Keeping optics clean after shore/boat use (1 Viewer)

Hi Folks,

I am planning on purchasing a scope and plan to get more into seabird and wader watching. Generally how does one clean a scope after being on the shore
line (or in a boat with bins) for a day and on the receiving end of sea spray? Wipe down the body with a wet cloth and lenses with cleaning solution? Is that it?

For my bins after birdwatching on land I generally just focus on the lenses now and again using Zeiss lens wet wipes I bought, with a brush and blower used first if they are any bits on them.

Is that what we all generally do?

Thanks for any advice.

David

Hi David

When seawatching or on a pelagic I now carry a blower brush and a couple of small plastic bottles. One contains a weak solution of ecological washing up liquid (Ecover or suchlike) and the other is cold water. I keep a couple of lens cleaning cloths in ziplock bags. When the spray gets too much (sign of a good seawatch!) I clear any sand off with the blower brush, rinse with soapy water, wipe with my ‘wet’ cloth, rinse with cold water then wipe again and finally dry the lenses with the other cleaning ‘dry’ cloth.

If it’s been raining heavily and my gear is soaked I sometimes remove my scope cover and dry the whole thing by (scope) or on (case) a radiator.

This system works for me and although my optics are old they’re relatively scratch free. What do other people do? Hope this helps.

Good Birding

Andrew

That’s really helpful, thanks Andrew. Interesting knowing how others keep their kit clean.

David

You’re welcome David. Should have said the cleaning cloths are microfibres ones. Always worth packing a few spare too.

All the best

Andrew