Good binoculars are always worth the investment, but finding the best boat binoculars can be something of a skill. Bruce Jacobs cuts through the jargon and picks three top pairsFor sailors choosing the best boat binoculars can be a difficult call. What areas should you be looking to prioritise?
\nEvery sailor knows that anxious moment as you\u2019re making a difficult entry into an unfamiliar port. The chances are there is quite a sea state, the light is poor and despite the best planning in advance, things don\u2019t quite seem to be matching up.
\nThe crew are looking to you as the skipper to get them in safely. But what you see are crashing waves, lots of light clutter from shore and a picture you can\u2019t yet tally with your entry plan. This is when you need a serious pair of binoculars.
\nThat entry level \u00a340 pair from the chandlery might serve you well in easy conditions, but when things get a little more serious, you\u2019ll never regret having equipped yourself with a set that can cut through the tougher stuff and find that radio mast or buoy.
\nWhen choosing a set of binoculars, there are various factors to consider. First, for the maritime environment, they have to be waterproof and, as much as possible, shockproof.
\nA yacht is a harsh environment, and when you really need to see there\u2019s nothing worse than trying to peer through a fogged lens.
\nNext, look for a decent magnification. We find on our expeditions that magnification between 7 and 10 is ideal (the first number on your binoculars). Any less than 7 and we struggle to find our target at range. Any more than 10 and they\u2019re difficult to hold steady enough on your target.
\nJust as important is the amount of light they capture. This is the second number and, in layman\u2019s terms, the bigger the number, the bigger the front lens and the more light is captured. This is critical in poor light: we like to have a set with a front lens between 40 and 50.
\nFinally, the overall quality of the materials used is key. Without heading into technical detail, get the best quality lenses and prism you can afford (bearing in mind that binoculars do fall overboard now and again!).
\nFor marine navigation, we have come to love binoculars with a built-in compass. These have improved so much in recent years, and they now provide an easy-to-view, stable gauge that allows you to take a bearing on anything you see.
\nAs you try to unpick your route through a mass of lights, buoys and breakwaters, or for checking collision probability in traffic, you\u2019ll find this compass tool invaluable.
\nHere we\u2019ve picked out and trialled three top quality sets of binoculars that are well worth considering.<\/p>\n
Steiner Navigator 7\u00d750 marine binoculars
\nBest boat binoculars for serious navigators (our top pick)
\nA stunning set of binoculars. The superb optics give a bright picture even in low light and the sports-auto focus system means everything from 10m to the horizon is perfectly in focus. There is a built-in compass that has excellent illumination and damping.
\nThe frame feels really rugged and Steiner says the rubberised Markrolon outer will withstand up to 11G of impact. Importantly, they are fully waterproof and nitrogen-injected, meaning they\u2019ll not fog up in more extreme temperatures. Personally, I\u2019d like a rangefinder reticle on them, but this is a minor niggle.
\nPerhaps the only downside is that the Steiners are the heaviest of the three we tested at nearly 1.2kg (if you want something lighter, the 7\u00d730 version are almost half the weight). I\u2019m told the UK Border Force use these 7x50s and it\u2019s easy to see why. They are worth every penny \u2013 so good in fact we bought them.
\nMarine suitability: 5\/5
\nPicture quality: 4.5\/5
\nValue for money: 4\/5
\nBuy Steiner Navigator Pro 7\u00d750 marine binoculars from Amazon.
\nNote: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/p>\n
Fujinon Mariner 7\u00d750 WPC-XL
\nBest boat binoculars: mid range option
\nA great mid range set of binoculars. The first thing you\u2019ll notice is that the polycarbonate housing keeps them really light, at just 0.8kg. That really makes a difference when you\u2019re scanning the horizon for a period of time. These binoculars also have long eye relief. Put simply, if you wear glasses, long eye relief means you can use your specs and not suffer any reduction in your field of vision.
\nThe lenses are a good quality, although we struggled slightly in lower light. The one surprise is that the body is smooth, and that lack of grip makes them a bit slippery in the wet. It\u2019s a strange omission for marine binoculars, but a minor grumble. The trade off is they will float with the addition of a buoyancy strap, which will one day prove to be a godsend. Serious value for money at this price.
\nMarine suitability: 3.5\/5
\nPicture quality: 4\/5
\nValue for money: 4\/5
\nBuy Fujinon Mariner 7\u00d750 WPC-XL binoculars from Amazon.<\/p>\n
Leica Noctivid 10\u00d742
\nBest boat binoculars for nature lovers
\nOne of the joys of sailing is the natural environment and a great pair of binoculars such as these will enable you to see the likes of birds, whales and mountains in spectacular detail. The Leicas are superb. The 10x magnification is huge and the 42mm objective means the light input is too, yet the overall weight remains a very impressive 0.8kg. In fact, these are as good as we\u2019ve seen when it comes to binoculars.
\nThey are way over-specced for navigation and don\u2019t have a built-in compass but you will rarely use anything better. If anything is going to find that navigation mark in the gloom, it will be these. Then, once you have anchored for the night, you have some truly wonderful binoculars to see the wildlife and the world around you. The clarity and the colour are a joy to behold.
\nMarine suitability: 4\/5
\nPicture quality: 5\/5
\nValue for money: 3\/5
\nBuy Leica Noctivid 10\u00d742 binoculars from Amazon.
\nDidn\u2019t find what you\u2019re looking for? Head to Amazon\u2019s dedicated sailing page for more marine products.<\/p>\n
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Good binoculars are always worth the investment, but finding the best boat binoculars can be something of a skill. Bruce Jacobs cuts through the jargon and picks three top pairsFor sailors choosing the best boat binoculars can be a difficult … <\/p>\n