We looked at and through 16 sets of binoculars. Top row, from left to right: Bushnell H2O 8x25, Bausch & Lomb 8x25, Canon 8x23 AWP, Leupold Wind River 8x23, Leupold Wind River 8x25. Middle row: Nikon Sportstar III 8x25, Nikon Medallion S 8x21, Nikon Eagleview Zoom II 8-24x25, Nikon Mountaineer 8x25, Nikon Travelite 8x25. Bottom row: Nikon Travelite Zoom 8-24x25, Steiner Predator 8x22, Swift 712 8x26, Swift Trilyte 802 8x25, Swift Micron 805R 8x25, West Marine Bora-Bora 8x26.

The uses of binoculars aboard a boat need not be explained in detail here. We know what they do: An indistinct lump becomes a buoy with a number; a smooth surface reveals a partially obscured rock; the figure waving to you from the dock isn't your wife after all.

In the January 1997 issue we evaluated a big field of binoculars ranging from 7 to 10 magnification, and in price from $50 to $805. This time we've limited the field considerably. Our criteria: compact, in the 8x25 range, preferably waterproof, and under $250. This subset fairly represents the kind of binoculars we would use as onboard back-ups, not only in case…