Help choosing remote camera in bilge

Blown284

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2014
1,117
Chesapeake Bay
Boat Info
2004 SeaRay Sundancer 460
Engines
Cummings 480CE
HI Everyone. I have older Raymarine equipment that, eventually, I will start migrating over to new Garmin. However, in the meantime, is there any camera that I could use that is WiFi and/or Bluetooth to see the engine room , what’s going on down there? Links, model #s would be incredibly helpful.

Thank you,
Tim
 
I have had good luck with Foscam ....just bought another for the boat yesterday. Here is a pic from an older R2 model I am testing with a new router I am installing on the boat...

Foscam.com

BCFB0A2D-D15D-4D32-99BC-A19D96F110C7.jpeg
 
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I have had good luck with Foscam ....just bought another for the boat yesterday

Foscam.com

Thank you! Which specific one did or do you use? Battery powered? WIFI? USB? You use iphone and/or android to connect to it?
 
Thank you! Which specific one did or do you use? Battery powered? WIFI? USB? You use iphone and/or android to connect to it?
Take a look at the site they all work off WiFi, can send push notices to your phone when motion is detected... some are 12v all are 120v or POE ..which is another reason for a router.
 
I just had some new cameras installed, Garmin GC200 IP cams. I have not personally seen the results but my person who takes care of the boat said I would be very happy, great display.

Hooked into the Garmin MFD for display.
 
In the same vein as above, I've been using Wyze cam for several years. Cheap and easy.

--> https://wyze.com/.
 
You didn't specify how you want to view the video. But you did say you wanted to view the engine room.

While what @Blueone posted are great cameras and I also use the Foscam R4 with great results and is mounted under the arch and used as a security cam. But it's way too hot and humid environment for a PTZ camera to be located in the engine room, IMO. I think they are strictly above deck cameras.

I use a cam like this but now unavailable so one like it. If your current MFD doesn't support any video inputs, you can use this encoder which will also work with a newer Garmin MFD. Axis products are supported by Garmin. You will need a network on board to use that though and could use your phone with an IP cam app to view.
 
Which one of those do you have?

I have a little V2 cube, and the one at the boat is the Wyze Cam Pan. The Pan works pretty well. It will pick up motion and tract it. I had to reset it after upgrading my onboard internet setup, and it picked up my neighbor leaving his slip. Followed him out.

A couple screen shots.
 

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If you are interested on whats going on in the engine room then you want it hooked up to your yet to have Garmin MFD directly so not relying on WiFi... for one you dont want to be fooling around with your phone while under way and two you probably wont have wifi when you leave the dock.

I use Foscam wifi at the dock for security and to check on the boat when I miss it
 
Which one of those do you have?
I have a Cam Pan and a Wyze Cam v2 at home. Both are mounted outside and working quite well. My sister has had a bunch on her lake house that have been going strong for several years.

They have a new Outdoor Cam that has an internal battery. Also the new Cam v3 that looks great, but has limited availability due to global chip supply shortages.

Note that any of the Wyze cams need a WiFi internet connection available.
 
As stated above it depends on how and when you wanted to keep track of the ER. If underway not sure if WiFi or Bluetooth are the best solutions. Depending on the model raymarine you currently have you can go with analog cams. Won’t be ptz but you could add a few fairly cheap. If you are going garmin you can reuse the same cameras via an axis encoder. I recently did this with my upgrade. To keep an eye on the boat from home I’ve added the wyze pan cam with the ptz feature and they work great as they also have IR for low to no light.
 
As stated above it depends on how and when you wanted to keep track of the ER. If underway not sure if WiFi or Bluetooth are the best solutions. Depending on the model raymarine you currently have you can go with analog cams. Won’t be ptz but you could add a few fairly cheap. If you are going garmin you can reuse the same cameras via an axis encoder. I recently did this with my upgrade. To keep an eye on the boat from home I’ve added the wyze pan cam with the ptz feature and they work great as they also have IR for low to no light.

Sorry, I should have been more explicit and for that, I apologize. I'm trying to solve two issues:

Issue 1: Have a camera that stays in the bilge area , full time, so I can monitor what going on while underway (I suspect this will likely be a Garmin cam but am open to other ideas).

Issue 2: I'd like the opportunity to monitor the boat at the pier, via wifi. Our marina has 2.4Ghz wifi and although it's horrible, it could still provide a chance to monitor the boat every so often. This camera can't be one that depends on my own router since I don't own the infrastructure. Therefore, I'm stuck with one that is sort of standalone.
 
I just had some new cameras installed, Garmin GC200 IP cams. I have not personally seen the results but my person who takes care of the boat said I would be very happy, great display.

Hooked into the Garmin MFD for display.
How do you like the GC200s hooked into the Garmin MFD? Thinking of doing the same.
 
I installed this one 5 years ago. Works great whether the lights are on or not in the ER.
Pecham HD 1200TVL Security Camera, Surveillance CCTV Infrared Dome Camera with Night Vision and 3.6 mm Lens Wide Angle-White https://a.co/d/2ztKa3z
 

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