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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Racing watches: recommendations?

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/04/2006 : 12:37:28

Hi all,

Do any of ya'll racers use a racing watch? I've ebayed sailing watches and googled them and have found that Suunto seems to be one of the more prominent racing watch makers. However, they are quite expensive and without a recommendation I dont' feel comfortable putting that much money on a watch.

Basically what I'm looking for is a nice-looking watch I can wear socially and not look too much like a dork; but which I can look at during the cold weather months and reminisce about last summer and dream about the upcoming summer.

Here is a website with some watches that some may have experience with.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/s:Sport%20Watches:4157-Gender=Men's:4552-Watch%20Type=Sailing%20Watches

Does anyone have any recommendations for any of these watches or any other watches not listed?

Thanks!

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2006 : 12:43:11

Casio Ironman - Cheap - Built like a tank - Countdown Timer

What more do you need..

The Suunto Watches work with wind shift, and if you are getting headed, or lifted, you have to set the watch up to tell it where the wind is coming from. Keep your eyes on the corse, not your watch......

And the best count down timer is a simple digital egg timer they sell at Radio shack for $8.95 put velcro on the back side and mount it in front of you.....

you can listen for the countdown and keep your eyes on the boats around you and your fordeck.

My 2 Cents

Edited by - on

millermg
Navigator

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159 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2006 : 13:03:36

If I had unlimited funds, I'd go for the Suunto, I think I'd use the compass feature quite a bit. But since I don't, I now use a Freestyle watch that was about the same price as the ironman, but one feature it has on the timer is an instant-repeating countdown timer. We get ten minutes before our start, but I set it for 5 minutes, knowing if I miss the 10 min. gun I get a second shot at 5 minites. If I get the 10 min. gun, the watch goes off at 5 min, and repeats on it's own, thus getting me to zero either way.

As a helmsman I'm not a big fan of egg timers- crew seems to always be in the way when you're trying to see them, no matter where you put it- especially at starts, when everyone is all over the place in the cockpit. It's nice to have it right there on your wrist.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2006 : 13:50:11

My everyday watch is a Gill Marine. It has a "floating" digital display that is easier to see than hands. It also has an alarm, a chronometer, a count down timer for 3,4,5,6,10 & 15 mins (it will go to zero and then either count up to time the race or roll over.
It comes with either a steel band or a leather strap. It cost + or - $100 but IMHO is well worth it.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2006 : 14:06:59

Suunto if I had the cash.

since I don't I have an Timex Ironman, an eddie bauer with a countdown timer and some other thing I picked up at Team One Newport. We used a tac-tic this year at nationals and I'd lean toward that before dropping a lot of money on a watch.

dw

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2006 : 14:59:57

I get a Casio digital with big, easily readable numbers and a countdown timer, if I find one at a good discount. If not, I get any cheap, sports digital with big numbers and a countdown timer. About $12.95 seems like a fair price. Then I get a nice Seiko for everyday wear. You don't need an expensive watch to race a sailboat. I've never seen a racing sailor who could hit the starting line more accurately than a cheap watch.

Edited by - on

wmeinert@kconline.com
Past Commodore

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USA
353 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2006 : 16:18:11

Hey just buy a stop watch and keep on the boat which is a better deal, then just buy a dress watch. Awfull hard to punch the wrist watch when your hands are on the tiller!!!

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2006 : 17:15:34

Go to nextag.com and search on countdown timer watch. Or just Google that. You'll be amazed.

Brooke

Edited by - Brooke Willson on 12/05/2006 08:13:24

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2006 : 17:31:53

Here are a few of the watches noted above from Ebay. They are affiliate links so the assn gets a few beans.

[url="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=1926350&mpre=http%3A//cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D180041544002%26category%3D31387"]Suunto on Ebay using the affiliate links[/url]

[url="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=1926350&mpre=http%3A//cgi.ebay.com/TIMEX-IRONMAN-TRIATHLON-EXCLUSIVE-MENS-WATCH-NEW_W0QQitemZ250056542657QQihZ015QQcategoryZ31387QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Timex Ironman Triathalon[/url]

[url="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=1926350&mpre=http%3A//cgi.ebay.com/COMPASS-MICRO-TACKTICK_W0QQitemZ260046445640QQihZ016QQcategoryZ1294QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem"]TackTick[/url]

[url="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=1926350&mpre=http%3A//cgi.ebay.com/FREESTYLE-NEW-Shark-Predator-Mid-10-Lap-Watch-Diving-NR_W0QQitemZ190057487248QQihZ009QQcategoryZ31387QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Frestyle Predator (the team one newport watch I mentioned)[/url]

[url="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=1926350&mpre=http%3A//cgi.ebay.com/TIMEX-MARATHON-ANALOG-DIGITAL-STOPWATCH-WITH-CLIP_W0QQitemZ170055086535QQihZ007QQcategoryZ3938QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]regular stopwatch[/url]

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2006 : 21:23:53

Thanks ya'll. I think I might go with the Suunto.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2006 : 08:59:40

I have the Standard Communication's SL10 Speedo, has all the features that a racer needs, plus large, backlit numbers mounted on the cabin bulkhead...I have it but don't have a need for it, I don't race, crowds make me nervous.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2006 : 10:11:42

Just bought this one. Screw down stem. Good to 660 feet.

This is all stainless steel and a bit heavy - but that's what I like about it. Chronometer and settable analog second hand stop watch.

My model is "Fallout" with ocean blue dial.

http://www.reactorwatch.com/frame.html

Edited by - Turk on 12/05/2006 10:13:19

SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2006 : 16:19:29

I've got one of the old Gill Marine watches mentioned above. Haven't seen 'em advertised anywhere recently, so they may not be making them any more. It has a "floating" digital display over the analog display. The digital display has a countdown timer preset with the most common start time sequences. My only complaints are:
1. Changing the start times should be sequential decrementing so if you miss one signal you can catch the next one. I think it goes 15, 10, 5, 6, 4 or some weird thing like that.
2. There's no 1m option (while this really doesnt matter for sailing, I'd like a 1m timer with warning tones for flying).
3. It's easy to stop the timer if you're wearing gloves.
4. Tones could be louder, but usually sufficient if the wind isnt howling.
5. Heavy.

But I still use it every race (and my primary trimmer has the same model as backup). What I *do* like:
1. Large digital display
2. Warning tones at each 1m, 30s, and lower increments closer to zero (1/sec for the final 10sec). Easy to know where you are with timing withOUT looking down at the watch.
3. Analog time visible below digital display - we typically run signals on GPS time, so I have plenty of warning when that first gun's going off!

It's really too heavy for social use, but that's just me. The only 2 times I ever wear a watch are flying and racing.

Edited by - SailCO26 on 12/05/2006 16:21:45

Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2006 : 17:05:26

I also bought the Gill Watch and have used it well, the countdown timer is worth it..you dont even have to look at the watch just listen to the sounds as it counts..Nice Feature.. best wishes

Edited by - on

dmattlin
1st Mate

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USA
39 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2006 : 02:16:04

I just bought the Citizen Yachtsman, Stars and Stripes edition. I love it. It is an Eco-Drive which means it is solar powerd.
This watch has Timer, Chronigraph and Race timer.. It will also tell the time in about 300 cities around the world...
It is a great watch that I can wear with a suit, in shorts.. and even out sailing (go figure huh..)
It really isn't that expensive.. I bought mine on a cruise ship so I paid no taxes and it was on sale at the Duty Free shop on board the ship...

I love it

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2006 : 05:44:16

there are a couple of the gill watches here...

http://www.team1newport.com/products.asp?dept=39

Edited by - on

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