leo34
leo34 Aug. 3, 2024, 1:23 p.m.

Looking for the best binoculars for boating - need recommendations

Just upgraded from a kayak to a small fishing boat and realized I need a decent pair of binoculars. Mainly for spotting buoys, checking out wildlife, and maybe a bit of coastline sightseeing.


Never bought binoculars before, so I'm pretty lost. Waterproof seems like a no-brainer, but what else should I be looking for? Any specific brands or models you'd recommend?


Thanks in advance for any tips!

zcjxrf
zcjxrf Aug. 3, 2024, 11:11 p.m.

Congrats on the upgrade! Yeah, waterproof is a must for boating binoculars. Also look for fog-proof and a good grip. Nothing worse than watching your new toys sink because of slippery hands.

ttt7
ttt7 Aug. 4, 2024, 3:19 p.m.

I've been using the Nikon OceanPro 7x50 for a couple years now. Bit pricey, but they're built like a tank and the image quality is fantastic. Great in low light too.

Miko08
Miko08 Aug. 4, 2024, 9:23 p.m.

Nikon OceanPro? Fancy! Did you have to sell your firstborn to afford those? xD But hey, if you've got the cash, I hear they're worth every penny.

qwerty67
qwerty67 Aug. 5, 2024, 11:05 a.m.

Have you considered image-stabilized binoculars? They're amazing for use on a moving boat. The canon 10x42l is wp are incredible, but they'll put a serious dent in your wallet.

xthtgf[f
xthtgf[f Aug. 6, 2024, 5:42 p.m.

If you wear glasses, make sure to check the eye relief. Learned that the hard way - bought a pair that looked great, but I could barely see anything with my specs on. What a waste of money that was.

s147
s147 Aug. 6, 2024, 10:52 p.m.

Hey, I found this really useful guide on boatus when I was looking for best boat binoculars. They've got a section on picking them for different stuff, including boating. Helped me figure out what I actually needed instead of just buying the most expensive pair.

motion
motion Aug. 7, 2024, 6:49 p.m.

get some that float or at least a float strap. Dropped my first pair overboard on a choppy day. Expensive lesson learned. Still kinda sore about that one.

SW
SW Aug. 9, 2024, 1:35 a.m.

Float strap? Amateur. Real sailors tie their binoculars to their beard for safekeeping. 

Rozzzz
Rozzzz Aug. 8, 2024, 3:17 p.m.

If you're on a tighter budget, the Bushnell H2O 10x42 are pretty solid boat binoculars. Not as fancy as some others mentioned, but they get the job done.

magic_85
magic_85 Aug. 9, 2024, 9:33 a.m.

Seriously though, consider the weight too. You might be holding these things up for a while, and a heavy pair can get tiring real quick.

11sym
11sym Aug. 9, 2024, 8:04 p.m.

Don't go crazy with magnification. I thought bigger numbers meant better, but anything over 10x is pretty much useless on a boat unless you've got super steady hands. 7x or 10x should do the trick. Learned that after wasting money on a 16x pair I can barely use.

Deus Ex
Deus Ex Aug. 11, 2024, 9:28 p.m.

Don't forget to practice using them on land first. Nothing more embarrassing than playing I-spy on the water and realizing you've been looking through them backwards. Not that I've ever done that... ))