I think the problem may be that the angle is too wide though Stringy. I won't really know until I give it a test drive next to the AI in some shallow water.
Author:  cliffs2yak [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Better Underwater Viewing
Slaughter,

Some of the old time fishermen here in Hawaii are still using a viewing box that's made out of plywood with a glass viewing pane. It has a specific demension where the box floats upright if let go and plywood is preferred because of its boyancy properties and ability to block out stray light. Works especially well when you're targeting Hawaiian octopus that rely on camoflauge for defense. Also used in our Opelu (cigar minnow) hoop net fisheries to monitor the school in relation to how the net is situated. I'll have to look for it demensions and post.

c2y
Author:  cliffs2yak [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Better Underwater Viewing
Here's a pic of a version of the viewing box. It's a longer and narrower version than the one I remember. But the concept is the same. Can't seem to find the demensions.

http://www.pacificworlds.com/kawaihae/s ... shing1.jpg

c2y
Author:  Slaughter [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Better Underwater Viewing
cliffs2yak wrote:
Here's a pic of a version of the viewing box. It's a longer and narrower version than the one I remember. But the concept is the same. Can't seem to find the demensions.

http://www.pacificworlds.com/kawaihae/s ... shing1.jpg

c2y


I didn't realise this is an item that people have put some thought into. I can see how blocking out the light would give a better view. I was also looking at modifying a traffic witches hat ( don't know what you call thm over there ). They are usually in fluro orange, and just cut and add some lexan / perspex to the base. But when this dome came along, it saved me a job. Thanks for the photo cliff.
Author:  stringy [ Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Better Underwater Viewing
It's called a 'bathiscope' Slaughter! :roll:
Here's one from Whitworths:
Image
Your dome and witches hat would be a very innovative solution! 8)
Author:  cliffs2yak [ Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Better Underwater Viewing
Slaughter wrote:
I was also looking at modifying a traffic witches hat ( don't know what you call thm over there ).


Well call them "Hawaiian" traffic cones. :wink:

Stringy,

Thanks, that's a more modern version.

c2y
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