barometer - should I have one Katie L?

[dylanwinter]

Most of the villages along here used to have, or still do have, a barometer on the pier head. The fishermen would scrutinise it and talk about it. They created their own weather forecasts using their knowledge of clouds and the barometric pressure. And it lead to the deaths of a lot of fishermen when they got it wrong - such as the Pickett men when 187 men lost their lives despite the barometer being at its lowest level anyone had ever seen while the sky was cloudless and there was no wind. They went with what the sky was telling them rather than trusting to science.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/when-the-seas-swallowed-scotland-s-fishermen-1-466175

So would I find a barometer useful?

Entertaining?

or would I just ignore the shiny brass thing on the bulkhead?

Do you barometer owners ever look at them

D

 

[Salty John]

I have a barometer in my hall that I check every morning - but it doesn't tell me anything I can't get from the myriad of weather reports available on line. You'll need to note the reading hourly for it to give any useful information because it's the trend that matters. Might provide you with some entertainment, depends how easily pleased you are.

 

[pjobson]

So, to carry on with Salty John's point.....you need a barometer that will show you the trend over a 24/48 hour period so that you can graphically see the rate of rise and fall of the "mercury". My Vion has been excellent at confirming that it really is as windy as it appears on deck.

 

[macd]

Do you barometer owners ever look at them

Certainly, especially when forecasts by other means aren't accessible for one reason or another. I presume you're aware of the rule of thumb: a change of5- 6mb over three hours predicts F6, 8mb predicts F8. However, if it's already blowing and dropping at those rates, you'll get a heap more. It's definitely a better warning than none, although the absence of a steep fall doesn't necessarily mean it won't blow: I once huddled at anchor through an F11, forecast well in advance, which was preceded by nothing remarkable on the barometer.

By barometer, incidentally, I don't necessarily mean a shiny brass thing that you tap: digitals which show history/trend are probably more useful.

 

[timmygobang]

Great for long offshore passages when your sat phone gives up Just your sort of sailing dylan?

 

[25931]

Most of the villages along here used to have, or still do have, a barometer on the pier head. The fishermen would scrutinise it and talk about it. They created their own weather forecasts using their knowledge of clouds and the barometric pressure. And it lead to the deaths of a lot of fishermen when they got it wrong - such as the Pickett men when 187 men lost their lives despite the barometer being at its lowest level anyone had ever seen while the sky was cloudless and there was no wind. They went with what the sky was telling them rather than trusting to science.

So would I find a barometer useful?

Entertaining?

or would I just ignore the shiny brass thing on the bulkhead?

Do you barometer owners ever look at them

D

Not only look but , being old fashioned, when on passage note on the hourly log.

 

[[70521]]

Does your wee GPS thingi not have one built in? Mine does but it is not the same model

 

[sighmoon]

By barometer, incidentally, I don't necessarily mean a shiny brass thing that you tap: digitals which show history/trend are probably more useful.

Yes, but digital barographs for yachts don't seem to be all that common. I've no idea why; you'd think there'd be a market.

I ended up getting a barometer watch instead (£50 casio). It has a trend bar too, and is perhaps a handier place for it. I look at it all the time.

 

[doug748]

I am always pleased to spot the Fitzroy barometers tucked away in odd corners of fishing villages.

We have got an instrument on board but I confess I never consult it much. It looks grand though.

 

[RAI]

Funny how they accumulate.

I have two mechanical (one bust) and four electronic (GPS eTrex, watch, weather station and Navtex receiver.) They all get looked at but the electronic ones are barographs, so show those sudden falls that warn of nasty depressions.

 

[maby]

Not only look but , being old fashioned, when on passage note on the hourly log.

Likewise here. I have a Maplins weather station which cost something like £40 and gives temperature, humidity and pressure both inside and outside the boat. Records minimum and maximum and trend. I originally bought it to check on the effectiveness of our frost protection measures - lets me verify that the heating is keeping the interior of the boat above freezing and that it is staying adequately dry. It is also useful to monitor trends while on a passage to provide some early warning of an unexpected change for the worse.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

So would I find a barometer useful? Probably not but it depends if you want it to be

Entertaining? Probably not, but some folks do like watching paint dry. On the other hand it can form part of a weather routine on the boat which you may enjoy.

or would I just ignore the shiny brass thing on the bulkhead? Probably

Do you barometer owners ever look at them Yes of course I look it, it's stuck on the bulkhead. I always record the reading in the log out of habit but rely on weather forecasts.

D

I suggest that there is good seamanship to be had from developing a weather eye and/or interpreting how a forecast will affect you. On your jaunt round Britain you will sooner or later enter waters which are that bit more remote and passages longer. Local interpretation of weather can offer you significant advantages and a Baraometer is useful tool to do this.

Most of my intensive sailing was carried out in the mid to late 1980s where drawing a weather chart from the Shipping Forecast and actual weather readings were used to make predictions. It was not uncommon to find that a more accurate predication could be made for the immediate passage than the local weather forecast gave. Much of this was experience of the area, I grant, but a big chunk was interpreting local data and comparing it with the shipping forecast i.e. the front will pass a bit earlier/later than forecast and so predict the backing of the wind much more accurately.

I find that with todays technology the weather forecast is no more accurate than back in the late 1980s. My weather eye is a bit blurred these days. I would suggest that if you get the borometer, start trying to develop your weather eye with local observations and comparisons with the shipping forecast/Navtex; attempt to draw synoptic charts and develop a feel for how local weather can be different (timings as well) form forecast.

So, yes, buy one and use it.

BlowingOldBoots

 

[2nd_apprentice]

Well I have on but I also have
Internet (3G/WiFi)
Phone (2G)
Shipping forecast (VHF)
Shipping forecast (longwave)
Shipping forecast (NAVTEX)
Shipping forecast (RTTY)

Looks nice though

 

[john_morris_uk]

We have one of these (or at least very similar):

http://www.metcheck.co.uk/acatalog/m_285SB.gif

We also have the traditional barometer on the bulkhead...

Why not put one on your Christmas present list?

 

[maby]

We have one of these (or at least very similar):

http://www.metcheck.co.uk/acatalog/m_285SB.gif

...?

Isn't that a bit fragile to be bounced around on a boat?

 

[prv]

We have one of these (or at least very similar):

http://www.metcheck.co.uk/acatalog/m_285SB.gif

Isn't that a bit fragile to be bounced around on a boat?

The one in my grandad's hallway when I was a kid had previously been on his boat. Adlard Coles carried one too, to help record storms for Heavy Weather Sailing. I assume both of them had the instrument case screwed to a bulkhead or some flat surface.

Pete

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Isn't that a bit fragile to be bounced around on a boat?

I understand you can buy versions designed for yachts, maybe the needle has additional damping. There was one on Taikoo, the old OYC ketch and the needle did produce a spiky line but the trend and actual value was easily visible by eyeball averaging. I would very much like one but cant justify the expense.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Isn't that a bit fragile to be bounced around on a boat?

Its very similar to the one in the picture and a marine damped one and wedged on a shelf. (Actually you are quite right in your worries as its in for repair at the moment as I didn't wedge it well enough in some rough weather!)

I'm going to screw it down when I put it back on board...

 

[Woodlouse]

We have one of these (or at least very similar):

http://www.metcheck.co.uk/acatalog/m_285SB.gif

We carry one of those too. Infinitely more use than a barometer since the trend is drawn for you live. Plus you can keep the traces for all the interesting weather systems you've experienced. We still have the trace for example of the depression that caused the Fastnet disaster.

 

[Trundlebug]

I have a NASA meteoman, which is a purpose built marine item with a number of useful features including:-
Outside temp
Inside temp
Batt voltage
Baro pressure
Baro pressure trend graph
Rate of increase / decrease of baro pressure
Wind speed
Wind direction
Wind speed history
Illuminated display, switchable on / off
Measures continuously even with display turned off.

All for a similar price to a standard barometer.
Only uses 0.1 amp.

Some users have experienced failure of the spinny cups after a few years, but replacements are available at low cost. Hasn't stopped people moaning about it though.

As a multi-function instrument it satisfies the ever present need for compactness as space is always a premium.
Unlike weather station units though, you have to interpret the readings for yourself.
No cartoons of ladies in various states of undress to tell you e.g. what the temperature of 19 degrees means!

I also have a Vion weather station, but its weather forecasting is only good for the next 4-6 hours ahead, and very often it really doesn't know what to make of things. Can be easily fooled by the slight pressure changes of night and day when things are effectively stable.