weatherproofing/waterproofi​ng

Hey guys, I am looking for options to weatherproof my XSI and T1I(Boat owns). I am in the Coast Guard and was asked to start taking more pictures for my cutter, also was tasked to find a way to take the cameras out on our 17 foot small boat to take timed stills and video. We have a mount made, its in the aft of the small boat approx 5 feet high, and is in the spot that will get the least wet. I drive the boat in 2-6 foot waves and am worried not only about weatherproofing but the cameras being slammed around.

Anyone have suggestions besides just using a trashbag or anything like that, and also dealing with it getting shaken up a lot?

The Kata e-702 rain cover is quite good... Not sure what might help with the bumping, though. Got a photo of the mount?

Sea spray, bumpy ocean, a small boat guaranteeing an occasional full splash...all as a matter of regular occurence. You want a fully waterproof camera or an underwater housing.

I can grab a pic of the mount, nothing special just goes into the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera and clamps onto a pole on the back.

I had thought about underwater housing. Was trying to avoid it since we use the camera to take shots of when we get illegal migrants and drug runners to document it for casework/court.

Next is to find a lens that wont kill my budget but won't break my heart if it ends up floating on the coast of Cuba. was thinking sigma 10-20mm.

Might be better off just getting a D10, or one of the PowerShot models that have available housings. Nothing you will be able to do about boat/wave action, but for spray/wave hits I'd say the rain housings won't give you enough protection either around the lens or where the camera mounts. A wave striking either area full on will get in, and not get out again.

RDKirk wrote in post #10251999
Sea spray, bumpy ocean, a small boat guaranteeing an occasional full splash...all as a matter of regular occurence. You want a fully waterproof camera or an underwater housing.

On the cutter, no big deal. Out on open seas in a 17 footer you are going to want something fully waterproof. A dedicated housing is going to cost you more than your camera. I'd suggest either one of the waterproof point and shoots, or if you want something nicer get a Canon G series camera and waterproof housing.

thanks for the comment Jon, we have a canon powershot(dont know which one, I have seen it creeping around the bridge). Maybe ill be able to get the XSI out on training days when we don't have any seas. Ill look into powershot housings, losing the powershot definitely wouldnt be as bad as the xsi or t1i