In the last blog we talked about fishing at night from your boat, and a while back we discussed the latest in night vision gear for boats. Well, hold the phone and stop the presses. FLIR has a new marine monocular that will be of interest to anyone who casts off the lines after dark: the Ocean Scout Pro.
The Ocean Scout Pro is a one-pound, two-ounce thermal imaging scope that lets you peer through the darkness with a 32-degree field of view. It’s IP67 waterproofed and drop-protected to two meters, has an internal lithium battery good for six hours of use, has 2x/4x/6x/8x zoom, and has an embedded flash drive with 16 GB of storage. It also boasts wireless connectivity and you can stream video to your phone or tablet.
The most surprising thing about the Ocean Scout Pro is just how powerful it is for a handheld unit. Using one the human detection range is a shocking 540 yards. And thanks to the vox microbolometer sensor, that’s possible with zero ambient light – zero. Designed in collaboration with public safety professionals with marine law enforcement and the Coast Guard in mind, being able to spot people in the water at the maximum distance possible was a major consideration as this unit was developed.
We tested out a unit (and found that you can spot a deer a third of a mile away, incidentally), and were pleased to discover just how intuitive it is to use. Within 15 minutes we had figured out how to record video, take pictures, and zoom in and out. We also noted that the buttons are placed well on the unit, and you can perform all of these functions by feel with the same hand you use to hold the scope.
Now for what you were probably afraid to hear: the Ocean Scout Pro doesn’t come cheap, at $2,395. That said, for how well-designed and downright potent it is, the price certainly doesn’t seem out of line. If you plan on boating or fishing in complete darkness, as far as night vision monoculars go this one’s going to be tough to beat.