Watches...... For Motor Boating

[OutOut]

Hi All,

I am looking for some advice on the best watches around to use while Motor Boating. I have a number of heavy metal watches and I want something lighter and more sporty to use while on the boat.

I have been looking at a Garmin but I am not sure I will use most of the features for Running etc but I like the fact it has a build-in GPS.

Thanks in advance and I look forward to your recommendations.

James

 

[PlanB]

I've had one of these for years, although surprised to see how much the cost has increased.
Traser H3 watches — Official UK Sales and Service Centre - P96 Outdoor Pioneer Evolution Black

 

[Dino]

If you have recent Garmin navigation kit on your boat then it would be worth getting a Garmin Quatix. They look like a great bit of kit. They can access maps, MFD and adjust autopilot heading. I have an Apple Watch 6 and there are no real features for boating.

 

[Irish Rover]

I live in a climate where most of my boating is done wearing shorts and I find it very convenient to be able to leave my phone in the salon but still not miss a call, message or email using my android watch. I can't imagine why I'd want to use a watch for navigation or boat control functions.

 

[julians]

The garmin fenix series is pretty good, primarly focused on exercise related stuff, but has the GPS built in and allows to to create custom data screens, so you can create a screen that shows for example heading, speed, avg speed, lat/long etc. Also has a man overboard function.

It Also shows any incoming text messages, phone calls etc, and allows you to drop the call, send to answerphone etc.

It also shows weather forecast.

If you use your phone to stream music on the boat stereo, the watch allows you to play, pause, skip tracks etc.

Its all quite good stuff, but nothing you can't already do on your phone.

 

[Irish Rover]

The garmin fenix series is pretty good, primarly focused on exercise related stuff, but has the GPS built in and allows to to create custom data screens, so you can create a screen that shows for example heading, speed, avg speed, lat/long etc. Also has a man overboard function.

It Also shows any incoming text messages, phone calls etc, and allows you to drop the call, send to answerphone etc.

It also shows weather forecast.

If you use your phone to stream music on the boat stereo, the watch allows you to play, pause, skip tracks etc.

Its all quite good stuff, but nothing you can't already do on your phone.

They definitely look the business but expensive compared to other similar products such as the Samsung 4.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

You don’t say what features you’re looking for but the Casio G-Shocks are good for me. Tough, light, solar, radio controlled time, alarms, stopwatch etc. Obviously no connectivity/gps though.

 

[julians]

They definitely look the business but expensive compared to other similar products such as the Samsung 4.

Yeah, they're a very good multi fitness/outdoors watch, way better than the Samsung for fitness/outdoors oriented stuff, but if all you want is typical smartwatch stuff then the Samsung would be a better bet.

The garmin will last 10 days on a single charge just used as a basic smartwatch, and up to something like 48 hours with the GPS running. You can customise all the screens to show a multitude of different data points (much like their chart plotters), so your not just limited to viewing the data the watch thinks you should be interested in.

The fenix is water resistant to 100m, not sure what the latest Samsung watch is but my wifes older Samsung only goes down to 10 m or so, I wouldn't trust it to still be working if you dived in to the sea with it on.

I forgot about the ability to load charts onto the fenix, the screens pretty small and youd never use one in place of a proper chart plotter, but as a just in case device its better than nothing.

The Samsung has a nicer screen though and is much cheaper as you say.

If the fenix is too much, then a garmin instinct is a nice half way house, still does most of the fitness/outdoorsy stuff of the fenix, tough, water resistant, long battery etc, but at a much more palatable price.

 

[Irish Rover]

Yeah, they're a very good multi fitness/outdoors watch, way better than the Samsung for fitness/outdoors oriented stuff, but if all you want is typical smartwatch stuff then the Samsung would be a better bet.

I don't doubt you but can you give a couple of examples of fitness/outdoor functions on the G and not on the S4.

 

[julians]

I don't doubt you but can you give a couple of examples of fitness/outdoor functions on the G and not on the S4.

I don't know the s4,but I know the s2 active watch, so maybe the s4 has improved (doubt it) but the main area where the fenix has been better is in battery life, ie 10 days on a charge (the screen is always on with the garmin) rather than 1 or 2 at a push of the usual smart watches.

The other thing is the ability to custom the data screens that are shown during an 'activity', when I'm out on my mountain bike I have it showing the following

-distance
-current altitude
-total ascent
-total descent
-Time of day
-Time of sunset
-speed
-avg speed
-max speed
-heart rate
-avg heart rate
-map with route plotted with the watch giving turn by turn directions
-graph showing the elevation profile of the route to be ridden (soul destroying on a v hill long ride) along with your current position on the route

And it'll keep running for up to 48 hours with the GPS on

you can customise it to your hearts content to show data points from a myriad of points if view, eg if you're a runner you can have it show pace in mins per mile, how much climbing is left on a climb if you're a road cyclist etc.if you're a swimmer it can show strokes per minute, a skier can see how many runs they have done etc.

You can set alerts, so if a metric exceeds a value then buzz, eg 30 mins before sunset then sound a buzzer. Or if avg speed goes below 15mph then sound a buzzer.

You can 'race' yourself on a previous activity, so it will show you if you are ahead or behind yourself based on a previous recording.

It can do metronomes to set a pace, if you want to run at 160 steps per min it'll bleep that out to keep you in time.

It will connect to external ant and Bluetooth sensors and display data from them, eg if your bike has a power meter it will display power data, or gear info if your bike has electronic gears.

Garmin uses buttons to control it(no touch screen), so can be used in the pouring rain or underwater with gloves on.

There's so much stuff it can do, I suspect I haven't scratched the surface with that quick description

 

[Irish Rover]

You got me on the battery and some of the rest I didn't even fully understand at first reading so your Garmin wins.

 

[oldgit]

My Timex has little light which lets you see the time in the dark.
It cost pennies but seems to have got me where I want to go safely and on time for years.
The down side ? it does not look impressive in the clubhouse.

 

[Greg2]

This thread is quite timely as my old faithful Seiko Kinetic divers watch has just given up the ghost and whilst it can be fixed the lead time is measured in months!

It is perhaps a reflection on me, but when I read the title of the thread I was thinking that waterproof, robust and easy to read in the dark were the only really important criteria. Then I read some of the posts and discovered that there are a whole heap of other things that appear to be important to folk.

So now I am wondering do I stick with my preferred divers type watch or do I go the ‘technical’ route and I have found myself looking at Apple, Garmin, G-Shock and the rest. The question is will all the functionality actually be useful and make a difference or should I stick with what I know works for me?!

Not cheap but I quite fancy this……
.

 

[BruceK]

my old faithful Seiko Kinetic divers watch

I've lost two to the brinny now (if I snatch my wrist the pins break) and so no longer wear a watch to sea. Actually not being bothered by time, emails, phone calls and all the trappings of the modern world is quite refreshing. I only have to worry about tides but they pass like night and day.

 

[julians]

If you're not going to use the bells and whistles of a garmin fenix then there's no point in spending the extra, but something like the garmin instinct is very good too, and a total bargain at these prices.

Garmin Watch Instinct Graphite 010-02064-00 | C W Sellors Luxury Watches

It does most of the gps stuff the fenix does, including the hundreds of different data fields, plus heart rate montoring, excellent battery life, super tough, super water resistant. plus basic smart watch stuff of being able to see who is calling, text messages etc. It doesnt do the maps, or the connectivity to external sensors etc etc. Its actually a very good no nonsense general purpose outdoors watch.

 

[Scubadoo]

Casio Pathfinder (spf40), had it for many many years and still going strong, it has a very useful tide function for a quick check, compass, etc. Think it has been replaced with one of the Casio G-Shock range.

 

[Greg2]

I've lost two to the brinny now (if I snatch my wrist the pins break) and so no longer wear a watch to sea. Actually not being bothered by time, emails, phone calls and all the trappings of the modern world is quite refreshing. I only have to worry about tides but they pass like night and day.

The pins being sprung probably make them a weak point but losing two is unlucky!
The CWC watch on the link in my previous post has fixed pins, presumably for this very reason.

I know what you mean about getting away from the trappings of the modern world, which is probably what steers me away from all the functionality of a techy watch. I have everything I need such as tides, course, speed, charts etc available aboard so having it strapped to my wrist isn’t really necessary and having the option to leave my phone so I don’t have to answer calls and texts is appealing………..but I do need to know the time for passage planning, not least because our marina is only accessible at certain states of the tide. Looks like another divers type watch is looking favourite! SWMBO is currently ‘digesting’ the price of the CWC. ?
.

 

[Sandy]

Something cheap as things often go for a swim in deep water.

Personally, I use a CASIO water resistant WaveCeptor thing that updates itself with a daily time signal, helpful for astronavigation.

 

[TheCoach]

I'm on my second Samsung, replaced an S2 with an S3 and had this for 2 1/2 years now. I really like it and it has stood the test of time/abuse etc reasonabyu well.

Battery life is "OK" at 2-3 days but given we are in a world where my phone need charging every night I don't find the watch to be much of an issue TBH.

I seriously looked at upgrading to the Quatix (I am a bit of a gadget fan) but as the boat is all Raymarine that reduces the benefit for the additional price.

Apart from being a watch, I find the smartwatch is really useful for stuff like quickly seeing whatsapp messages, text messages etc without having to pick up the phone all the time. I have used it for calls as well when I am buried in an engine bay or under a car and can't get out to the phone.

I also used its activity tracker a lot for when we go for walks etc.

Would I get a smartwatch over a normal watch? Yes
Would I spend £1k on a Quatix - only if I had Garmin nav on board (but will have a quick look at the Instinct mentioned above)

Just my two penneth worth

TC

 

[mparrish]

If you're not going to use the bells and whistles of a garmin fenix then there's no point in spending the extra, but something like the garmin instinct is very good too, and a total bargain at these prices.

Garmin Watch Instinct Graphite 010-02064-00 | C W Sellors Luxury Watches

It does most of the gps stuff the fenix does, including the hundreds of different data fields, plus heart rate montoring, excellent battery life, super tough, super water resistant. plus basic smart watch stuff of being able to see who is calling, text messages etc. It doesnt do the maps, or the connectivity to external sensors etc etc. Its actually a very good no nonsense general purpose outdoors watch.

The other thing that the Garmin Fenix 5 and above is good for is that you can pay (contactless) for stuff with just the watch - means you don't have to carry cash, cards or phone while at beach or out cycling - just hold watch near scanner - done. I agree with the above - the Garmin Fenix is really good - I was dubious before I had one, but have now had it about 4 years and find it great - the main plus is long battery life, but the fitness features are good and the smart features are ok too. You can even play music directly off the watch to headphones meaning you don't need to carry a phone if running.
Not cheapest, but good. Lwer spec models (which are cheaper) available as above.