This may be in the wrong place if so please feel free to move it mods.

bolded key points if it is TL/DR

I am looking for a optic solution (scope or binocs) for a specific purpose and for "general" use if that is possible. That said let me give y'all the details. My wife and I go down to the beach a lot lately, namely Freeport area. I really like watching the ships making their way into port and waiting on the far horizon. I'm looking for something that would give me a closer view. I will not be moving, so stationary viewing from a porch. According to my research the horizon is about 3 miles away at sea level. It'd be really cool to see the details on the ships (names, maybe even personnel moving on deck).

It'd be nice to use the optic for just general use as well (if that's possible, maybe I'm asking to much) but mainly for ship watching from shore. Of course I'd like to NOT spend thousands of dollars if I don't have to (I can just live without it if it comes to that), but not afraid to pay a good price for a good experience. I know next to nothing about optics, and the internet of course has a overwhelming amount of information.

You got any suggestions?

Have you thought about a spotting scope?

I have a beach house…so this comes with a title experience. Get a CHEAP pair of Nikons or something. They will not like the cold AC and then sudden hot very humid air. They will fog. Then the salt in the air will cause corrosion.

The beach is hard in everything.

With a cheap pair, it will not be easy to see a lot of detail. More like specks on the horizon.

If you can use them from inside looking through a window, a telescope is what ya want.

Yep, said so in my original post. I didn't know if binoculars or a scope would be better so just said "optic", please feel free to advise me on whatever power or model you'd recommend.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/pursuit-20-60x60-spotting-scope-kit

We use this to view deer and turkeys in the hay field.

Not sure what $$$ you're wanting to spend but in the US Navy we refer to the large binocs linked below as the "Big Eyes".Of course ours were stanchion mounted on a swivel so that as the ship rolled you could control the big eyes with your arms and shoulders staying on target.I've been able to identify nationality as well as classes of ships from around the world as far as 10 miles out sometimes just picking a superstructure apart with these high powered binocs while referencing Janes book of Fighting Ships


https://astromart.com/classifieds/a...-20x120mm-kollmorgen-binocularssaletrade

Mounted on a tripod these would be bad [censored]