Smartwatch while sailing?

Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Does anyone wear a smartwatch while sailing; for a sailing/racing purpose? If so share. What? How? Wishes? Dreams?

Me? My right wrist (or upper arm) has my Apple Watch series 6 on it, mostly as an activity tracker.

As a watch guy, my left has one of my collection on it; unless I'm sailing. Lately that's mostly my Garmin Fenix 5, a bit of a button-fest but wow a lot of capability. The BTLE (right??) adds the capability to view and control remote devices and boat networks. testing tonight...

IMG_2285.JPG
 
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,071
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
I love technology and I do wear watches, but I haven’t tried a smart watch for sailing yet. Actually last season I found myself using my wristwatch for sailing even less, just relying on my MFD and instruments for start times. I really want a reason to justify something like the Fenix, but what’s the value proposition over displays that should be positioned well enough to be visible anyway? I guess if I sailed on OPB’s much I could see it.

How does the interfacing with boat networks work? I presume you add a BTLE gateway to an NMEA network? That definitely opens up cool possibilities for being able to see data like wind speed from anywhere in the boat.

In the Dreams category I’d say being able to control the autopilot while sitting anywhere in the cockpit, like huddled behind a dodger in the rain. But at least with Navico that’s not even permitted over wifi, much less BTLE.
 
MikeHoncho

MikeHoncho

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Dec 28, 2015
1,850
Laser, Hunter H30 Cherubini Tacoma
If I didn’t have my Gulf Master G I’d have a Garmin. Tides, moon phase, bariometric with extreme alarm, world time, atomic time keeping, altitude, compass, temperature, solar. It even tells the time!
 

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Jackdaw

Jackdaw

.
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Davidasailor26 said:
I love technology and I do wear watches, but I haven’t tried a smart watch for sailing yet. Actually last season I found myself using my wristwatch for sailing even less, just relying on my MFD and instruments for start times. I really want a reason to justify something like the Fenix, but what’s the value proposition over displays that should be positioned well enough to be visible anyway? I guess if I sailed on OPB’s much I could see it.

How does the interfacing with boat networks work? I presume you add a BTLE gateway to an NMEA network? That definitely opens up cool possibilities for being able to see data like wind speed from anywhere in the boat.

In the Dreams category I’d say being able to control the autopilot while sitting anywhere in the cockpit, like huddled behind a dodger in the rain. But at least with Navico that’s not even permitted over wifi, much less BTLE.
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Correct, BTLE; via a gateway, or via a direct connect with a device that supports BTLE.

And dream on, because they do become real. The biggest ask for us is not to able to view the device's data, but to CONTROL it!
 
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Jackdaw

Jackdaw

.
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
MikeHoncho said:
If I didn’t have my Gulf Master G I’d have a Garmin. Tides, moon phase, bariometric with extreme alarm, world time, atomic time keeping, altitude, compass, temperature, solar. It even tells the time!
Click to expand
The KING of the G-Shocks!
 
Apex

Apex

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Jun 19, 2013
1,197
C&C 30 Elk Rapids
bought a garmin, but have used it more for heart rate monitor biking than sailing. :O(
As jib/spin trim I found myself mainly calling out time, so often call on the Ronstan.
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,410
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD


[Actually, I think the watches are neat, but I couldn't help myself. My buddy has the Garmin watch.]
 
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Jackdaw

Jackdaw

.
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Apex said:
bought a garmin, but have used it more for heart rate monitor biking than sailing. :O(
As jib/spin trim I found myself mainly calling out time, so often call on the Ronstan.
Click to expand
While I own about 5 race timer watches including the best Ronstan Clearstart they make, this is my new favorite.

Yet Another Sailing App (Old school SW developer joke) is awesome and much better than the flaming pile of crap that is the official Garmin app. The screenshot above shows it in race mode, and below in start mode. You can set it to ANY start sequence imaginable (YEA 'cause I see them all), it vibrates instead of lunatic beeps which are for onboard devices, and those rings progress around each minute and change color towards red as go-time approaches. It also records tracks. Recommended.


D6ED905C-0D7E-42EA-89DC-D0B84E8D7A1C.jpeg
 
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Jackdaw

Jackdaw

.
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
thinwater said:
[Actually, I think the watches are neat, but I couldn't help myself. My buddy has the Garmin watch.]
Click to expand
That's me for sure. A little Gadget, and little Mcgyver, and and little Bond. Guilty as charged!

I've been hanging about a LOT of the top top pros lately, and they ALL wear them these days. Something's going on.
 
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