Why do people want weather stations

[ShipsWoofy]

What good are they?

 

[SkipperMarv]

So they can try to do a better job that the tv weather forecasters

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

2 chances of that.

As to the second question, we have one and it gives trends of pressure, temp, humidty etc, with this info you can have a crack at your local area weather forecasting yourself.

 

[sarabande]

When you get up in the morning, it's useful to know how bl**dy cold it is outside, and whether you need crampons to walk over the frozen slats of the pontoon..

 

[tazzle]

I usually test the temperature by trying to shove the cat through the flap. When all four paws grip onto the frame like grim death, it's cold.

 

[FullCircle]

Just a bit unusual...the moonphase tells me which way the tides are going from neaps to springs etc.
Mine is a large display so readable from distance.
I can easily swap time zones.
Radio time pick up configurable for London, Europe, all time zones actually.
It can be setup with 3 different time alarms
Tells me the day/date for when I have been away a couple of weeks and lose track. Handy for flipping to the correct tides for the day.
Barometer trends for previous 6 hours when I wake up
Outside temp, which will be very different to cosy Webasto heated saloon
It was only a pittance from Lidl. Bargain.

 

[Billjratt]

It's part of the trend to "ACTUAL", possibly because the broadcast information doesn't match what we get. It helps us interpolate the possibilities. Once the remoter parts of the country are included in the new 'actual' broadcasts on Navtex and CG, we can maybe put them on Ebay. But, until then we need them and our Volmet information. (no internet on board)

 

[billskip]

They are a "must have" to keep up with the Jones's, and give them something to brag about on forums /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Searush]

Mine is in the house, and, like sarabande, it helps me decide if I need a coat on before I open the door & let the draughts in. It will also warn me so that when I have walked the 100yds to where my car is parked, I will know if I will have windows to defrost.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Well that is what I thought, 'we' have them to read the parts of the weather we can't. We trust the figures enough to make decisions such as whether to sail or not, we watch the barometer. In some ways, life saving decisions could be made regarding results one of these weather stations gives.

Then why do people think a Chinese copy at a ridiculously low price, not even enough to cover the components used is a great idea on a boating forum? Has it really come to this.

And yes, for £10 you can go wrong and most probably have! I will draw a weather station on the front of a notepad, sell it you for £5.00, well you can't go wrong for a fiver eh? Better than Nowt weather stations ltd.

 

[catmandoo]

I use mine to let me see my greenhouse temperature ie if the heater has failed or is still on etc as well as monitor the performance of my central heating

 

[davierobb]

I have a small Aldi weather station and an old fashioned metre of mercury, cant get much more accurate for measuring pressure. The Aldi station is never more than 1 mb adrift from the mercury. As for life threatening decisions, if you feel that way then you should really consider staying at home and spending your time writing to the newspapers every time there is an accident involving an outdoor activity and requesting that the government pass new laws to ban said activity.

As for forumites boasting about weather station ownership, cant see why they would.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
As for forumites boasting about weather station ownership, cant see why they would.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me either, why do you think this?

 

[ShipsWoofy]

There was a certain amount of tongue in cheek, but I do think for sailors as apposed to hobby forecasters, or just seeing what the temp is outside, a degree of trust in the equipment is required. I am not suggesting buying the most expensive either, but I personally would rather have tried and trusted brand or as said by another, a pine cone or even hanging seaweed on the fence.

 

[chrishelen]

Dogs are MUCH better than cats.

 

[dulcibella]

Mine forecasts rain whenever the pressure is falling, completely disregarding the relative humidity. Needs wor!

 

[Stemar]

SPeaking as a pauper sailor, I got mine 'cos it was cheaper than a replacement for the knackered (and rusty!) anaeroid baroneter that Jissel had when I bought her.

At the price, I thought the Aldi job was worth a try & it's been accurate to +_ 1mb ever since and hasn't needed recalibration more often than it needs the batteries replacing - every year or so. For my needs, it's great - I needed the barometer, the other toys are a bonus.