It seems that in the camping, hiking, and birding worlds; everyone knows and understands the benefits that binoculars bring to the table. For campers and hikers, binoculars bring you closer to the nature you came to enjoy. They also help you find specific points of interest or land marks that will prevent you from getting lost. And Birders could never be satisfied just watching a hawk fly over head looking for a field mouse without the 8x or 10x magnification a binocular provides. However, many boaters don't carry binoculars with them on their journeys. As an avid boater who spends a lot of time on Lake Hopatcong, NJ, I am often surprised to be one of the few people I know to carry binoculars with me. With all the nature and beauty the lake offers, why wouldn't I carry them? Binoculars are also great from an overall boating safety perspective. This article lists five good reasons for motor boating enthusiasts to always bring binoculars aboard.
1. Identifying Landmarks-with all the requirements for fire extinguishers, fog horns, life jackets, etc.; it's a wonder why the US Coast Guard doesn't make binoculars a requirement as well. Binoculars help you navigate through inclement weather, especially in ocean waters where fog and rain will compromise your sense of direction. And especially for ocean boaters venturing into a channel for the first time, binoculars help you spot channel markers and land marks that will help you navigate your way back. I know many boats have built in compasses, but I know from experience that instrumentation devices are often times out of commission; far often than boat engines are. Binoculars are a great back-up.
2. Identifying other boaters in distress- From a couple of hundred yards away, it is very difficult to determine whether a boat is experiencing engine trouble or has just decided to stop for a couple of minutes to eat lunch. Or even worse, what if someone is boating alone and urgently needs medical attention? Unless you have a closer view, you will not be able to know whether your assistance is required. As a long time lake boater I have had the unfortunate experience of forgetting my cell phone on a day my engine decided to overheat. Had I not been in a place where I was easy to find, who knows how long I would have been stranded.
3. Identifying Shelter or Safe Areas-the general guideline for storms that are approaching is that whenever a thunderstorm is imminent, you have no business being venturing out on the lake or ocean. I always stick to that rule. However, how many times does the weather forecast change from partly cloudy or sunny in minutes? It certainly happens. And when that unexpected downpour comes, binoculars will help you locate a marina, restaurant, or any empty dock space to temporarily lodge your boat so you can find a shelter on land.
4. General Observation-who says that bird watching and boating can't be combined? As long as you're out there you may as well take it all in. Some lakes are homes for the most beautiful mallards you'll ever see. Without binoculars, you can't get your boat to within 100 yards of them before they fly away. Many bird watchers prefer gulls and other sea birds. While boating on the ocean, you are always within reasonable distance to observe them at feeding time. Personally, I love boat watching. Every time I am out on the lake I see another great looking boat that I haven't seen before. With binoculars, I don't have to chase them down to get a closer look.
5. Binoculars Are Easily Transportable-Unlike with hiking and birding, you don't have to wear them around your neck or carry them on you while boating. After a while, binoculars can wear you down, even the compact models that weigh less than 30 oz. On a boat, you can stow them away anywhere and use them only when you choose to use them. I recommend buying a pair of binoculars to keep on the boat at all times. This way, you know you have them, and you'll have less to carry on and off the boat before and after each excursion.
These are just a few reasons why binoculars and boating go together. When purchasing a pair of binoculars for ocean boating, always make sure your exit pupil (objective lens size divided by magnification X) is at least 5, and preferably closer to 7. This will minimize the difficulty you may experience trying to stabilize your binoculars. For lake boating, your exit pupil can be lower-anywhere from 4 to 5 will suffice.
Vincent Saponar lives in North Western New Jersey, and has been an avid birder and outdoorsman for many years. He owns many different binoculars and has considerable knowledge and expertise around not only binoculars, but other sports optics instruments as well, i.e., night vision devices and rangefinders. For more helpful information on binoculars and other sports optics instruments, I recommend visiting http://www.onesourceoptics.com
