Collecting acoustic data during vessel-based surveys of North Atlantic right whales can provide valuable insights into their acoustic ecology and the potential impacts of noise. It is also challenging as vessel-based recording systems typically restrict maneuverability and are subject to loud vessel noise, while most remote recording systems are expensive and designed to be deployed for extended periods on moorings or autonomous vehicles. Here we present a low-cost, open-source, drifting recorder that offers a quiet, accessible, and customizable option for collecting acoustic data for short periods during vessel-based right whale surveys. The system is based on an inexpensive electronics package (Raspberry Pi computer with sound card, GPS, satellite tracker and rechargeable battery) enclosed within a waterproof case fixed atop a custom spar buoy. The total material cost per drifting buoy is approximately $1000 USD, and all software and hardware will be made freely available for use and further development by other research groups. The system records audio using GPS-time, which allows for accurate synchronization with other data streams (e.g., vessel cameras, drone video, other recorders). In the summer of 2025, our research team deployed a prototype system 12 times during vessel-based surveys in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence, amassing over 30 hours of high-quality acoustic recordings. Several of the deployments occurred close to right whale surface active groups and recorded complex calling behavior. We hope that this system will prove a valuable addition to our collective toolkit for monitoring right whales and other species, advance our understanding of right whale acoustic behavior, and improve our ability to help the species recover.