What is the best camera to use for a permanent mount application on an offshore boat ? Looking for durable and small with a decent mounting bracket.

everybody seems to be pretty happy with the GoPro units.

Happy with my GoPro. They now are offering a HD model as well. The Mac software is great for editing etc.
Link to a GoPro thread shows the quality. http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...rida-keys.html

Bob

I want to mount a couple of gopro's on bicycle helmets

one facing forward, one back on each.

For bikini girls on roller skates.

On each side of the street.

In Key West.

GoPro Hero is awesome. I havent used it on the boat yet but it worked well on my snowboarding trip at Whistler. First, the quality is amazing (especially the hero). Second, it is smaller than the palm of your hand. Third, it comes with helmet mounts AND a suction mount. Both are awesome but the suction mount really impressed me! I stuck it on the front of my board, started to ride (took a couple huge falls) but when I reached the bottom that thing was RIGHT where i left it. All three of my friends ordered one when we got back to the hotel room.

try jonescam.tv

JBS Racing has been useing these cameras on our race boats for years. Very rugged, very small, and available in high def.
Great customer support!

If you want something that will stand up to the strain, try an ELMO
http://www.b2bvideosource.com/2856-2.html

I think these are the same cameras that Freeze Frame and several of the teams use

I love my GoPro HD. Plus it comes with a waterproof housing.

Now, if only the weather down here would get warmer I could get some more footage!!!

[youtube]<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u52gu0HYUp8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u52gu0HYUp8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>[/youtube]

The VholdR HD camera gets some great reviews. Lots of mounting options too.

http://vholdr.com/

$39.00 for a waterproof case

http://vholdr.com/contourhd/accessories

Lots of videos on the site..

Jet ski
http://vholdr.com/contourhd/videos?vid=10

smartycam.com