Lost my watch overboard Saturday (clasp came undone). I see watches in the marine catalogs with "nautical" features such as tide tables, temp, barometer, etc. One has a little propeller (!) to measure windspeed, another is a wrist GPS. Are any of these watches worth it, or should I just go get another trusty G-Shock? (I'm not a racer, so racing-specific features have no particular appeal.)
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KIS
If your barometer, anemometer and other instruments were in your last watch, then they'd be gone too... BTW, there's only one "S" in "KIS" because it takes real common sense to keep things simple in today's modern world of glorified hype and megabullsh!t. Peter H23 "Raven"
If your barometer, anemometer and other instruments were in your last watch, then they'd be gone too... BTW, there's only one "S" in "KIS" because it takes real common sense to keep things simple in today's modern world of glorified hype and megabullsh!t. Peter H23 "Raven"
Did Columbus have a GPS Watch?
The most important feature of a watch is its' ability to tell you what time it is. This should be very accurate which all modern watches are, including the 10 dollar ones. The only other feature I have ever used on a watch is it should be waterproof. That way when I forget to take it off before swimming or diving it is ok. Remember that time is relative to the observer. Dave
The most important feature of a watch is its' ability to tell you what time it is. This should be very accurate which all modern watches are, including the 10 dollar ones. The only other feature I have ever used on a watch is it should be waterproof. That way when I forget to take it off before swimming or diving it is ok. Remember that time is relative to the observer. Dave
Casio.
Sure I could have a Rolex, but a Casio suits me just fine, but you know that, you've owned a Casio.
) Check out some of the cool "Nerdical" fashions at the link below. John.
Sure I could have a Rolex, but a Casio suits me just fine, but you know that, you've owned a Casio.
) Check out some of the cool "Nerdical" fashions at the link below. John.OK, OK, I'll get the G-Shock...
...that's what I lost overboard. Had it for 10 years; I think you could drive nails with it in a pinch. The only problem was the light: it was pretty much useless. I hope they've improved on that. I'll try to get an extra one of those loops that keeps the strap from coming unbuckled. BUT--Columbus didn't have a watch, period. I've got a couple other things he didn't have (5200, fiberglass, stainless steel, outboard motor), bet you do too. And that propeller thingie sure looked cool.... (I'm kidding, I'm kidding!)
...that's what I lost overboard. Had it for 10 years; I think you could drive nails with it in a pinch. The only problem was the light: it was pretty much useless. I hope they've improved on that. I'll try to get an extra one of those loops that keeps the strap from coming unbuckled. BUT--Columbus didn't have a watch, period. I've got a couple other things he didn't have (5200, fiberglass, stainless steel, outboard motor), bet you do too. And that propeller thingie sure looked cool.... (I'm kidding, I'm kidding!)
columbus
Chris did not have an accurate watch or timepiece. That is the principal reason he (and other sailors of his time) didn't have a clue whether they were in China or any where else. His contemporaries could have ruled the world if they only had a 4.95 quartz kiddies watch! I just bought a G-shock. I buy a new 20.00 watch every spring. It must be waterproof, be lighted, and have an alarm. I beat the hell out of it all summer and usually buy a new one in the spring when it doesn't work any more. The battery needs replacing so I buy a new one with a new (uncorroded) strap, new backlight, unbroken waterproof seals, etc. It costs only a little more than the battery would. I feel this is part of my annual re-launch maintenance! I spent more on the G-shock at Costco but it looked durable. Only complaint is the numerals seem small for an old guy's eyes. But hey??
Chris did not have an accurate watch or timepiece. That is the principal reason he (and other sailors of his time) didn't have a clue whether they were in China or any where else. His contemporaries could have ruled the world if they only had a 4.95 quartz kiddies watch! I just bought a G-shock. I buy a new 20.00 watch every spring. It must be waterproof, be lighted, and have an alarm. I beat the hell out of it all summer and usually buy a new one in the spring when it doesn't work any more. The battery needs replacing so I buy a new one with a new (uncorroded) strap, new backlight, unbroken waterproof seals, etc. It costs only a little more than the battery would. I feel this is part of my annual re-launch maintenance! I spent more on the G-shock at Costco but it looked durable. Only complaint is the numerals seem small for an old guy's eyes. But hey??
Good Call
I have at least a half dozen watches, a Rolex an Omega that belonged to my Dad and I only wear on occaision. I even quit wearing my Seiko after I bought a $14 Casio last time I was in Germany. It was supposed to be just for the boat or when I was knocking around. My wife doesn't like the way it looks but she doesn't like the way my well broke-in Topsiders or my tshirts look either. Guess I'll never look like the cover of GQ.
I have at least a half dozen watches, a Rolex an Omega that belonged to my Dad and I only wear on occaision. I even quit wearing my Seiko after I bought a $14 Casio last time I was in Germany. It was supposed to be just for the boat or when I was knocking around. My wife doesn't like the way it looks but she doesn't like the way my well broke-in Topsiders or my tshirts look either. Guess I'll never look like the cover of GQ.
Tom, I don't know if the tides are that important
in Florida. But this tide watch from "Freestyle)...I got it on sale from Boat US for a third the price you see on the attached website picture. I find very usefull..Its waterproof, rugged and help's keep me from going aground in these 8 foot tide swings
in Florida. But this tide watch from "Freestyle)...I got it on sale from Boat US for a third the price you see on the attached website picture. I find very usefull..Its waterproof, rugged and help's keep me from going aground in these 8 foot tide swings
Watch out for the battery game
A while back my wife bought me this spiffy water proof watch. About a year and a half later the battery dies. The battery is about three bucks but, to have it installed and tested to asure it is again waterproof was $ 125.00. So the moral of the story (from my point of view) GO cheap and when the battery dies, toss it and get a new one.
A while back my wife bought me this spiffy water proof watch. About a year and a half later the battery dies. The battery is about three bucks but, to have it installed and tested to asure it is again waterproof was $ 125.00. So the moral of the story (from my point of view) GO cheap and when the battery dies, toss it and get a new one.
Casio Sea-Pathfinder
I have what I think is the perfect sailing watch. It's the Casio Sea-Pathfinder, model SPF40. Features include: Barometer Thermometer Tide Monitor Moon Phase Graph Fluxgate Compass Timer/Stopwatch It is very well built for saltwater environment, light weight, and attrtactive to wear. List price is shown in the $250 range (depending on strap selection). I paid about $170 through a mail order house a few months ago. Very impressive for the price! Check the link, below, for more info.
I have what I think is the perfect sailing watch. It's the Casio Sea-Pathfinder, model SPF40. Features include: Barometer Thermometer Tide Monitor Moon Phase Graph Fluxgate Compass Timer/Stopwatch It is very well built for saltwater environment, light weight, and attrtactive to wear. List price is shown in the $250 range (depending on strap selection). I paid about $170 through a mail order house a few months ago. Very impressive for the price! Check the link, below, for more info.
Casio's light is much improved.
I've got the 20 buck Alarm/Chronograph. Top says Illuminator,big Light button on the bottom. Very easy to read in the dark as long as you don't have to fiddle with the alarm/signal/24 hr settings ( I can't even see those in broad daylight without my glasses). I ordered the GShock Tide over the internet, it looked like a hockey puck on my wrist and was difficult to set, so I sent it back. My .02
I've got the 20 buck Alarm/Chronograph. Top says Illuminator,big Light button on the bottom. Very easy to read in the dark as long as you don't have to fiddle with the alarm/signal/24 hr settings ( I can't even see those in broad daylight without my glasses). I ordered the GShock Tide over the internet, it looked like a hockey puck on my wrist and was difficult to set, so I sent it back. My .02
G-Shock
I'm amusingly embarassed to admit it, but despite the fact I have a perfectly serviceable Seiko Dive Watch I bought in Singapore 22 years ago, have logged more than 1,000 dives with it, had the Seiko salesdude offer me any 2 current-model Seikos in his case in exchange for mine, I fly around in $10 million jets with a $69 Casio G-Shock strapped to my wrist! Now, I still wear the trusty Seiko when I dive, but the damn Casio is just so handy! Especially for flying; 24hr time, great night light, date, timer, stopwatch (great for those rare occassions when I need to make a non-precision approach) and an alarm that actually wakes me up!!! The only thing Casio needs to do to make the ol' G-Shock perfect is to put dual time zones on it (local and GMT) and then tune it in to the Atomic Clock so that regardless of what time zone I'm in -- and I'm usually in all of them during a tour -- the watch automatically resets itself. The only nautical gizmo addition to the watches I've seen is the MOB function, but all that GPS, wind speed stuff is a little much. Maybe having a countdown sailing timer wouldn't be bad, but the ol' G-Shock for what it is and what it costs, is actually a pretty good piece of gear.
I'm amusingly embarassed to admit it, but despite the fact I have a perfectly serviceable Seiko Dive Watch I bought in Singapore 22 years ago, have logged more than 1,000 dives with it, had the Seiko salesdude offer me any 2 current-model Seikos in his case in exchange for mine, I fly around in $10 million jets with a $69 Casio G-Shock strapped to my wrist! Now, I still wear the trusty Seiko when I dive, but the damn Casio is just so handy! Especially for flying; 24hr time, great night light, date, timer, stopwatch (great for those rare occassions when I need to make a non-precision approach) and an alarm that actually wakes me up!!! The only thing Casio needs to do to make the ol' G-Shock perfect is to put dual time zones on it (local and GMT) and then tune it in to the Atomic Clock so that regardless of what time zone I'm in -- and I'm usually in all of them during a tour -- the watch automatically resets itself. The only nautical gizmo addition to the watches I've seen is the MOB function, but all that GPS, wind speed stuff is a little much. Maybe having a countdown sailing timer wouldn't be bad, but the ol' G-Shock for what it is and what it costs, is actually a pretty good piece of gear.
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