Racing countdown timer?

[Derek Rowell]

I'm about to visit family for a couple of weeks in New Zealand. My brother is an avid racer, and asked yesterday if I could get him a countdown starting timer. He has a watch, but would like something to hang around his neck. For the life of me I can't find anything on the marine sites.I have found some sites (for example bodytronics.com) that have a number of inexpensive timer/stopwatches that might do the job. Most have a simple countdown feature with a single alarm at the end. If possible, he would like an alarm at each minute. Does anybody have any suggestions?

 

[Ken]

counters

APS has a couple that would fit what your looking for.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Around the neck...

We bought a nice stop watch which we figured would work well for us. It was an around the neck type. We found one very important thing: around the neck requires a hand to pick it up and read it at the very time you need more hands than you will ever have available (at the start of a race)!One of our colleagues has a large display digital model that clamps onto the top of the dodger frame. It is readable from a distance and everyone can see it. Sorry, don't know the name, but I guess if you Google timers and countdown clocks you'll find a few that match that description.

 

[soling42]

Audible countdown timer

A very quick google search came up with this beauty, among others. Comp RC glider pilots need similar devices so search there too.Good luck.Michaelhttp://www.amazon.com/Suunto-M3-Wrist-Top-Windsurfing-Computer/dp/B000F9JUHU

 

[paul bargren]

does this help?

here's one link to a product widely available.

 

[PaulK]

Radio Shack

Radio Shack has timers that can be preset to 5, 10 or whatever minutes and started at the appropriate moment. the displays are big (approx 1" high) and bright. You can use velcro to attach them wherever the helmsman might like to have them. They're about $4.00 each, if that. I've also sailed with skippers who used a voice recording that called out the time. The trick with that one, as with the others, is starting it at the right moment. A digital recorder would be better than a tape recorder for this because the tape might eventually stretch or distort with use.

 

[Derek Rowell]

Look what I found...

See the link below. It's a "talking timer", with varying announcement intervals, right down to every second for the last 10 seconds. Seems like it might be ideal (if it's loud enough). Seems to be available under several brand names.I think I'll get one (only about $7 on E-Bay). What's to lose?Thanks everyone,Derek

 

[Alan]

Had the same problem,,,,

,,,I wanted a racing watch with a countdown/count up timer without having to spend a fortune.Got a great buy in a Casio sport watch. You can buy it on line, I bought it for about $20 in Walmart. Also has a tide and moon phase display.

 

[RickS]

Timex Triatholan

We use a Timex Triatholan(???) purchased from Kohls Dept Store during one of their sales w/ multiple discounts. Find the model you like and then wait and watch for the sales.

 

[Alchemist]

I used to use the Timex

Ironman Triathelon. It had three countdown modes ... Count down and stop, Count down and repeat, and Count down / Count up. I ended up always using the count down repeat (set to a 5 minute sequence, it doesn't matter how many fleets start ahead of you, as long as the RC sticks to the published schedule, your start will always be correct.After I went through two of these (the paint wore off and the buttons wore out), I got a Timex Expedition. It has the same features. One advantage the Expedition has is that the numbers are larger than on the Ironman Triathelon.Both of these watches cost about $30 at any big box retailer.If Cassio has the sme features, their watch should be equally good / easy to use.SteveAlchemist C-320

 

[Stu Jackson]

The downside of watches

is pretty much what I described in the earlier post, you need to take a hand out of commission to read it, unless it can be clamped onto something, in which case the display would be too small. The ideas about the count down displays are what I was describing. Radio Shack sounds like a great source. And the helmsman is NOT the only one who needs the information: everyone does.

 

[jimq26]

Great little unit.

Got the identical unit and very pleased. We have alway used a household West Bend electronic time mounted on the cabin for race timing. This one will go in the same place - fastened with HD velco.Our price in Canada was $9.95 including shipping and no taxes.

 

[Alan]

Does it.....

....automatically switch to count up after the countdown is complete?

 

[jimq26]

No - it doesn't.

But - you can set it so it will automatically restart the same sequence last used. At our club races we are in the 3rd start (5 min. apart) so this unit is perfect - set it for 15 minutes and start it when flag drops. You can punch in a count up manually once you have started. We have a knotmeter/log that we also use separately for race timing, and it does the automatic count up when 0 time is reached.

 

[Derek Rowell]

I think we have to define what we mean.

After counting down to zero it starts to count up. It keeps the (annoying) alarm going for the first minute, and then reverts to spoken times at subsequent minutes etc. However, this is not really count-up mode, which can be set by a slide switch on the side. In this mode it starts and stops like a stop-watch (with a one second resolution), and that can be used to time mark roundings, etc. There is also a memory function, that can be used to set to the 5 minute start time, but unfortunately the memory is reset when you hit the clear button. For those who have the unit: did you realize that there are some hidden buttons that are revealed by sliding down the lower part of the case. In there you can turn the sound on/off, set the alarm sound, etc. It's not mentioned in the instructions, and it is hard to move the panel.