Know-how / How to protect your photo equipment during your boat trips: the 5 tips from the pros!

You may have planned to have a good time on a boat. Immortalizing these sailings with your friends or spreading your fishing exploits is not something you can improvise. We share tips and techniques to protect your photo equipment from the risks associated with the sea.

Antoine Gaillard Published on August 18, 2019

Take care of your photo equipment, it is first and foremost a matter of course. While boating, if your device no longer works, you can't go around the corner and buy another one. It is therefore necessary to protect it from excessively harsh conditions for electronics and optics.

Water, salt, humidity, spray are very corrosive and a device has many openings (memory card, battery, flash, etc.) that must be protected with adhesive tape to make them as waterproof as possible. A rain cover also makes it possible to effectively protect a case in the rain and spray for a budget of a few euros. Waterproof bags have also proven their worth, even if they are not very practical.
The sand sticks everywhere. A crack when you zoom in is a grain of sand in the gear. Precision mechanics, the lens will eventually lock completely. Provide a waterproof bag to store the camera when not in use and take it out quickly to take a picture.
A boat moves. A sailboat is lying. If you have stowed your device at the lodge, it may fall or even be a projectile and injure someone the next time you change sides. Do not hesitate to ask your skipper for advice on the best position to store your equipment safely.
A scratch on the lens of your lens makes it unusable. To protect it, it is recommended to install a neutral UV filter. Thus the objective lens will be protected from spray and salt traces. This filter will be easier to clean, without the stress of having your lens scratched. A sun visor also protects your lens. To clean your lens after exposure to spray, use a slightly damp microfiber cloth (with clean water) to dissolve salt particles.
Often, you will need both hands to take your picture. If you hold your device, who holds you? The use of a strap around the neck to wear your device is essential. If you have to quickly release the precious item to hold yourself, it will stay attached around your neck, without falling on deck and ending up in the water. You can also use a wrist strap.