Metric system dumbs us down.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by K_V_B

...I have never in my life encountered a nautical chart that had depths in fathoms. So knowing what a fathom is was never a priority.

I can’t believe this thread is still going on .

But I just have to report that I own a number of charts that are marked in fathoms. These are Canadian charts for areas little travelled (like some areas of Lake Superior). I’m not sure if they’ve been updated yet to metric, or even to feet … I kinda doubt it.

So when I’m out I routinely use charts in feet, in metres and in fathoms. Lesson I learned is to always check the chart legend … ask me how I know this .

[double u]

"...the mental agility that is inculcated ..."
so you imperial champions admit that it's the more complicated system! bravo!

[Jason Flare]

Originally Posted by double u

"...the mental agility that is inculcated ..."
so you imperial champions admit that it's the more complicated system! bravo!

Or that the metric system dumbs you down...

[TrentePieds]

Quote: "so you imperial champions admit that it's the more complicated system! bravo!"

Some people like mental exercise, some like to sit on their mental butts ;-)!

WAY up at the beginning of this thread I thot the point was made repeatedly that it doesn't matter what system you use, as long as that system is appropriate for what you are doing. IMO the "metric" (decimal) system ain't appropriate for use in navigating small boats. It's not impossible to use, of course. Just less convenient. :-)

TrentePieds

[StuM]

Originally Posted by TrentePieds

Quote: "so you imperial champions admit that it's the more complicated system! bravo!"

Some people like mental exercise, some like to sit on their mental butts ;-)!

WAY up at the beginning of this thread I thot the point was made repeatedly that it doesn't matter what system you use, as long as that system is appropriate for what you are doing. IMO the "metric" (decimal) system ain't appropriate for use in navigating small boats. It's not impossible to use, of course. Just less convenient. :-)

TrentePieds

244 posts to get to the point that was obvious right from the start.

[TrentePieds]

But we weren't really doing it to LEARN anything, were we? I thot it wuz a game to see who would salute ;-0)!

TrentePieds

[StuM]

Originally Posted by TrentePieds

But we weren't really doing it to LEARN anything, were we? I thot it wuz a game to see who would salute ;-0)!

TrentePieds

I don't know, I think a few people have learnt quite a lot as a result of the far reaching discussion. And knowledge is never a bad thing, even if it has little or no practical use.

Of course, no one's opinions will have been changed as a result.

I really enjoy these kind of threads - it's like having a good discussion in a pub with a wide range of people with different experiences.

[belizesailor]

Interesting discussion, but of course debating the merits of one over the other is a bit hypothetical because in the real world on boats you encounter both.

I grew up riding dirt bikes, both USA and Japanese origin. As a result accumulated a tool box full of both metric and imperial tools. This ultimately equipped me well for working on my current boat which as built in South Africa and refitted in the USA...now a mix of metric and imperial.

Im still using some of those good old Craftsman tools I acquired almost half a century ago...they have held up quite well on boats...unlike most of the newer junk Ive bought.

[TrentePieds]

Quote: "Craftsman tools I acquired almost half a century ago...they have held up quite well"

Ditto! Around here it was axiomatic 50 years ago that Craftsman (Sear's house brand) HAND tools were excellent, but that you wouldn't catch a REAL craftsman dead using Craftsman POWER Tools.

I still have a Craftsman band saw. Absolute garbage :-)! But I really, really needed a bandsaw the day I bought it in the morning. Didn't have the scratch for a decent tool, but I DID have a Sear's credit card :-)

In Canada Sear's had joined forces with (maybe bought out) the native department stores called Simpson's, and was therefore called Simpson-Sears.
Inevitably the chain became known as "Pimps'n'Queers". They went back to the American plain old "Sears" but they are now having a real struggle in the present market, and my local Sears no longer sells tools of any kind. It's tough enuff to find a shirt or even a pair of skivvies there!

TrentePieds

[Benz]

Originally Posted by K_V_B

Given the fact that metric has essentially won, you are starting to sound a lot like the Iraqi minister of information...

He must be on to something. I'll bet he's witty too. And can sing. Handsome fellow, I shouldn't wonder? Anyway...
The metric system has essentially won only in your theoretical alternate universe--I have just succeeded in mopping the floor with all my detractors, and we have all decided that radians are more complicated to figure out than degrees, and moreover require a piece of string. Have you tried to wrap a piece of string around the drawing of a circle with any accuracy? That'll put far more than 600 thousandths of a degree of error into your plot! Of course, since there are only five radians of unequal size in each circle, maybe a little fudging can be tolerated.
Ben
zartmancruising dot com

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Benz

He must be on to something. I'll bet he's witty too. And can sing. Handsome fellow, I shouldn't wonder? Anyway...
The metric system has essentially won only in your theoretical alternate universe--I have just succeeded in mopping the floor with all my detractors

I'll have some of what you're on! It obviously leads to very happy delusions.

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by K_V_B

Given the fact that metric has essentially won, you are starting to sound a lot like the Iraqi minister of information...

It depends upon how one judges victory, not to mention types of use, and a few other criteria.

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Im still using some of those good old Craftsman tools I acquired almost half a century ago...they have held up quite well on boats...unlike most of the newer junk Ive bought.

Well,I still have, and am using, Craftsman Whitworth size wrenches that I acquired new almost 60 years ago. This mean the game is not over yet.No victories, just continuing competition on numerous fronts. Can you fathom that?

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Benz

I never advocated this, by the way. You kind of need to keep your paper flat.

Well I do agree with you that one should keep the paper flat 'cause that matches the flat earth model best...

Funny how the metric blokes have moved on to the spherical earth model...

[Jason Flare]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Well I do agree with you that one should keep the paper flat 'cause that matches the flat earth model best...

Funny how the metric blokes have moved on to the spherical earth model...

I'm trying to picture this. Are you metric people carrying a ball with you to lay a piece of paper and plot on?