Where Have All The Chronometers Gone?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Jeff, I'm wondering how you determined that you had accomplished this astonishing feat of navigation?

Jim

Considering that he is claiming an accuracy to about 3 seconds of arc, I'd say he is making the claim based on the Precision of his solutions, not the Accuracy.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by StuM

Darn, I forgot about my Inreach. My previous post should have said eight independent GPS devices

Cutin it kinda close don't you think?

[Jim Cate]

Question forthe group: Has anyone any wisdom about how quartz wristwatches, ie Casios, aare affected by lightning strikes? Especially ones with metal cases...

Having spoken to a fair number of folks who had electronics damaged by strikes, none of them mentioned anything about their watches. Was it that there was no damage, or that the monetary loss of a Casio is so small compared to the losses in other electronics that no one cared?

Otherwise, those watches a so damn reliable that I just don't worry about them!

Jim

[h20man]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Question forthe group: Has anyone any wisdom about how quartz wristwatches, ie Casios, aare affected by lightning strikes? Especially ones with metal cases...

Having spoken to a fair number of folks who had electronics damaged by strikes, none of them mentioned anything about their watches. Was it that there was no damage, or that the monetary loss of a Casio is so small compared to the losses in other electronics that no one cared?

Otherwise, those watches a so damn reliable that I just don't worry about them!

Jim

One could always keep them in a specially built faraday cage to protect them.

Take them out for sightings...

[Jdege]

Originally Posted by StuM

Suppose that's OK when you only sail a small boat in one Bay

I did did most of my sailing, last year, on Lake Harriet, and somehow I always managed to find my way home.

[Hudson Force]

Sextants and chronometers can be beautiful collectors items as well as function for navigation as they did for many years in the past; however at these times, it is quite safe to cruise far from the lakes and bays without knowing the time of day or the day of the month.

This remains true even with the threat of lightning when back-up devices are safely stored. There can be endless, "But, what if..." arguments to say you need all types of extra safety gear, but each skipper will need to draw his own line to manage risk.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Question forthe group: Has anyone any wisdom about how quartz wristwatches, ie Casios, aare affected by lightning strikes? .......

Jim

Normally worn on the wrist.... after a lightning strike the owner most often doesn't really care...

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Question forthe group: Has anyone any wisdom about how quartz wristwatches, ie Casios, aare affected by lightning strikes? Especially ones with metal cases...

None of ours got affected by none of the hits we witnessed.

But we were never hit directly nor by a side strike.

This much said I remember reading about a boat that took a direct hit and her boat clock (the kind of decorative quartz movement some boats have on the bulkhead inside) was killed.

So probably this depends on how close to the bolt you keep your Casio.

b.

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Question forthe group: Has anyone any wisdom about how quartz wristwatches, ie Casios, aare affected by lightning strikes? Especially ones with metal cases...

Having spoken to a fair number of folks who had electronics damaged by strikes, none of them mentioned anything about their watches. Was it that there was no damage, or that the monetary loss of a Casio is so small compared to the losses in other electronics that no one cared?

Otherwise, those watches a so damn reliable that I just don't worry about them!

Jim

My answer with lightning is al always who the $;&@ knows. When we got hit the handheld gps inside the chart table was fine but the sitting on top of the chart table, separated by 1/2" of plywood was fried... I have no idea how to explain the difference.

In my admittedly scarce experience with lightning I am convinced that it's like magic, or an evil elf, it just does whatever it wants, and all you can do it pick up the pieces afterword.

If you really want to ensure a time piece makes it thru a strike... I would buy a gps watch like a garmin or the new Apple Watch, take the battery out, and store it in a small faraday bag. If you ever get hit, pull it out, insert the battery, and you should be up and running in a few minutes.

[Jim Cate]

Thanks for the responses re watch survival in lightning strike scenarios.

I'm not actually concerned myself, but was curious as to other's experiences. If truly worried, it seems that putting a watch in a small and very well constructed Faraday cage would be simple, and would likely be completely successful in protecting the watch.

A side note: as a cruiser, I wear a watch most of the time. Not to tell the time of day, for I can estimate that from sun angle, etc, but to know what day of the week it is. The grog shops are often closed on Sundays in some countries...

Jim

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

A side note: as a cruiser, I wear a watch most of the time. Not to tell the time of day, for I can estimate that from sun angle, etc, but to know what day of the week it is. The grog shops are often closed on Sundays in some countries...

Jim

Post of the day!

[charliehows]

no, my 'nautical antique collection' is pretty much limited to whats on board - including a sextant which doesnt get a lot of use because the only really accurate timepieces aboard are built into the handheld GPS, the mobile ph. and the tablet...not to mention most nav in this part of the world can be done from the main bunk by sticking my head out of the cabin hatch and having a quick look to make sure i'm not going to bang into anything for a while.
my curiosity about chronometers is just a thoughtbubble but i found the wealth of information in the answers very interesting - thanks to you all...i'll continue to keep an eye out but i must say the cost of maintaining a workable chrono consigns the idea to a curio at best - as Barnakiel pointed out - if needs must a noonsight and a bit of latitude reading would do at a pinch.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

......
A side note: as a cruiser, I wear a watch most of the time. Not to tell the time of day, for I can estimate that from sun angle, etc, but to know what day of the week it is. The grog shops are often closed on Sundays in some countries...

Jim

Well, I AM impressed!

You can still estimate time from the sun angle on the the days the grog shops are open...

An art I have sadly lost

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Well, I AM impressed!

You can still estimate time from the sun angle on the the days the grog shops are open...

An art I have sadly lost

Not to hard at all, although I did stuff up this weekend and forgot to input the error for public holidays

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Well, I AM impressed!

You can still estimate time from the sun angle on the the days the grog shops are open...

An art I have sadly lost

Wottie, it sure is a good thing you live in Oz, where the grog shops hardly ever close and Blue Moon gin is always available!

Hope all is well in Geeveston and Kermandie...

Jim