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**Ex-Calif** · 11-09-2008, 00:20

I am interested in getting a watch more attuned to sailing. I wear a cheap casio digital or my regular Swiss Army analog most of the time.

In reasearching I have seen some common replies about what folks are wearing.

Low End
Timex Ironman
Cheap Casio

Middle
Muusto Performance
Ronstan - sold under various names including Gill
Suunto Regattta

Conspicuous Consumption
Sieko Velatura
Sailhawk

What I think I'd Like

Here are the features that I think would be useful for me. I mainly cruise but I also race club races and J24s.

Normal features - Time, date, alarm etc.
Start Timer - 5-4-1-start with auto timer start after countdown.
Rotating compass bezel - This is nice for course orientation, I think
Built in compass

I like the Suunto Regatta but I have heard it is inrealiable and maybe not made well.

I also like the Suunto M3 because of the bigger numbers on it.

I like the Ronstan ClearStart series but they don't have the compass bezel.

So thoughts? Opinions?

Jim Thomsen · 11-09-2008, 00:28

I have the Suunto X-Lander (compass & Barometric) and it's still working well after 4 years (new battery at 2 years).

northerncat · 11-09-2008, 00:34

hair freckles
sean

silver heels · 11-09-2008, 04:53

I have a Suunto, eats batteries, battery is expensive and hard to find, so it ended up in drawer.
I like the solar powered Citizen's, just about anything you desire on e-bay at half of retail. Put them in a drawer, they go to sleep until you need them. Very accurate.
phillip

Vasco · 11-09-2008, 05:34

Have had nearly everything over the years from an Omega Seamaster (gave up on it, needed cleaning every couple of years at a terrible cost) to Casio digitals. Had a Casio analog(200m water resist) for years but the battery always ran out when I was cruising and far from replacements. Have now found what I think is the perfect reasonably priced watch -- Citizen Titanium Eco Drive, light, analog, 200m water resist. No need for batteries, very accurate, good bezel which I use all the time for timing things. Sounds like a commercial but, as i said, I 've had a few watches in my time and this is my favourite.

Sunspot Baby · 11-09-2008, 05:43

I don't race so don't need many features. I need a watch that is accurate, easy to read, & waterproof.

I have a Tag Heuer sport/dive watch, a gift from a previous employer. I would never spend that much myself, at least now that I am retired. I like the ratcheting bezel for timing legs of a voyage or checking how long it is until the next bridge opening when headed down the ICW.

I still set the bezel at the start of a dive even though I now have a computer that tracks everything.

My back up is a Casio analog/digital combo. It has a stop watch, more precise, but harder to read quickly than a bezel.

George

John Drake · 11-09-2008, 06:07

If one of the choices is Conspicuous Consumption, then I am not sure what the question is, you have your answer.

Anyway...I wear a Steinhart/Debaufre GMT automatic dive watch. It has a 21 jewel swiss automatic movement that is highly accurate (1-2sec/day) and is waterproof to 300m. It has a second hour hand that can be set independently of the primary hour hand, that I keep on UCT. I do all coordinating with other sailors and Ham's in UCT, so it is most convenient.

Avier and Invicta also make very good watches with automatice swiss movements (some 25 jewel ETA) for the price. The less expensive ones are not swiss made, but swiss parts...not bad.

I have several watches, including Seiko dive watches, the Suunto's and Citizen eco-drive's. Citizen eco-drives are my next favorite choice. I no longer prefer watches that run on batteries. You might check out the Citizen Nighthawk, hard to find, but not expensive and has a GMT function.

If you are at all concerned with race start countdown's, I would get a Citizen with an LCD timer function...I believe there are some eco-drive unit's that have that.

Hope this helps.

John

Vasco · 11-09-2008, 06:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Drake

Anyway...I wear a Steinhart/Debaufre GMT automatic dive watch. It has a 21 jewel swiss automatic movement that is highly accurate (1-2sec/day) and is waterproof to 300m.
John

John,

Although 1-2 secs/per day might get a Swiss Chronometer rating, it cannot be said to be highly accurate by todays quartz standards. A $10 quartz digital will most likely be more accurate than those expensive Swiss mechanical movement watches.

John Drake · 11-09-2008, 06:43

True....but.... a swiss watch is form and function. And while no one would ever compare me to James Bond, it is some comfort to know we both share the same taste in watches....

And I AM single.

scotty · 11-09-2008, 06:52

i dont wear it for sailing reasons but i have a casio gshock. it has solar power, sleep mode, 4 alarms, stop watch, 200 m wp, its supposed to be shock proof and auto time update from the national broadcast. i wear it becuase i have not broken it yet

Roy M · 11-09-2008, 07:53

The chief of security at the Mexico City consulate office once asked me to hold up my left hand at a gathering of visiting folks. It was because I was the only person in the room with a cheap, obviously "plastic" wristwatch. He then held up his own, revealing the same. The lesson: Bad guys use wristwatches as indicators of prospective targets. No money equals plastic watch. Ergo....

Reality Check · 11-09-2008, 08:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by northerncat

hair freckles
sean

Totally Agree!!!! When I'm out on the boat... the VERY LAST thing I want to know is what time it is. Work by circadian rhythm not the clock.

If the need arises to actually know what time it is I have the trusty Casio on the nav table, and a back up wall mounted clock and my Cell phones and radio.

I intentionally avoid the watch at every opportunity. My Sailing is about kicking back not a time clock event.

ALSO: Murphy's Law... the more expensive a watch is... the faster it is lost, broken or stolen.... Casio forever

You will never get rolled for it, even on a dark night!!!

Spammy · 11-09-2008, 08:26

Yes, I've heard the "cheap quartz digital vs expensive mechanical" argument before, but it's a bit like the argument about buying the cheapest sailboat you can find because it is, after all, still a "sailboat"....
On me: 26-year-old mechanical Rolex.....still keeping time after all these years. (Wonder how many times I would've had to replace those cheap watches?)