I'm looking into using one of my GoPros for some underwater video while I'm in my kayak, I have taken some but I had the camera mounted on a selfie stick that I held but that obviously won't work while fighting a fish. I was curious if anyone has rigged something up for a camera mounting.

 

My first thought was to use a Ram Mount B ball in a surface mount rod holder and then to a transducer mount. See photos below for a better description. I realize that I'll have to fab up a camera mount on the arm. Any and all ideas will be entertained.

 

@Crow Horse 

I do not have a kayak so I can not add anything in the way of under water mounting advice.

However I have and still do record with the GoPro subsurface.

Usually fish release shots.

Clear water is pretty much a must.

 

Point of interest is, although most all GoPros are rugged and waterproof right out of the box, 

I have drown a couple of different units the past few years.

Used them at arms length underwater boat side.

One minute they worked, the next - toast.

So while nothing is fool proof, all my future underwater deals now include 

a GoPRO branded waterproof protective housing made for the model cameras I'm using.

Adds an extra layer of protection for H2O intrusion. 

https://gopro.com/en/us/shop/mounts-accessories/protective-housing-plus-waterproof-case/ADDIV-001.html

If something like this is available for your unit, I'd recommend considering it.

also You might want to designate a water only camera.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

Thanks.Very cool photos!!!  I do have several dive cases. I'm using Hero8's and they are supposed to be waterproof, but I wanted to make sure they didn't take on any water.  The down side is that power is relegated to the battery which doesn't have long run time. I'll need to bring extra batteries and swap them out periodically. My topside GoPros  can run all day with the 3BR Powersports cage & cabling & Nocqua batteries.

 

I'm a fan of Ram Mounts and they have never failed me but they can be pricey. I managed to find a B ball mount for the end of the rod (camera end) and I have the rest of the components needed to mount the camera. I wish the remote would work for the underwater camera but I read somewhere that it won't.

 

Do you change any of the settings for underwater shots? In the little underwater video I've done I just left the basic settings as is and it seemed to be acceptable.

I'm a point and shoot type of guy.

The less I mess with the settings, 

the happier I am with the results. 

That includes most underwater uses.  I do set it up to the widest view so I get the fish. That's Superview on my unit.

A-Jay 

 

 

I know a guy that puts his GoPro on a small dumbbell and simply lowers it into the water with a buoy.  

 

he sets it up next to bedded bass and comes back later to film the bite.  

 

me.  I bought the GoPro clamp and just connect to my paddle and jam that under water with marginal success.  been trying to film bluegill beds in gin-water for a couple of years now.  

These work great. I use one on my canoe for my transducer. They offer a non permanent mount capability and can be relocated to any position desired.
 A magnetic mount with an adjustable arm, and options for any length. Either a thru hull design, arm or track mount.

 This in particular should work.

 

I like the magnetic mount but after careful consideration, I believe that It wasn't going to be the optimum setup for my needs. Reason being that when I drift into really shallow water I'd have to reach under the yak to remove the camera. I returned to my original idea and will be using a Ram Mounts arm and components. I will have to drill to mount the B ball mount on the yak and I have no issue drilling into my yak. When I need to pull the camera & arm  from the water all I need to do is loosen the knob and swing the arm out of the water just like I do with my transducer.

 

To complete the setup I'll have to wait for warmer weather to arrive. I need to bend the arm which is 1/2" aluminum rod to match the slope of the yak's deck, not a problem. I'll also look into making a "lanyard" for the camera in the event of it coming loose from the mount. Don't want to loose the camera in the event of a component failure.

 

The arm on my mount swings up and down making it easy to pull the transducer up in shallow water while seated. The arm is long enough to reach below boat level while still being above the waterline. In fact I oriented it parallel to the canoe so if sliding in the shallows and forget to lift it the arm will rotate up from bottom contact. Although the magnetic mount assembly is expensive your solution sounds like a good fit for your application.

 

Post some photos of the completed project please!

18 minutes ago, Motoboss said:

Post some photos of the completed project please!

Will do but it'll be quite a while till all the snow melts off and it's reasonably warm enough to work outside. Oh how I wish I had a heated garage  (or just a garage)......

 

There are a couple of companies that make transducer mounts that go down through your scupper holes, so that they are directly beneath your kayak rather than put to the side. I am sure that there is a way to mount a GoPro to one of those, if the water is deep enough.

I should have mentioned it but I have a sit in yak so no scupper holes. It's another interesting option to consider for those with sit on yaks.

Finally finished the camera arm. The aluminum rod was bent and I ran a length of vinyl coated #80 stranded stainless steel wire under the sheathing  to the camera to act as a tether/leash in the event that I strike an underwater object and break a component of the camera mount.

 

This will probably require some tweaking once I get it in the water and see what adjustments are necessary. I will need to see how the arm will park when not deployed but for now version 1.0 is complete.

All mounted up and I'll be on the water tomorrow for it's first test.

 

 

I finally got out on the water and did pretty well. I used the underwater camera setup I've been working on and it performed well with only minor adjustments. While doing a battery change, I noticed some water intrusion into the dive case. There was only a very small amount, maybe a half a teaspoon worth of water. I dried it all out and didn't notice any when I removed the second battery. While reviewing the video, there were some artifacts and I'm guessing that was because of water droplets forming on the lens area. I'm wondering if heat buildup plays a role. I ordered a new dive case hoping that will take care of the water issue.

 

I'm pleased so far but with qualifications. I think I need to change how the camera is pointed, more to the surface and out away from the yak. I will also need to release fish in a more forward location instead of at my side. Some of the water was murkier than other parts. Clear water doesn't seem possible, especially as the warm weather progresses. I pieced together some clips that best showcase the issues.

 

Still. even with the shortcomings, I think it's pretty cool to get a bass's eye view. Feel free to critique and offer any suggestions.

 

 

 

 

Cool video and project