31/10/2025

Seeing in the dark

By admin

🌑 The Challenge of Sailing Without Lights

Sailing at night is one of the most intense experiences for any skipper.

When the sun or moon disappears, the sea becomes an environment without visual references, where the human eye can barely distinguish shapes and dangers multiply.

At The Low Cost Sailor, we set out to answer a very specific question:

👉 Is it possible to sail safely at night using affordable technology?

🎥 Watch the full episode here:

⚓ Three Ways to Monitor Ships

In this episode, we analyze the three main ways to monitor ships while underway:

👀 1. Active Monitoring

The traditional method: keeping your eyes straight ahead, alert for any obstacles. It’s safe, but at night, the darkness makes it almost useless.

📡 2. Passive Monitoring

Based on instruments like GPS, AIS, or radar, which allow you to detect other vessels and warn of potential collisions.

🤖 3. AI-Assisted Monitoring

The most recent method. New systems with artificial intelligence and thermal imaging analyze images in real time and can detect hazards before they are visible.

🔦 When Lighting Doesn’t Help

Many people think the best solution is to turn on a good spotlight.

However, during our tests in Santander Bay, we saw that intense light is more of a glare than a help, as it reflects off the deck and destroys natural night vision.

We also tested ultraviolet black light, which highlights fluorescent materials without affecting human vision. It is useful for marking ropes or handrails on board, but it is not suitable for detecting objects at a distance.

🔥 Thermal Imaging: The One That Truly Sees in the Dark

Thermal imaging is the only technology that truly allows you to see without light.

Based on the infrared radiation emitted by hot objects, it reveals vessels, people, or buoys invisible to the human eye.

In this video, we test two devices from Thermal Master:

P3: A compact and affordable thermal camera for mobile phones (approximately €200), compatible with Android and iPhone.

NV300 Max: A dual system with a visible camera, a thermal camera, and artificial intelligence, designed for the automotive industry.

🚤 Adapting Land Technology to the Sea

Although the NV300 Max was designed for cars, we installed it on a boat to test its effectiveness at sea.

The results were surprising: it can distinguish ships and objects at a distance of over 200 meters, combining visible and thermal imaging.

Its weakness is that the AI is trained for roads, so it mistakes boats for cars or pedestrians. Even so, at around €600, it’s a very promising low-cost alternative to professional nautical systems.

👁️ Tips to Improve Your Natural Night Vision

While technology advances, there are small habits that greatly help maintain your vision in the dark:

Use dim red light inside the boat to avoid impairing your night vision.

Avoid screens and bright lights near your eyes.

Give your eyes a few minutes to adjust.

If you can’t see something, take a photo using your phone’s night mode: it will reveal details invisible to the naked eye.