digital barograph, every yacht should have one

[paulstevens]

Just bought another boat in Holland. She is equipped with a small digital barograph showing little bar charts for now, - 1hour, -2 hours -6 hours -12 hours -24 hours, (Prosser I think). So the trend is instantly obvious.
On the passage home this little beauty in conjunction with local observation persistently outperformed all the technology of Dutch, Belgian, French and British weather forecasts put together.
Quite simply the best piece of kit I have seen for years.



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[Peppermint]

Re: I agree

The way forecasts have been lately having access to reliable data yourself has never been more important.

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[claymore]

De-Skilling

Yet another example of de-skilling. We have a laptop which shows us where we are, a radar which shows us where they are and a radio that lets everyone know if we have a snag.
I only have the authoritative double tap of the barometer left - would you really take away the last vestige of my ability and skill?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[philmarks]

Re: De-Skilling

Not really deskilling, it's just like having a clockwaoirk barograph (or an hourly number in the log). The skill is in relating it to Mk 1 eyeball and knowledge of weather patterns to produce a local forecast.

Isn't it?

Phil

<hr width=100% size=1>Rgds
Phil

 

[longjohnsilver]

Double tap

You'll be claiming you can count to three next!!

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[windandwave]

Re: Double tap

Try the Casio Seapathfinder SPF 40:

http://www.sailgb.com/sshop/prod_info.asp?Product=Casio-SPF40-Sea-Pathfinder&PID=8

or (very substantially cheaper in the US) at:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://shop.store.yahoo.com/jomashop/casio-watches.html>http://shop.store.yahoo.com/jomashop/casio-watches.html</A>

Cost v. little (if you buy in the US!) and has barometer w/ 24 hr graph of pressure, digital compass, tide table and moon phase indicator. The tide table is only approximate (4 divisions between hw and lw, based on diurnal tides), but the barometer and compass are accurate. Had one for a couple of months now & delighted with it. UK prices seem excessive though, especially when converted into euro. I had one bought via the US link as a present, but there were some complaints about the customer service of that Jomashop site.

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[StephenW]

Casio do a watch called the Pro-Trek for around £100 in the UK which gives 25 hour trend in 2 hourly plots - very good. Have had one for a couple of years and its invaluable - and water resistant.. Also has alarm, stopwatch, temp and backlight for night use.

Much more convenient when entering the log and shows trends at a glance.

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[steve_cronin]

One came with the instruments package on our new boat (in 2001) and because of the plasicy case and fold out base I thought that I had been taken for a ride. However, after our maiden voyage down the length of the Adriatic in April it never failed to forecast what was going to happen - and that was just about everything! - so I became a convert.

We now have one at home too and as I type this it has registerd the anti-cyclone we have just had descend upon us over the last few hours and is in agreement with the BBC that we will have sun tomorrow. Great little gadget that works. Ours are made by "Oregon Scientific".

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[johnsomerhausen]

I wonder if your little barograph "outpereformed" by reading a hgigher pressure than theirs...
john

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[Peppermint]

Re: Clearly

we need the baro on the bulkhead to maintain our authority. One of these electric gadgets works well in a locker. So one for symbolism and one for trends.

For real salty cred. you need a trailing log. Being able to effortlessly deal with all that string is the mark of a proper salty seadog. Shows other boats your a deep sea sailorman too.

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[Sybarite]

Re: De-Skilling

Apparently you even have a problem here. According to the purists you should never tap a barometer...


John

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[claymore]

Re: De-Skilling

But you don't need to tap them do you?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[claymore]

Re: Double tap

I never said that!!

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[extravert]

I've got one, which came with my previous boat, and which I liberated when the boat was sold. It is now installed on the latest boat. I would agree with their worth, but I don't think Prosser make marine instruments any more. Is there anything similar?

I thought I had the only one in the world as I've never seen or heard of any others. Diasappointed of Pwllheli.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I hope to own a real boat.

 

[BrendanS]

Try Oregon Scientific. When I bought my first in the US many years ago, stunned everyone in the UK who saw it. Now this brand is commonly available in the UK

<hr width=100% size=1> I asked an economist for her phone number....and she gave me an estimate

 

[Twister_Ken]

>She is equipped with a small digital barograph showing little bar charts<

Have you considered upgrading to a large digital barograph? That would make the charts which allow you to navigate to the nearest bar far easier to read. Alternatively, you could hire Sailbad as a pilot.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have a hand held version by Oregan Scientific.Shows the actual pressure over the last 24 hrs.I set it using info from Luton airport as I am only 10 miles away.Available on Ant Veals weather site(the pressure that is)

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[trevor_loveday]

Setting Barometers at Home

Ditchcrawler,

If setting the pressure from a reference site (such as Luton airport), you need to know whether to compensate for your altitude above sea level. The pressure information usually available is the sea level pressure but this diminishes at a rate of one millibar every thirty feet. So, for example, if you were actually standing on the runway threshold at Luton airport (height 526ft above mean sea level), you would convert a rather good high of 1030 into 1012. It would then read accurately when used at sea level.

This is based on the standard principle of an altimeter in an aircraft, which is nothing other than a rather good barometer in disguise.

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[Davydine]

Hi Paul,

This buying boats in Holland is getting to be a habit isn't it?

You are right about the barographs, I have one of the little silva windwatches which can also be used to measure the wind speed and altitude so is useful off the boat as well. Particularly interesting when you take it on a plane!

I wouldn't be without mine...
David

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[bob_tyler]

"You are right about the barographs, I have one of the little silva windwatches which can also be used to measure the wind speed and altitude so is useful off the boat as well. Particularly interesting when you take it on a plane!"

Do you sit outside on the tailplane? How does it measure altitude in a pressurised plane? How does it measure windspeed? Do tell.

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