Top 5 Mounted Marine Thermal Cameras

Credit: Thermo Gears

2021’s Best Marine Thermal Cameras For Surveillance & Boats

With the same high-level technology utilized by expert sailors and militaries throughout the world, eliminate all boundaries and experience the unique freedom of cruising, fishing, exploring the ocean or sailing.

Here are some Thermal Imaging Cameras specifically designed for marine purposes, known as Marine Thermal Cameras that are best suited for people who consume a lot of time in the water. Nowadays these cameras are built with unique features so that you can enjoy a more comfortable experience with visual navigation data and overcome the shortcomings of poor visibility with high vision.

These cameras help to show off the thermal energy emitted from countless potential dangers, even in low clarity and stormy conditions when you’re on the sea. Because of this feature, you will avoid risks and go one step further towards achieving your goal. Marine Thermal Night Vision Cameras are also available on the market, giving you great benefits for your sea voyage at night.

The expert team from Thermogear has researched a lot of thermal cameras for you as a consumer, and finally found 5 of the best marine thermal cameras. To their surprise all of the 5 come under the renowned brand FLIR.

5 Best Mounted Marine Thermal Cameras

1. FLIR MD625 Marine Thermal Camera

Features:

• Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Paste
• Main Features
• E-Zoom: 2X and 4X
• Refresh Rate: 30 Hz
• Resolution: 320 X 240
• Field of View: 24° X 18°
• Detection Range: 2700 ft

The FLIR MD-625 is capable of withstanding winds of up to 115 1/2 mph speed; the camera has been tested in order to protect the power of electronics parts fitted on your boat and facing powerful winds and various risks.

The MD is designed with a Vox microbolometer to afford greater clarity of vision at low light or night and has an adaptable tilt, which provides optimal positioning when you are moving in the water.

When the boat or any other non-water thing arrives on your display, you will be alerted by in-built Clear Cruise Intelligent Thermal Analytics.

The 25mm lens of this camera has an automatic window defrost at power-up and is built with rated IPX6 for water resistance. This camera features a 2X and 4X digital zoom for magnifying long-distant targets and a 30 Hz refresh rate for smoother, clearer images.

It has the certificate from MIL-STD-810E and IEC 60945 standards for withstanding vibration, sand, dust and salt mist.

Strengths

• Compact design
• User interface options
• Night vision availability

Limitations

• Improvement is required in night operations

2. FLIR M232 Marine Thermal Camera

FLIR M232

• Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Paste
• Main Features
• E-Zoom: 2X and 4X
• Refresh Rate: 9 Hz
• Resolution: 320 X 240
• Field of View: 24° X 18°
• Detection Range: 1500 ft

FLIR M232 9Hz Marine Thermal Camera is the most inadequate and economical pan/tilt camera that comes with the night vision feature. Built with M232 320X240 thermal resolutions that are a perfect estimation for the horizon to horizon vision.

When consolidating the M232 with the Raymarine Axiom MFT, the FLIR Clear Cruise Intelligent Thermal Analysis Technology contributes a completely distinct level of awareness and protection for competitors. This is due to the quality of the mechanism supporting this function and its connection to the adjustment of the border.

The M232 utilizes IP video recording technology and makes it easy to set up by removing additional video signal wires. To make travel safer, the M232 enhances boating and security by helping bridges, docks, floats, and other containers see day and night.

It has visual and audible alerts, which will protect you from any interruption in your voyage as it alerts you to non-water content or obstacles in your path. It features a 4X digital zoom option and renders quality recording using the most advanced Gen Boson Thermal Core.

Strengths

• Optimized viewing
• H264 IP Video stream
• Microbolometer detector

Limitations

• No waterproof assessment

3. FLIR M500 Marine Thermal Camera

FLIR M500

• Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Paste
• Main Features
• E-Zoom: 2X and 4X
• Refresh Rate: 25 Hz
• Resolution: 1920 X 1080
• Field of View: 28° X 2°
• Detection Range: 1500 ft

The M500 is an ultra-heavy performance multi-sensor Marine camera that is one of the best cameras in the most exceptional M-series in the Flir version, built on the strong marine gimbal system.

This Flir M500 marine thermal camera is built with conventional Gyro Stabilization Technology and superior FLIR Thermal Technology, assuring crystal clear images at all times, even in turbulent seas and low light environments.

This pan and tilt camera performs great even in ultra-long-range target detection and classification. It comes with a cool mid-wave, high-resolution thermal cam with a perfect view through continuous optical zoom.

It features a spot-beam LED target illumination system and a built-in HD Color Visible camera system. It is included with radar integration with video surveillance technology. This radar integration permits you to automatically follow radar targets selected by this thermal camera.

This thermal camera’s cooled thermal core technology facilitates the detection of long-range ships or travel aids.

Strenghts

• Enhanced target awareness
• Superior short/long range vision
• High performance camera payloads

Limitations

• Uncooled Boson microbolometer

4. FLIR M400XR Marine Thermal Camera

FLIR M400XR

• Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Paste
• Main Features
• E-Zoom: 2X and 4X
• Spotlight Lumens: 580
• Resolution: 640 X 480
• Field of View: 18° X 6°
• Focal Lenght: 35mm – 150mm

The FLIR M400XR is an advanced version of the M400 that delivers clear video images (thermal) in pitch darkness and low light environments. The M400XR Pan/Tilt marine thermal camera provides high performance, designed for close and long-range object identification.

It is constructed with a built-in HD color visible camera and a tight beam LED spotlight to expand the object identifier for added security. Its firefighting mode provides improved alertness with target meter and isotherm images.

This marine thermal camera has two latest features: InstAlert mode and IceAlert mode. The InstAlert mode represents the hot object easily in red and orange shades, and the IceAlert mode helps to identify floating ice rocks in blue and green shades. FLIR M400XR

This M400XR camera is designed with an effective gyro-tech system, just like the M500 is designed to be powerful. It guarantees a consistent image, optional video surveillance, and radar surveillance features, made for viewing dangerous targets at all times.

The FLIR M400XR highlights a continuous optical zoom lens up to 4X that allows operators to view other ships and targets over long distances.

Strengths

• Radar integration
• InstAlert and IceAlert
• Continuous variable zoom

Limitations

• Expensive

5. FLIR M400 Marine Thermal Camera

FLIR M400

• Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Paste
• Main Features
• E-Zoom: 2X and 4X
• Spotlight Lumens: 580
• Resolution: 640 X 480
• Field of View: 18° X 6°
• Focal Lenght: 4.3mm – 129mm

  The M400 multi-sensor thermal camera from the Flir brand offers you more performance and features. The FLIR M400 night vision camera is very reputable among the public as this high-performance marine camera system offers the possibility to tilt pan in almost every direction.

The camera’s heat payloads and visible light are consolidated to recognize heat and identify major objects inside and outside the water.

From 18° to 6°degrees of vision, showing everything hidden from natural eyes, the high-resolution thermal sensor guarantees that boats navigate assuredly with high cloud coverage, even on dark nights.

The hard, water-resistant gimbal envelope provides the user with a 360° view of what’s going on around him, even at night. It is built at a 90° angle with an up/down and tilt feature. The gyro-stabilization characteristic from this M400 blocks deviation from the stormy wind and wavy water.

Short and long-distance detection options can easily scan other vessels in the water using the clear 640 LCD. The thermal sensor with optical zoom (up to 3X) is great for making this camera perform better. Know the additional details about this FLIR M400 Multi-Sensor Thermal Night Vision FLIR System from Youtube.

Strengths

• High resolution sensor
• Automatic window heaters
• Broadcast-quality video output

Limitations

• Poor visibility

Verdict

Marine Thermal Cameras afford protection and detailed view for the user navigating on ships and render extra spatial experience via rivers and open water.

Of course, marine thermal cameras make your excursions on the water safer, and they afford better security even in challenging circumstances and provide you with quality footage. Marine thermal cameras not only operate under daylight but also perform well in low light environments.

FLIR thermal imaging cameras are the first of the brands to be well-received in the market due to their quality and variety of features. These are not only produced marine thermal cameras but also provides multiple cameras such as FLIR C2, FLIR E4, FLIR TG165, FLIR T420bx for distinct purposes. So pick one of the marine thermal cameras that we have listed for added safety and improve your boat experience.

Article Credit: Kim Goodwin

Kim Goodwin holds a Master's in thermal engineering from the University of Rhode Island. At Thermo Gears, she reviews most equipment that uses thermal imaging technologies.