Which watch do you prefer for sight timekeeping

[Pagan]

Hi,

I am just thinking of investing in a replacement watch for timing of sights and wondered what you knowledgable old salts used or would like to use?

Do we need to go down the expensive route?
Is digital better than analogue?
Is there a prefered make / model?

I shouldn't think there is a right or wrong answer to this as it is subject to personal preference, I am just curious!

Pagan

 

[Ross]

All modern quartz watches keep excellant time and all are water proof. If you can read an analog watch they work perfectly well. There are some digitals that will freeze time at the push of a button and then catch up later.

 

[caguy]

I have an older ProTrek that I like. It has everything I need. I use the magnetic compass in the mall when I get turned around. It also has an altimeter, barometer and barometric tracking. The new ones also have a lunar phase and tide table. Its water proof to 100 meters. The dial light is a nice feature and can be set to go on when you raise your hand to look at time. I use the push button dial light feature when I get up in the middle of the night so I don't stub my toes. It also has five alarms. It has a countdown timer and a stop watch.
Now if I can just get porn on it, it would be perfect.
Here is a link to the newer ones, may be time for an upgrade.
http://www.casio-intl.com/wat/protrek/

 

[juslookin]

Cheeeeeeep

I have a super cheeeep o from WallyWorld. It is digital, water proof to 50 meters, has kept perfect time for a couple of years now, has a velcro strap which I really like, and costs around 10 bucks.

 

[Sailm8]

Use the time off the GPS

 

[Calif. Ted]

I've been using the Casio's with tide and moon data, currently a solar one with stainless band for less than $35 at amazon.
I check it against an inexpensive weather station with an atomic clock kept at the nav station and it's more accurate than I'll ever be.
http://www.amazon.com/Casio-WS210HD...r_1_2?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1327695150&sr=1-2

 

[Gunni]

Use the time off the GPS

Which has exceptionally accurate corrected time and some other useful navigation features....never mind.

 

[Ross]

While we are on the subject this is the go to site for setting your watch: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications

 

[zeehag]

if i MUST use a watch, i like timex indiglo watches. but i use the time on my gps more often, also the time on my fone.....

 

[Deadhead]

Thanks Ross

While we are on the subject this is the go to site for setting your watch: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications

Cool & Useful Link.

DH

 

[alexco38]

I just ditched my watch to practice retirement

 

[Bill Roosa]

Your ships clock (GPS for most of us) is the primary time piece. You watch only needs to be calibrated to that so you can take a sight. It does not need to keep GREAT time as the length of time between taking the sight and comparing it to the ships clock is generally only a few minutes. It does not even have to be set correctly as you are going to factor that out when you correct the watch sight time to ships clock time.
I'd go for any watch that floats your boat as all will keep time well enough for this purpose.

 

[RAD]

Droid cell phone,Garmin GPS,wall clock in forward cabin and one of these days I'll mount the 8 day ships clock thats been hanging around waiting to do its thing

 

[Ross]

As I said "All modern quartz watches keep nearly perfect time" . I compare my 10 dollar wally world watchy to the Naval Observatory time and find the error to be never more than 15 seconds for six months.

 

[Joe Diver]

I have a super cheeeep o from WallyWorld. It is digital, water proof to 50 meters, has kept perfect time for a couple of years now, has a velcro strap which I really like, and costs around 10 bucks.

I bought one of those el cheapo ones because I needed a timer for student skills. (scuba instructor)

Water proof to 50 meters....that's around 150 feet....yeah, RIGHT!! LOL, what a joke this thing was. Took it down to 20 feet and it immediately flooded. It flooded so bad, it actually let in some pieces of algae! Yep, flooded watch with pieces of algae floating in it.

I took it back. They balked at refunding since it was flooded, but I told them I bought it because it was advertised (and printed on the watch) that it was waterproof to 50 meters and I only took it to 20 feet.

(I'm not dissing your watch, just telling my "waterproof" story)

 

[Allan12210]

This is the only clock I use now.

http://www.amazon.com/DayClocks-Classic-Oak-Day-Clock/dp/B0019F9ITE

 

[RichH]

I use a Seiko 100M chronograph with 2 second hands (mini second hand and sweep second hand) with stopwatch function and 'lap timer'.

This allows recording the 'time mark' of three consecutive sights, without 'looking' for a quite reliable 'running fix' ... and doesnt depend on 12vdc.
If your boat's electrical system is knocked out by a lightning (RF) strike, etc., you still have a reliable means of celestial navigation ... ask me how I know this ... and didnt hit any 'heads' or submerged reef like one of my friends has done.

Droids, smartphones, etc. when not in direct contact to a 'master signal' are simply NOT accurate.
My 'navigation back-up timepiece' is fairly accurate a brass wind-up 'ships clock'. If you are constantly navigating/piloting through 'tricky' approaches, areas of coral heads, etc. you shouldnt be consulting 'mickey mouse'.

 

[zeehag]

i wish my wind up clock hadnt croaked when i was sailing in gulf of mexico-- strangest thing.... now i need new innards for it or a big repair....spozedly able to find this in mexico.....still looking.

 

[Les]

I don't understand--doesn't anyone use their iPhone for the correct time? It is in sync with the atomic clock. I also use an Oregon Scientific digital clock that gives me inside and outside temperature and predicts the weather as well as my local TV station.

But I'm surprised that no one has mentioned their smart phones.

 

[Ross]

What is an Iphone? All these new fangled gadjets that keep cropping up next thing you know you will be able to watch television without a roof top antenna.