I have booked onto a volunteer project this summer surveying cetaceans from a boat. I did the same trip two years ago and brought a cheap pair of 7x50s, Nikon Action, for use in scanning the seas. There were "issue" optics but they were all heavy duty individual focusing marine binoculars that had seen a lot of use, besides it is always good to have your own to hand. The Nikons performed well but unfortunately weren't waterproof and the left tube got seriously wet, fortunately on the last day. Although it is unfogged now there is water staining between the prisms that I cannot get into to clean.
I am going to get another pair for this trip but they are defiantly going to be waterproof this time. As this is going to cost more than the Nikons did last time I am reluctant to go down the 7x50 route as I can't see me getting much use out of them afterwards, they are just to bulky to carry around when out birding and the extra exit pupil just isn't used most of the time. My current binocular arsenal consists of Opticron 8.5x36 BGA Classics for everyday birding and Zeiss 8x20 compacts for coat pocket use. Ideally any addition would complement this pairing and serve as an addition to the Opticrons when my wife and I both go out birding together.
My current leanings is toward the Vortex Fury 6.5x32, it seems to have been well received on here, has a decent exit pupil, great FOV for scanning the seas and is compact enough to be useful out and about. Trouble is the Vortex website has it down as discontinued and I can't find any stockists in the UK close enough to home to actually have a go with them, but there is a UK supplier who has some still in stock and at a decent price, £188.
So I am after both some opinions on the Fury as a sea survey tool and also if anyone has any other suggestions.
Thanks in advance
Mono
Since you can get Vortex there, why don't you look at the 8 x 42 Diamondback? It is water proof, rugged, has a very wide field of view (8 degrees) and excellent eye relief (18mm). It sells here in the USA for about $220.00.
Bob
Nikon 7x35 Action EX Binoculars are mostly waterproof. You may need to wash salt water off the ocular end. Get three pair, you are set for years.