Perplexed by Time

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Dec 28, 2014

I would guess some electrical interference on board affecting the clock motor.

weinie · Dec 28, 2014

Do you sail really really fast.... like almost light speed fast?

shemandr · Dec 28, 2014

I would venture a guess that the difference is related to temperature/humidity. About all I know about this subject I learned by reading Longitude. The challenge to make a chronometer was for it to lose the same amount of time in varying conditions. Unless your clock is a chronometer, it has not been designed or built to account for those environment changes.
If it is a chronometer, well I'm stumped.

Joe · Dec 28, 2014

When you bring it home... leave it outside or in an unheated shed. Any difference?

I think I'd call Weems & Plath for an explanation. Maybe the clock is for decorative home use.

McIntoshUSA · Dec 28, 2014

Dumb question, but is the battery loose or maybe a wire loose and when sailing it bounces around a little?

Bad Obsession · Dec 28, 2014

This is an easy thing to fix.

Just remember that when you are on the boat you are having fun and time flies when you are having fun. That is why your clock is moving faster, it is just proving what we all already know!

gfrazzle · Dec 28, 2014

My dad had a friend that constantly bragged about the gas mileage in his new Mercedes.Dad started secretly adding gas to his friend's tank.

After a few fill ups, the "mileage" got to be unbelievable and the bragging was unbearable. Then dad started secretly siphoning his gas.....

Anybody else have access to your clock?

All U Get · Dec 28, 2014

We had a similar issue with the same clock so I bought the clock guts at an electronics shop for $5 and fixed it myself.

All U Get

Benny17441 · Dec 28, 2014

I'll go with the heat and humidity theory. That might be harder to pin down than finding a water leak.

Johnb · Dec 28, 2014

You don't say how old the clock is.

There are going to be two major components there. One is electronic and consists of a crystal controlled oscillator (very often a multiple of 32,767 Hz) with digital divider to get a 1 second pulse out. The other is a mechanism to make the clock tick in response to the 1 second pulse.

Either the electronics are skipping some pulses or the mechanism is sticking and not ticking on every pulse. I would put it in the fridge and see if that causes it to lose time. If it does then see if you can stop it by freezing the electronics. If that does not work then look for mechanical sticking, especially if it more than about 5 years old.

Also, the advice to carefully clean the battery contacts is worth taking.

Chris Patterson · Dec 29, 2014

Time is different on a boat. Or the perception thereof..

(Sorry, no real idea. Just my usual pointless reply).

Apex · Dec 29, 2014

Chris Patterson said:
Time is different on a boat. Or the perception thereof..

(Sorry, no real idea. Just my usual pointless reply).

I'll chime in too Chris with a similar post: The clock is on boat time, thus more relaxed and moving a little more slowly than usual.

We just got a clock/barometer/comfortmeter set for Christmas. Looking forward to mounting it on the boat.

britinusa · Dec 29, 2014

Is it affected by magnetism like your compass?

Is the clock mounted near a stereo speaker?

Just a thought.

Paul

Ron20324 · Dec 29, 2014

It's called friction... the longer your eyes rest on the hands, the slower they move.

DMendels · Dec 29, 2014

gfrazzle said:
My dad had a friend that constantly bragged about the gas mileage in his new Mercedes.Dad started secretly adding gas to his friend's tank.

After a few fill ups, the "mileage" got to be unbelievable and the bragging was unbearable. Then dad started secretly siphoning his gas.....

Anybody else have access to your clock?

I never met him, but I love your dad!!!

powsmias · Dec 29, 2014

OdayDave said:
I have an interesting problem with my Weems and Platt clock. When the clock is on shore, it keeps near perfect time for months. I gained less than a minute from October to today when compared to my atomic clock. However, when I put it onboard, it loses time consistently (at least a half hour a week, but sometimes more). This is regardless of whether it is mounted in its base or not. This occurs even with a new battery. There is no corrosion on the terminals, and I even had a clock repair shop look at it and declare it to be in perfect working order. I'm at a loss as to what might be causing this Jekyll and Hyde behavior on the part of this time piece and would appreciate any theories/insights from the collective wisdom as I try to solve this dilemma.

Thanks,

Dave
s/v Lagniappe
O'Day 25

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.

couldn't resist
eddie the lock

Chris Patterson · Dec 29, 2014

I was starting to think in that direction as well. You're not sailing through some time warp are you? You know, the Bermuda Triangle or something?

Try this....sit and watch the clock and see where and when it gets hinkey. Probably wouldn't take more than a few days..

caguy · Dec 29, 2014

Bad Obsession said:
This is an easy thing to fix.

Just remember that when you are on the boat you are having fun and time flies when you are having fun. That is why your clock is moving faster, it is just proving what we all already know!

The OP says he is losing time, which is actually appropriate for a sailboat. Everything runs slower, which is nice because it makes for a longer day of sailing.

Gfrazzle, I like your dad.

Perplexed by Time

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