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Author
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Topic: Digital Quartz Watch
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MTrainor
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posted May 16, 2007 10:02 PM
I'm looking for a digital quartz watch to store with may sextant aboard my boat. Do you recomend any particular one?
From: Mesa, AZ
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David Burch
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posted May 16, 2007 10:54 PM
These days this is usually an easy problem. Here are the points to look for:
(1) face shows hr, min, and sec, in big letters, along with day and date
(2) waterproof to say 100 m
(3) good light, which means the "indiglo" style
(4) stop watch and count down timer are nice.... ie for timing boat speed as we pass buoys, etc use the stop watch plus many aps, and the countdown is nice for radar since we want to mark the screen in 6 minute intervals etc.
(5) a second time zone is nice if available, but not crucial. if so you can keep GMT on the second one.
(6) the wrist band is another factor. we recommend wearing the watch you navigate with, which means wearing it all the time. i found the plastic bands tend to "work harden" after a year or so and then crack. just catch it on the corner of something then and it is gone.... thus i now prefer a leather or cloth band.
when i last checked Timex had a nice series that met all these specs (including the band)in what i think they called the expedition series, but mine does not have that name on it.
In passing, we discuss the rates of modern quartz watches in the notes or glossary. should be no worse than about 15 seconds per month, and likely better.
they will vary within a lot. I have been known to go to a store and check the errors on all they had in stock and then come back in a week and buy the one that was most right! need to chat up the sales person. Generally if you explain to them how to set their computer to exact time using the NIST function (now built into windows but not always working) that might do the job... or share with them the telephone numbers for wwv and wwvh, which are in the notes. this way they can always get the right time by phone... and this way you make them happy and they will let you play with their watch stock.
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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