Pocket aneroid barometer recommendations?

Skylark

Skylark

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Anyone use a pocket barometer? Thinking about Christmas gifts. Dalvey seems to be about the only one to appear on a search engine. Any experience? Assuming that most boats have a barometer on board, is there any point in having a pocket version, other than owning a precision instrument?

I have absolutely no interest in electronics or dumbfone apps.

Many thanks for any replies
 
Pocket version is portable which helps if you are not on the boat / same boat.

But it's an extra bit of stuff to lug around. If I was skeptical ==> will end up in a drawer
 
My Android phone has a barometer built in. Might be worth checking your phone even if you have no interest in electronics of dumphone apps.
 
How about a Casio watch, they have plenty of choice around £50 for a waterproof watch with integral compass/barometer and other gadgets?
 
Almost any weather app will give local pressure at an accuracy good enough for planning, then when you're on board, you've got a barometer anyway. I'm with ShinyShoe - to me it would be no more than a gadget that would end up gathering dust. I had a watch with a barometer, but hardly ever used the barometer bit. Far more useful is the tide clock someone gave me, which lived on the wall in my office so I can see at a glance if I can get the boat off her drying mooring.

[Heresy] With the ubiquitous availability of accurate forecasts updated hourly, unless you're crossing oceans, do we really need a barometer? Yes, I know they sometimes get it wrong, but would your barometer really tell you anything useful that the next forecast wouldn't on a 24 hour crossing to Brittany or wherever?[/Heresy]
 
ShinyShoe said:
Pocket version is portable which helps if you are not on the boat / same boat.

But it's an extra bit of stuff to lug around. If I was skeptical ==> will end up in a drawer
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Thanks, since I now longer need to do an honest days work (retired ;) ) I now sail a couple of school boats and do occasional deliveries. I use baro as a weather aid and I adore engineering craftsmanship but I accept the likelihood of it ending up in a drawer.

To repeat my OP, I have no interest whatsoever in an electronic aid but thanks for the thoughts.
 
Stemar said:
[Heresy] With the ubiquitous availability of accurate forecasts updated hourly, unless you're crossing oceans, do we really need a barometer?
[/Heresy]
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I'll shortly be doing a crossing. Of course, the boat has one. I don't "need" one but I like mechanical toys. I'm also struggling for xmas present suggestions :) Hence I asked if anyone has experience of such a thing.
 
If I had more brass, I'd have a bigger boat :cool:

Actually, I wouldn't. Jissel suits us just fine, though Milady would like one of these if we came up with the right numbers on our Euromillions ticket

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davidjackson said:
Anyone use a pocket barometer? Thinking about Christmas gifts. Dalvey seems to be about the only one to appear on a search engine. Any experience? Assuming that most boats have a barometer on board, is there any point in having a pocket version, other than owning a precision instrument?

I have absolutely no interest in electronics or dumbfone apps.

Many thanks for any replies
Click to expand...

I've got one, its been hanging up unused for many years, which might tell you something. It can be used as an altimeter for hill walking, you set a dial to your elevation. If the pressure changes while you're walking you've lost the calibration. Not a problem if you're staying at sea level, but I never really trusted it and only tried it a few times.

I don't think anything pocketable that's carried around and knocked about can ever give precision. No idea how accurate or precise the apps or electronic versions are.
 
I have a Casio watch/barometer, though I haven't worn it lately. The barograph function works very well and seems remarkably accurate. Although forecasts are good these days, I found the barograph occasionally useful in judging whether a forecast change such as a front, was coming early or late.
 
Well, I do have one. It was made by, or perhaps made for and retailed by, a well known firm of chart agents and nautical instrument makers, B.Cooke in Hull, and its about a hundred and thirty years old.

Pocket aneroid barometers were a common Victorian boys’ toy for grown ups, and they commonly are arranged to work as altimeters as well - mine isn’t.

There is no reason for a Victorian one not to work perfectly well, they turn up on eBay all the time for about the price of a Victorian pocket watch - £100 give or take a bit.
 
I have a modern plastic one that I use for altitude, mostly for students when they are doing navigation exercises and the electronics have to be off/obscured. I have never used it for weather but, on reflection, I think that it would retain its calibration well enough in my pocket to make realistic wx forecasts.
 
Do you want a thing of beauty or functionality?

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I have a Suunto Core watch that I use for sailing, when it's in 'Time' mode I find the little Rise/Fall indicator very useful and you can set a sudden pressure change alarm if you wish.
Interesting that the Anaroid above is nearly half the price of the Core.
 
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davidjackson said:
Anyone use a pocket barometer? Thinking about Christmas gifts. Dalvey seems to be about the only one to appear on a search engine. Any experience? Assuming that most boats have a barometer on board, is there any point in having a pocket version, other than owning a precision instrument?

I have absolutely no interest in electronics or dumbfone apps.

Many thanks for any replies
Click to expand...
Have a little Chinese click, stopwatch thingie with a barometer. Is consistent and gives a reading and the trend.
Even has a little torch and a compass.
 
I also have the Suunto for wearing onboard and alarm works well but instructions not that clear but if you have plenty of units of time to master controls it lasts fairly well on board
 
LadyInBed said:
Do you want a thing of beauty.....

il_340x270.1532327675_1951.jpg
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That’s exactly the sort of thing I had in mind. I own an AWB and the below deck fittings are all SS. I’ve fitted Weams and Plath SS clock and Baro. I have my eye on a nice polished SS pocket Baro on-line.

I’ve checked my man-draw and there is room for one to reside next to my collection of mechanical watches and ink pens :)
 
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