My Experience with the Splash Drone 3
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- I wanted to get sailing footage of the boat at sea, but being a novice drone pilot I was afraid of launching and landing a drone from the boat. SwellPro appeared to have the answer with the Splash Drone 3, a fully waterproof drone with 4K video capability and, most importantly, the ability to take off and land from the water. This meant that I would not have to be an expert pilot to get great footage, only the ability to pluck the drone out of the water with a boat hook after each flight. The only drawback seemed to be the hefty $1.7K price tag, but being so eager to get great sailing footage it was a risk I was willing to take.
Well I did get some decent footage. Unfortunately this drone developed problems about one month out of the box. I had to buy a new camera for it when water seeped into the original one. Then a rotor began to wobble. SwellPro customer service was less than stellar. Long story short I ended up listing the drone on eBay for parts. It sold for $200.
Other independent review of the Splash Drone 3:
• Swellpro Splash Drone ...
SwellPro Official Website:
www.swellpro.com/
Urban Drones Website:
www.urbandrone...
WEBSITE: www.boothbyboa...
TIP JAR: www.paypal.me/...
MUSIC: Dawn Sail--Kevin Boothby
VIDEO SOUNDTRACKS: / user-177118317
This drone is the one that I have been looking at for the past year or so, and you are the first independent review that I've seen (all the others seem to be sponsored in one way or another). Thanks for the info. I might have to have a rethink on it.
Check out the other independent review in the link below. They also had numerous issues with the drone--and different ones too, which tells me that this product is just not up to par.
@@howtosailoceans1423 I have had no issues with mine. Except for shredding a prop. But that was my fault. And I use mine daily for Offshore Bill Fishing. We put these thru hell every day.
I agree, been looking at their products since I got into drones about 2 years ago, I'm wondering if they've gotten rid of their faulty ready-made user error programming and made something decent with the splash drone 4 🤔🤷 anyways thanks brother for the review and being honest and straight forward. 💯🤘😎🤘👍
Thanks for the warning... I'll certainly steer clear of them. A pity you had to learn the hard way. Make sure you keep a copy of those, now very precious, aerial shots!
Mines a 3+
I too do not need the now expensive video footage. Hate to say it, that beautiful yacht is the star of the show! Followed of course in a very close second the Captain....a real sailor.
As Always, " Beyond All Things Is The Sea". Seneca
Capt Tom
Well so much for that company and drone. I was getting ready to buy one , many thanks for a thorough evaluation of the drone and those selling it. Will be looking elsewhere.
Yes, unfortunately they are the only ones who manufacture a waterproof done. Maybe DJI will come up with something, but I would avoid SwellPro.
@@howtosailoceans1423 Gannet make one now mate and they look the goods
As a boat owner ,Thanks for the heads up, was just about to purchase one! Great videos 👍🇬🇧
So glad I found your channel while searching UA-cam for video's using the Splash Drone 3 Plus. In all honesty, I was about to spend around $2,500.00 bucks to get the premium setup for this thing. I surf fish in Destin Florida and wanted a reliable way to get 1kg of tackle 1,000ft out. This video just changed my mind. I can deal with hardware issues, but I can't deal with a shady company that blames the customer for everything. Thank you for helping me with my decision and thank you for your honesty. A lot of UA-cam channels only show the positives, you showed both! Best of luck in the future and you have an amazing sail boat!
Hopefully DJI or some better outfit will come up with a waterproof drone, but I would absolutely stay away from Swell Pro.
Thanks for the warning, I was about to buy one of these for drone-fishing, looking else where now though
dont give up do testing before hand make a pre checklist
Thanks for your honest opinion in this video even though the video is 5 years old, it shows that there is no way that this company can ever compete with DJI both in terms of products quality and also customer service.
Certainly SwellPro is no competition for DJI. I have two DJI Phantoms now, and they work well.
Thanks for sharing Kevin, I know how you feel!
Looking at your sailboat from the vantage point of a drone shows me nothing about how you sail the oceans, which is why I subscribed to begin with! Park the drone, and drive that ship, cap'n!
The power of relationship can be awesome. When purveyors treat their consumers with respect, brand loyalty is earned. However, when they fail to be accountable to realistic expectations...keelhaul them slowly and repeatedly by their damn toes until respect is forthcoming. This is the evolving power of consumers in the age of social media.
Thanks for sharing your measured experience.
So much for customer service and warranty. Spending 1700 dollars is a lot of money. Dont woory about getting another drone i enjoy looking at you boat through the cockpit. Cheers
I had a very different experience! Urban Drone has gone above and beyond, sending out replacement parts in 3 days, follow up calls from Carlo himself. The best customer service ever! I'm saving up for a Spray as I also fly from our sailboat & dingy.
I preparing for sailing round the world too. This product was in my mind too. BUT, after his experience they are dead to me.
Go back to basics. I can't speak for everyone else, but I don't need any fancy footage to stay interested in your day-to-day and glean some of your knowledge/experience.
My thoughts exactly. Top channel, doesn't need the hassle of poor products and poor service.
Ditto!
True that!
Bill Mead Completely agreed... loved this channel BECAUSE of its simplicity. God forbid there’ll be loads of music too in all future videos.. Noooooooooooooooooooooo..
Warren s/y Legend
Absolutely. Do your best to get your content out, don't worry about improving anything. Drone shots are nice, but we will sure keep watching if you don't provide them!
Thank you very much, Kevin. I appreciate you taking time to relate your experience. You may have saved me a bundle of cash. I certainly won't even consider this brand of drone. Thanks again.
And now that I have had a DJI Phantom 3 for a few months I am even more convinced that the Splash Drone is a waste of money.
@@howtosailoceans1423 Yep now you have a real drone sir!
Wanted one of these for windsurf videos. Thank you so much for the video. I'll be moving past Swell Pro
Thanks for the heads up! Dan
The biggest problem is after sales market and many customers will think twice before buying the drone! Thanks a lot!
Yes indeed. I don't bash a company unless I think they deserve it. But I have to say that this drone was garbage.
Thanks for an excellent product review and pointing out the lack of initial design quality and evident manufacturing QC issues- probably due to the inadequate design and complete lack of a customer service. I often use actual customer reviews when considering a product.
I agree, we consumers have to be vocal, especially with products that cost people good sums of money and do not work as advertised.
Ahh, I feel your horror. Just hearing the words ‘user error’ makes me angry 😒
And I hope the company sees this video. I hope they’re sales numbers go south.
I was actually thinking of buying that drone. So I thank you!!
Fair winds,,,,,,,,,,,/),,,,,,,,,,,
If they do not improve their product, I think it is inevitable they will be out of business ...
What you just described did happened to me as well. Firstly when I first started flying the craft. I took to Mexico all excited to us e for fishing. On the first trial after doing all of the calibrations and so forth on it’s first flight one the props went loose and was never to be found in the sand. After replacing the prop and not wanting the fun to be spoiled I tried again, all went well until i reached the water to launch my bait when suddenly the drone flew straight up and came down crashing . I reported the incident to Urban Drones where I purchased it and the response was that I did not use the proper calibrations. So I was instructed et to send along and get it repaired by them at my cost? When all said and done I finally received the drone back. Went on a flight test and all went well for the first two trials then the drone had a mind of it’s own and went nuts flew straight away from me at a two feet height, tried to cut off power but was unsuccessful until it crashed and got damaged.. Had to send it back again at my cost with a whole letter of explanations. They finally gave a new one. Since then I tried once it worked great although I am now very nervous about using it and just stored it on a shelf.. their service needs some serious adjustment and friendliness not to mention customer service courtesy. I would never buy that product again especially forking out that kind of money.
=
yes I was just looking at them and almost pulled the handle no go now Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to warn us about this product and its service department. Very much appreciated. Good Hunting!
I've found DJI to be much better.
Thanks. I still need to figure out which to buy.
I think the drone is a "necessity".
Its not fair that the ship's Master, doesn't get to see her sailing along so beautifully !!
Agree!
Thanks for the straight forward sharing of your experience with the SwellPro 3. I had my credit card in-hand to buy their deluxe SwellPro 3 package for $2k+. I read many reviews on their website and they were all positive feedback... naturally. I will avoid this company and their products after hearing your story. Thanks again for taking the time to share and saving us from the same bad experience. SwellPro can keep their junk SwellPro 3 and their customer service that doesn't stand solid behind their products. If SwellPro reads this comment, just know carma just found you... you can kiss this $2300 goodbye.
I'd say that's a smart move. If you have a chance just comparing flying and taking photos with SplashDrone 3 vs. DJI Phantom. I think you will find the latter far better and for half the price.
Thanks for putting up such a detailed video on the subject. I will be staying away from buying any of their products.
Thanks for calling a spade a spade. Rick more was involved in testing these.
I will pass it on to the masses. Put amazon onto them too..
Yep, I'm just reporting my experience. But this really seems to be a substandard product for a premium price. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for the information and really sorry to hear about the money wasted on this drone and camera.
I've seen comments below saying Get back to basics and No need for drone footage. Your channel is great and drone footage is not necessary BUT I see it as a bonus. Aerial and distance shots of your beautiful boat give another perspective and it's a wonderful one. However if a drone is just going to bring you grief and leave you well out of pocket then please don't bother, it's not worth it. It would detract from your pleasure in sailing and we would all still watch your videos. Hope things are beginning to warm up over there across the pond.
Thank You!
It sucks you had to deal with them. The Amazon ratings and reviews are pretty low. I left a question on one of their products asking if they provided the same level of horrible customer service as this drone.
Thanks for this video. I have a SwellPro FD1. After watching horror stories about this company, I will continue to fly until I can't fly any longer. Once I start getting the warning signs, I will be going to DJI or another company that does not seem to have these issues. I would rather fly a drone that is not waterproof as long as it's controllable. If you can control it, you don't have to worry about water. I understand these are advertised as waterproof. I don't think I will ever test that. I will just wait until I am forced to do a water landing.
DJI drones are _much_ better. Made that switch several years ago and never looked back.
thanks they just lost another sale....
Your yacht looks beautiful in that aerial video. Sorry to hear about your drone. Ive only seen one other channel using the splash. Most use dji mavic or phantom tho they are not water proof. With practice you can retrieve phantom by grabbing the landing gear.
Yes, I just bought a phantom 3 and I am practicing launching and landing from my hand. Not from the boat yet, though...
As a longtime subscriber i remember when this video came out. Now shoping for a drone this came into my feed. Love your channel and i hope you find a good drone that fits your lifestyle. You have taken some very nice footage. Look forward to your next video
I went with a DJI Phantom 3, works very well.
I was about to buy one of these - thanks for the honest review; I'll find something else.
Presently SwellPro are the only manufacturers of a waterproof drone, but I would steer clear. Hopefully DJI will come up with something soon ...
A waterproof drone - I didn’t know they even existed. Damn, I’ve already lost my P4 to the water gods.
Well they exist in advertising, but not in real life, in my experience ... I now have a P3 which I purchased for $300 off eBay. It is not waterproof, but appears to be better in every other respect. Losing it would still hurt, but at least I'm not out $1.7K if I do ...
If it's any consolation, my Walkera Tali H500 isn't much better. It looks great, the camera gimble is decent, no geo-fencing, six rotors and fast, but very prone to flyaway/crash mode in GPS. There's no height-hold either. So it's basically fly in manual mode. That's ok in man. mode, except doing that in gusty, breezy weather makes very challenging to hold altitude and once it gets high, trying to bring it down without a VRS state is a hazard, real heart in your mouth time.
It needs a total internal changeout to a NAZA system to be reliable on GPS etc to solve these issues. So it's about a couple of hundred bucks to get the parts in for that.
Sorry for the crappy drone you bought. I'm a commercial helicopter pilot with a 107 drone license. My wife is a professional photographer. We've had multiple drones. DJI are the most popular but very restrictive and the multiple updates suck. We are now flying an Autel Evo which is by far the best bang for the buck. No geo fencing and you can get the drone up in a matter of seconds. Customer service is excellent. For under $1000.00 bucks you can take your youtube channel to the next level. I bet if you contacted them, they might even sponsor you.
Thanks for the info! I now have a phantom 3, which I like much better, but still haven't worked out how to fly it while sailing. I have an FAA hobbyist license for it.
When you were showing how the "seal" worked and how the battery is charged and mounted, that really highlighted the poor design. Sorry the company is failing to stand behind their product. Expensive experience. :-(
Dang! Wish I'd seen that e-bay listing. I'd have happily paid $200 for parts for my Splash 3.
It went fast ...
Well done, informative....I have an old DJI 3....i keep her pretty clear of the water. Will be staying away from Urban Drones when I upgrade! Thanks, fair winds! Hanging out south Florida before the run north? Andrew
I now have a phantom 3, and I like it much better than the Splash Drone--better quality all around, just not waterproof.
That’s what I was after the splash drone that’s the one that makes your boat look great and I like all the safety features and waterproofed
be sure to add your comments to the Amazon Customer reviews - buyers (yes, me) often check user reviews...and steer clear if there are more than couple of bad ones.
I did write a review on Amazon, but that was before the rotor/stability problems. I gave it two stars then, and mentioned the problem with the camera.
To bad amazon never shows all the real reviews done many and they never posted, gave items 1 star to go back weeks later and see them with a 5 star rating its a joke.
This was interesting. I was on the verge of getting one. Not now. Thank you.
Thanks I didn’t keep watching the draft hopefully they fix all those problems and give you a new drone camera and that’s why we watch things like this
Maddening!! If you made the purchase with a credit card they may be able to help you get some action from the company. Sometimes they warranty their purchases. Or maybe call Amazon. Worth a try. I would not give up until I made a big stink about this. Call the president of the company. Keep pushing. They shouldn't get away with selling such an inferior product for all that money. Good luck!!
Other people have said that too, so maybe. I did not purchase any insurance so I just wrote it off.
I know this video is over a year old now and not sure if the seal design issue on the camera has been corrected or not. I was looking into a waterproof drone to purchase to use for fishing on my boat or onshore. the seal for the camera I have to agree with you is a piece of !@#$@# design and water can easily be breached even though you press the seal into the opening. Most companies will find ways to blame the operator error or owner just to prevent them from the expense and cost of the repair or replacement for flaw design issues. There are companies that do back up their product like Scotty maker of downriggers, Bennett maker of trim tabs, etc and I have dealt with these companies for my boat parts. Before finding your video I was watching another video and told myself there is a design flaw on the seal for the camera. Sure enough, I found your video water breach on the camera. Not only the camera I also see a possible design issue with the main cover to the drone where the four screws water breach can occur if it does not have an O ring seal. And also watch out on people bias reviews in favor of the company/manufacturer...
I agree with all of that. I've since given up on waterproof drones, take my chances with a Phantom 3.
What an incredible thorough review of the Swellpro Splash Drone, I don't think yours was just a lemon, seems the company has all sorts of problems with their waterproof drones by reading reviews on the internet. And even Dustin Dunnill had problems with his Swellpro when he tried it out right out of the box. Some of the reviews even pointed out their customer service is poor. Honestly, thinking on how much you paid, maybe I'm better off just picking up a reliable DJI Mavic Mini or Fimix X8. And if it crashes, it crashes, just deal with my losses. When a drone only works for a couple of months for the price you paid, that just plain sucks. I'm just glad you decided to make such a thorough review about your experiences with both Swellpro and Urban Drones, people like you make a difference for all of us. I'll be sure to check out that other review you mentioned...
After the Splash Drone I purchased a second hand DJI Phantom 3 for $300. Have had no problems with it, flies well, and takes great video. SwellPro is a plain ol' rip-off, IMO.
thanks for the review. A lot of lost sales it seems from reading the comments. Pays to take care of your customers.
I had a very different experience! Urban Drone has gone above and beyond, sending out replacement parts in 3 days, follow up calls from Carlo himself. My learning curve has been a long time as I was never a gamer so many light crashes but I have this down now. The best customer service ever! I'm saving up for a Spray ( a lot smaller) as I also fly from our sailboat & dingy.
I wouldn't be surprised if you fixed the drone and maybe just tape (I'm teasing) the Olympus on to the gimbal. I should also say I watch on my phone, not 4k! Love the show/life, keep it up!
I’m having the same issue with their customer service now. From the first flight the screen would go grey at about 150m away. The controller would stop working and the drone would slowly fall into the water. Customer service would say it’s user error and it’s water damaged so they won’t repair. I’ll never deal with swell pro again
My sentiments exactly.
I had the exact same problem with my spash drone 3 plus's screen which constantly displayed static and scratches across.the screen. I returned it to my seller who explained that the radio transmission was "Analogue" and that is what caused the problem. They agreed to replace it with the Splash Drone 4. Hopefully it will be better.
Well, you may have just saved me some money and heartache! I am in exactly the same 'boat' as you were. Ive drowned two Mavic Air drones now and wanted the features of this drone....
Good vid
I now have Phantom 3--MUCH better than SwellPro--haven't drowned it yet but have had some very close calls.
Thanks for putting it bluntly. It sucks to get screwed like that...good luck to ya'...
It happens ...
I might get one and I've watched atleast twenty videos on them, This is the only bad review I've seen so far. The waterproof compartment is easy access and the gasket is what waterproofs it. The battery and cables are tucked away like that so it doesn't interfere with the GPS. Now the wobble in the motor is definitely a bent motor shaft from a crash unless the entire motor is wobbling and if so its probably a loose screw that mounts the motor, easy fix... the camera getting wet i would agree with you they should definitely come up with something better. I haven't purchased one yet I am doing a little more research on it first I might just build one. I've been into RCs for years but I would really like a plug and play..
I stand by my review. The DJI Phantom is a far better product in every way, although their drones are not waterproof.
Tks for your great video. was going to buy one for next summer. No way now. Especially here in Canada, I am sure the customer service will be none.
I've had a DJI Phantom 3 for about one year now and I am very happy with it.
If you didn't break the camera file in small claims court they will send you a new camera asap this works even better if they are out of state. I was looking at buying this camera too but there is a lot of complaints on it and the companies that service and warranty them.Good luck man!
I've since gone to a DJI Phantom 3, and very happy with it. I do not deal with SwellPro anymore.
I've switched to DJI and never looked back ...
@@howtosailoceans1423 Good for you I hear a lot of good things about DJI.
I would agree with you conclusion of poorly made and serviced product. These companies never seem to stand behind their products. I do think the drone footage adds to you video production and is worth having in your kit.
Try and go through amazon. They have been excellent with me on returns. Might work. Good luck
If we cant see what you actually did with the drone meaning your test flight i cant fully agree that it was not your fault I currently own the drone and it works great no issues this is my 3 drone so I do know how to fly. If you have never flown and you try to do this from a boat thats a bad idea. I shoot from a boat usually makos and prolines and I usually have someone hold the drone from the landing gear to just have it go strait up and I usually land on the water to have it be as safe as possible since there are usually others on the boat.if something falls or you take off wrong and it just “bumbs” agains something thats an issue cause the drone is not made to have any sort of hit
I recently saw (older) 'drone like' footage taken by flying a kite with a camera. Surely limited in functionality, but a lot cheaper than a drone. Having seen your video's I'm sure you would find a way to make such a thing work. Sorry for the loss though. Enjoying your vids no less.
thank you for the warning about this product. We had considered getting one but it sounds like the customer service and the company that handles warranty is pretty shady. We just found you from a couple comments on some of our videos where we were sailing without an engine. We look forward to checking out more of your content. what kind of conditions can you maneuver your boat in with the sculling oar? I assume pretty calm conditions?
Yes, the scull is only useful in little or no wind, and flat water. DJI makes much better drones in my experience thus far.
@@howtosailoceans1423 Thought so but that oar still could have gotten us out of some situations. ya we are looking into a dji drone ourselves. if it wasn't for the new app requiring us to get another phone we would already own a mini. So cheap although not much to grab onto. what would be your pick from someone likely to launch from a boat? Cheers
Adversarial and difficult customer service is no way to run a company. Sorry you had this negative experience. You’ve got some great aerial video though.
I’m always looking forward to your great sailing and seamanship lessons.
How far north have you gotten now?
Still in the Keys ...
When you introduced the SwellPro I was all "BUY THAT, its waterproof!" Thanks for the heads up Kevin, I wonder what part of Red China it is made in.
its only quality that matters, I have seen plenty of stuff that advertises "made in America" thinking that is more important than working well.
For 2 grand I expect that drone to be the best of the best when flying and be spot in reliability, and super durable. If it only does half of what the drone is worth then clearly it even isn't worth the high price tag at all. And that gigantic remote controller is just ridiculous.
Agree.
No bad experience with this drone! I think the drone needs to be more properly retrieve from the ocean👍@3:45
You can have it ...
Too bad for the troubles you had with the splash drone......perfect name for it. I have been flying drones since the first manual flying ones came out. Many of my friend drone flyers say... stay away from it. Customer service will come back and bite them in the long run!
Indeed, they need to either improve their product or they will perish I think.
i was planning to buy this Drone.. Thank you for the review.
I’ve had one nearly 2 years. Beats every other drone. The only thing better is dji software for editing video/pics. Swellpro well worth the money.
Junk... Splash Guard has proven to be a disgrace to drones.
Yes indeed!
Thank you for another great video! I was looking into buying a splash drone a year ago. The splash drone just seemed too good to be true. Then I learned in Milwaukee you really can't legally fly a drone with in 10 miles of the airport. I just couldn't justify spending 1700 on something I couldn't legally use. however I am still interested in buying a drone. After watching your video if I buy a drone it will NOT be a splash drone. I think its better to go with a DGI drone. Sorry for your loss. Its hard to believe that the splash drone doesn't care that you have over 6000 people that watch your videos and see how there product fails.
I bought a Phantom 3 for $300 off of eBay, and so far I like it a lot. MUCH better than the Splash Drone, so long as you don't land it in the drink ... I use AirMap to see where I can fly. It's a free app.
Clear, thanks for the informative video..
Good to pass the word along, Kevin. Whenever I buy expensive items like this I look for independent reviews from previous buyers. I will be in the market for a drone to fly me recently purchased GoPro Fusion (360 camera) which I plan to tank some nice footage of kayaking and sailing in and around Deer Isle this summer.
Deer Isle Maine? I purchased a second hand phantom 3 which seems much better than SwellPro and for a fraction of the price, too ... DJI seems to have a pretty good reputation.
Deer Isle Maine, yes. I know you have some roots in ME. I'm 57 and now learning to sail. I have 24' Quickstep pocket cruiser and am learning the ropes. Reading a lot & watching videos. You've heard of gateway drugs, right? The Quickstep is my gateway sailboat! Wanting to get around the Caribbean in the winter months in a few years. Thanks for passing along your knowledge and experience.
Aye m8, have you ever considered trying kite camera?
I just dropped that comment, I saw that done on an episode from Drake's Paragon
Yes, just haven't found one.
I like the drone footage a lot. It gives a great perspective. But not at that price! Cost per flight is absurd. So yeah, wait for a better profuct/company. Thanks for posting.
What a swell product!
I will never purchase one based on your experience.
Thanks for the video. Save me a lot money and time
I have not changed my opinion of SwellPro either, terrible product.
Thanks for the video I was in the market for one of these but now I'll have to rethink my purchase
Now that I have switched to a DJI Phantom 3, I can say with confidence that the Splash Drone is a rip off.
@@howtosailoceans1423 Thanks for the prompt response. I'm still not really a DJI fan due toothier micromanagement of their products
I'm looking at the
Autel Evo and modifying for water environment
Good luck and fair winds, really enjoy your videos
Thanks. I was trying to decide between swellpro or skydio2 for my boating asventures.
I still say DO NOT buy SwellPro ...
When you sent your camera/gimble back to the manufacturer and they said it was your fault water got in it did they send it back to you? Just curious because if they didn't then they sold you a new camera setup for$600+ and kept your old camera.
I think I kept the old camera, although it didn't work so it was junk. But the whole thing was junk, glad to be rid of it ... DJI is much better.
You got a lemon Kevin
Thanks for that! I am looking for a surf fishing drone any suggestions? No bells and whistles just fly the bait out and drop it
Thanks for the information, and for sharing your experiences with us. Sorry to hear about your less than favorable encounters with these people. I was considering this company for waterproof type drones, but I am deciding to wait for something else and will cross these guys off my list and find another worthwhile company to deal with. Customer service is very important in my opinion... Have you found another waterproof drone you are satisfied with and wouldn't mind sharing info on? Thanks again!
I use a Phantom 3 now, which is not waterproof but _so_ much better than the Splash Drone. I just deal with the possibility of losing it to the sea every time I fly for sailing footage.
I was so excited to get this drone for drone fishing...thanks to your video you just saved me a whole heap of money and anger dealing with the company...sorry you had such a bad experience.
I was just one click away to purchase it. But now need to consider again.
How frustrating and disappointing. Those drone shots were great.
Thanks for the video, I very early bought one of these but decided not to at the last moment as I wasn't convinced. Glad I didn't now! Shame really because the concept is good but obviously needs further development.
Good decision, the Splash Drone is overpriced and of poor quality. I am able to get sailing footage with my Phantom 3 partly because it flies so much better and I can launch and land from my hand, so no need to launch from the water.
I have noticed lately that many products seemed to be designed and manufactured with just about enough care and quality to get over the line to market and sell. Sadly however when put to the intended use they quickly fail. I blame internet shopping where, you have little or no opportunity to physically examine a product before handing over your cash and, of course this follows through in customer service which is also remote so its easy for companies to wear you down and fob you off. By the way I sold my Gaffer and am now boatless. Regards... Ivan in Ireland.
Uggh! Boatless, that's almost unimaginable ... yes, it's easy to sell schlock online with a fancy website. On the other hand, we have platforms like UA-cam and customer reviews to share information, so companies cannot so easily get away with ripping off customers. It is very true that the personal connection is lost. Most of these big companies do not have a phone number, and when you use "live chat", you're talking to a computer program.
Thank you so much for your time I got a question did they just implement G5 in your area because I have a drone that just started acting crazy What happen in the days when we used to be able to navigate perfectly with 4 GPS signal Plus back then They had selective availability so you get two GPS and we use to call it cross track error I might kids could program GPS is back then when they were five year old now they are 35 now they want you to have 14 it’s totally insane I rather fly without the GPS anyway I might go back to FPV But thanks again you save me quite a bit of money
Since I switched to a Phantom 3 I've had no flight issues whatsoever.
Isn't that the first answer that any of us get - this product or any other - that it is "user error"? I hate it for you but I agree completely that it is best to get away from this outfit.
I like the standard video stuff without the drone footage. It sucks you ended up with a POS.
You pays your money and you take your chances ...
Everyone these days are jumping onto the Drone bandwagon. I too love drone shots but they are not necessary if the vlogger is putting out great content. Content is King in my world. Sorry for your bad experience, that just sucks. Love your channel by the way.
They are addictive. I was just out experimenting with flying the phantom 3 from the dink. Content is king, agreed, but it doesn't hurt to have some eye candy too.
@@howtosailoceans1423 Your channel is very interesting. A mix of traditional (boat) and high tech (drone). Love it.
Your Mariner skills are what bring me to your Channel and with how you describe the experience. So many other sailing sites are soft-porn. The drones will get better. Sorry for your bad experience. A smart drone manufacturer will hopefully sponsor you.⛵⚓🛐
Reach out to the Flitetest on UA-cam and ask them about developing a kit for sailers. A Gimbal that can use a GoPro with a waterproof case, and a epoxied board should make some improvements, and since a kit uses standard parts repairs should be cheaper and easily done by the owner.
Interesting. I'm happy with the DJI Phantom 3, so far managed to keep it out of the drink..
Mine’s called splash drone 3+, different version? Really don’t want any of these issues
It's the next iteration of the Splash Drone. The camera I bought for the SD3 was the one for the 3+ and it still did not take very good photos, not compared to the Phantom 3, at least. Maybe it is better than the SD3, but I'm done with SwellPro.
Damn! I've been wondering how you've been getting on with the splash drone 3 and the flying drills. What are you thinking for options going forward? I have some ideas if you're interested.
I purchased a second hand phantom 3 off eBay for $300. So far everything about it is better than SwellPro, except it's not waterproof of course ... just did some flying drills yesterday, did a box, then a circle with different orientations. I think the key is just becoming a good pilot and taking your chances flying over water.
@@howtosailoceans1423 the better your pilot skills the faster you'll be able to correct a correctable problem, that only covers about 25% of what can go wrong, multiplied by the ocean. If you're interested we can gut and refit the shell of the splash drone 3. It would only cost between $100 to $300. New drone brain would give you a much much better flight experience. It's just a lot of DIY and low voltage electronics. The issue you're having with the motor is a little concerning because it means replacing all four Motors (which may be cheaper then) or buying one Factory replacement motor.
@@sparrow082 Thanks Adam, I sold the Splash Drone on eBay for parts, I don't have room on the boat for junk. I just wanted to be done with it, too. So far the phantom 3 seems much more stable in flight.
Very useful information, Thanks!! Sorry that the drone was a dud. I really enjoyed the birdseye view of your boat. Thinking about a Mavic Pro 2? Rick
Phantom 3
Customer service is almost the most important thing you know right behind the products reliability
I remember when the first version was released same bs. Only difference between him and me is I got a full refund and got to keep the drone haven't attempted to fly it since I was curious if they improved from the 1st auto version this video tells me all I need to know.
Yep, nice website, lousy product ..
AFTER YOUR REVIEW ...THIS DRONE IS ONE OF THE TOP SELLING DRONE ON THE MARKET IN 2021 ...MINE WORKS PERFECTLY AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IT IM SAD THAT IT HAPPENS TO YOU
Firstly, I've been following you right from the start and value your sailing skill, fresh hands on, low tech approach the most of all the videos I watch. I'd say stick with that...as others have said. I was always sceptical of that drone claiming to be waterproof and I'm surprised it's lasted as long as it has. Non-housing cameras (and one without a positive waterproofing system) with salt water is a recipe for trouble. It also seems (by the battery itself and it's leads), that this drone is a collection of low-quality parts in an interesting housing. I build these things as a hobbiest. I almost guarantee that the motor with the bad bearing is what was causing the erratic behaviour near the end of its life. The accelerometers and gyros on the flight control board are very sensitive to vibration outside a certain frequency range..so it wasn't your error. It would be nice if you had someone there to help you rebuild it....the electronic components really aren't that expensive. Anyway, keep up the great work. Always love the videos and the music :) Cheers from Canada.
Thanks mate. Yes, now that I have a phantom 3, the Splash Drone looks lower quality, only for a much higher price. So I am going to try to learn how to fly to and from my hand, which it seems is what most people do to get drone footage at sea.