Tugw
Well-Known Member
Has anybody used Belfield Tide plotter Software? If so do you have any opinions on it before i give it a whizz.
Tide Plotter
- Thread starter Tugw
- Start date
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Excellent, and great value for money
SkipperMarv
Well-Known Member
I have it too, excellent value for money, I have it on my laptop and phone.
One thing I noticed is that the tidal times are sometimes different to that in a Reeds almanac, but that is the same with easy tides etc.
One thing I noticed is that the tidal times are sometimes different to that in a Reeds almanac, but that is the same with easy tides etc.
Tugw
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I have it too, excellent value for money, I have it on my laptop and phone.
One thing I noticed is that the tidal times are sometimes different to that in a Reeds almanac, but that is the same with easy tides etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
In what way Different? Later -Earlier or Both? What times do you use?
I have it too, excellent value for money, I have it on my laptop and phone.
One thing I noticed is that the tidal times are sometimes different to that in a Reeds almanac, but that is the same with easy tides etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
In what way Different? Later -Earlier or Both? What times do you use?
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
I use it.
So much easier than the almanac.
I bought a 3 year licence nearly 2 years ago and also got the tidal streams version.
I dont know if they have changed it since but the tidal streams bit isnt very good.
The tide calculator is excellent though - works on the PDA and no more secondary ports - yea!!!
So much easier than the almanac.
I bought a 3 year licence nearly 2 years ago and also got the tidal streams version.
I dont know if they have changed it since but the tidal streams bit isnt very good.
The tide calculator is excellent though - works on the PDA and no more secondary ports - yea!!!
ebbtide
N/A
Re: Belfield Tide Plotter
Mixed feelings because of the disparities between times/heights and Admiralty data (overall I find the latter nearer the mark). Most annoying is Keith's refusal to add important secondary ports which do exist in Easytide. For example: Folly Inn (because the walk-ashore pub pontoon dries); Littlehampton Entrance not Una Wharf (I want depth on the Bar); and Wareham - to quote just a few.
But it's the only program that gives me a single day's curve months ahead AND a depth-finding tool as well.
Unless someone out there knows better . . . please.
Mixed feelings because of the disparities between times/heights and Admiralty data (overall I find the latter nearer the mark). Most annoying is Keith's refusal to add important secondary ports which do exist in Easytide. For example: Folly Inn (because the walk-ashore pub pontoon dries); Littlehampton Entrance not Una Wharf (I want depth on the Bar); and Wareham - to quote just a few.
But it's the only program that gives me a single day's curve months ahead AND a depth-finding tool as well.
Unless someone out there knows better . . . please.
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Re: Belfield Tide Plotter
Are you sure you arent expecting too much from a prediction?
Weather and other conditions etc
Listen to Southampton VTS sometime and they often say how the tide is performing against their predictions. I think I've heard it change in time by as much as half an hour.
Are you sure you arent expecting too much from a prediction?
Weather and other conditions etc
Listen to Southampton VTS sometime and they often say how the tide is performing against their predictions. I think I've heard it change in time by as much as half an hour.
SkipperMarv
Well-Known Member
The differences are usually minutes, so if you are worried about getting into port with minutes to spare.......
go there at your own peril
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
go there at your own peril
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
rickp
Well-Known Member
Is it a windows based mobile? My aging iPaq is starting to play up and I was looking for a Symbian version of the Tideplotter for the N95 I have now. Think I'm out of luck though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Rick
Rick
ebbtide
N/A
Thanks Hurricane and Skipper. . . I wouldn't suggest I know what I'm doing even tho a Nav Instructor in a previous life. But there are regular discrepancies between Admiralty and Bellfield predictions of as much as an hour and/or 0.3m, which is plenty to keep me in or out of my drying berth.
Whether or not it actually happens is a completely different matter; today they were forecast 45 mins apart for LW - which actually occurred halfway between, whatever that proves!
Whether or not it actually happens is a completely different matter; today they were forecast 45 mins apart for LW - which actually occurred halfway between, whatever that proves!
SkipperMarv
Well-Known Member
Oh dear, that's progres for you /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
And you put me on to it too
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
And you put me on to it too
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
just coming to the end of my 2007 version and asking Santa to bring me a replacement.
The differences are minor to the point of neglibible, so dont worry about them.
The differences are minor to the point of neglibible, so dont worry about them.
apollo
...
Beats me why anyone PAYS for tidal software? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I have been using freely downloaded WXTIDE for years.
(Just make sure you get the version before hydrographic office threw their toys out of their pram to stop the UK predictions) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I have been using freely downloaded WXTIDE for years.
(Just make sure you get the version before hydrographic office threw their toys out of their pram to stop the UK predictions) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Tugw
Well-Known Member
Well,on the face of it,it seemd like its OK. Ill give it a shot
Cheers
Cheers
whisper
Well-Known Member
Yes, go ahead. FWIW I think it's excellent too.
One of the few "boating" items that is good value for money.
One of the few "boating" items that is good value for money.
DAKA
Well-Known Member
Re: Belfield Tide Plotter
I use Belfield following a recommendation by GC1 ( /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifThanks )
Great piece of kit, I used to make the odd mistake when plotting early hours after a night out /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Now all errors have gone, tide flows are the best .
As to Inland rivers,
Predictions are not at all the same and are influenced by wet and dry periods of rain 'fresh water' .
It is not actually High water you are predicting based on the actions of the sun and moon , it is the surge being pushed up river and then how long it takes that surge to empty.
Torksey is 70 miles from the sea and flood( surge of seawater) is known to be 2.75 *hours after HW water Grimsby, the surge continues for 2 hours only before the water empties slowly.
You just need to know the flood at the folly and add 1/2 (?)hour on from Cowes........the HM should know this, low water is probably 1. hour after
LW cowes ??????
That is not really a tide prediction (IMHO).
* Trent users check sissons, this is from memory and depends on GY srings/neaps
I use Belfield following a recommendation by GC1 ( /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifThanks )
Great piece of kit, I used to make the odd mistake when plotting early hours after a night out /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Now all errors have gone, tide flows are the best .
As to Inland rivers,
Predictions are not at all the same and are influenced by wet and dry periods of rain 'fresh water' .
It is not actually High water you are predicting based on the actions of the sun and moon , it is the surge being pushed up river and then how long it takes that surge to empty.
Torksey is 70 miles from the sea and flood( surge of seawater) is known to be 2.75 *hours after HW water Grimsby, the surge continues for 2 hours only before the water empties slowly.
You just need to know the flood at the folly and add 1/2 (?)hour on from Cowes........the HM should know this, low water is probably 1. hour after
LW cowes ??????
That is not really a tide prediction (IMHO).
* Trent users check sissons, this is from memory and depends on GY srings/neaps
ebbtide
N/A
Re: THIS IS WHAT\'S NEEDED . . .
"You just need to know the flood at the Folly and add 1/2 (?)hour** on from Cowes........the HM should know this, Low Water is probably 1 hour after** LW Cowes ??????
This is not really a tide prediction (IMHO)."
Today's Easytide has this data for the FOLLY INN:
LW HW LW HW
01:02 08:16 13:35 20:34
1.7 m 3.8 m 1.7 m 3.7 m
AND IS NEEDED to decide whether to book midstream berths or the pub pontoon (knowing the drying heights along its length of course) for a rally next year where some yotties will worry about deep fins and some MoBos go ape if props touch the bottom.
Of course it's a tidal prediction, but NOT even listed in Bellfield.
** Note: times of HW & LW are exactly the same as downstream at Cowes! Any comment?
"You just need to know the flood at the Folly and add 1/2 (?)hour** on from Cowes........the HM should know this, Low Water is probably 1 hour after** LW Cowes ??????
This is not really a tide prediction (IMHO)."
Today's Easytide has this data for the FOLLY INN:
LW HW LW HW
01:02 08:16 13:35 20:34
1.7 m 3.8 m 1.7 m 3.7 m
AND IS NEEDED to decide whether to book midstream berths or the pub pontoon (knowing the drying heights along its length of course) for a rally next year where some yotties will worry about deep fins and some MoBos go ape if props touch the bottom.
Of course it's a tidal prediction, but NOT even listed in Bellfield.
** Note: times of HW & LW are exactly the same as downstream at Cowes! Any comment?
DAKA
Well-Known Member
Re: THIS IS WHAT\'S NEEDED . . .
Only to reiterate my comments as above. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
IMHO
Inland rivers do have a rise and fall but not strictly a Tidal prediction.
Having spent a great deal of time on the River Ouse and Trent that is also influenced by 'Tides' I also know that using the Predictions is only part of the story, if I was pushing my luck with the prediction ( which we frequently did )I used to speak with the lock keepers 80 miles Inland of where we were leaving from to ascertain the amount of fresh coming down, an extra 3 ft was not uncommon.
How would you expect someone to produce a set of 'Tidal' predictions several years in advance when they have no idea how much it is going to rain next August never mind 10 years from now /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
If you listen to commercial traffic (oil tankers and coasters) the Pilots of inland Rivers including the River Humber to the primary tide port of Immingham they are constantly reporting back exactly how deep the channel is, this is because the 'Tidal' prediction is only a guide due to other factors that influence a rivers height.
That said I understand you need to know and no matter what it is, for you it has importance , therefore happy to agree in your case Belfield not as useful as other data sources that include a guess at state of inland Rivers /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Only to reiterate my comments as above. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
IMHO
Inland rivers do have a rise and fall but not strictly a Tidal prediction.
Having spent a great deal of time on the River Ouse and Trent that is also influenced by 'Tides' I also know that using the Predictions is only part of the story, if I was pushing my luck with the prediction ( which we frequently did )I used to speak with the lock keepers 80 miles Inland of where we were leaving from to ascertain the amount of fresh coming down, an extra 3 ft was not uncommon.
How would you expect someone to produce a set of 'Tidal' predictions several years in advance when they have no idea how much it is going to rain next August never mind 10 years from now /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
If you listen to commercial traffic (oil tankers and coasters) the Pilots of inland Rivers including the River Humber to the primary tide port of Immingham they are constantly reporting back exactly how deep the channel is, this is because the 'Tidal' prediction is only a guide due to other factors that influence a rivers height.
That said I understand you need to know and no matter what it is, for you it has importance , therefore happy to agree in your case Belfield not as useful as other data sources that include a guess at state of inland Rivers /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
