58 replies to this topic

[smurph]

Looking to pick up a new watch - old casio one died - looking to find out whats good what works and what i shouldn't go near.

Any ideas/guidance?

[tiptonav]

I just picked up a Gill Regatta Master, seems decent enough and is pretty sturdy.

[DoRag]

Looking to pick up a new watch - old casio one died - looking to find out whats good what works and what i shouldn't go near.

Any ideas/guidance?

What kind of sailing shoes goes best with your Casio?

[halfcolours]

I find it a real shame that they stopped making the Musto Regatta watch, that was a great piece of kit.

[Chris Boynton]

The Gill Regatta Master watches are definitely a great pick, Gill just introduced it's Regatta Master II, new features and some tweaking to the function and design. Gill based their watches off the Casio's, actually I think Casio used to, or still is manufacturing their watches, they last long, a bit pricey, but Gill's warranty backs it up for a long time. Here's the new Master II Watch

[smurph]

Looking to pick up a new watch - old casio one died - looking to find out whats good what works and what i shouldn't go near.

Any ideas/guidance?

What kind of sailing shoes goes best with your Casio?

Dunno ~ always sail barefoot.

Thanks all for advice.

Cheers

[SailRacer]

Timex Ironman - Nuff' said.

[Merit 25]

http://www.outdoorgb...tegrated_strap/

Cheap, effective, and has all your timing needs. Just keep a close eye on it.

[Sailor90]

Timex Ironman - Nuff' said.

+1

Been using them for 8 years.

[Miles Beyond]

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/optimum_time_race_sailing_watch_integrated_strap/

Cheap, effective, and has all your timing needs. Just keep a close eye on it.

Agreed. I'd never go back to a watch that cannot sync. Buttons are not the most responsive and the strap is not removable--I prefer a using a Velcro band on the foredeck. You can pay $20 more for one with a removable band but it's not worth it in my opinion.

[solosailor]

Whatever you do don't buy the Ronstan clearstart. Bought it Friday and was reading the manual over the week end and it says the watch is water RESISTANT ! What kind of sailing product company makes a non-waterproof watch? New furlers are great however.

[smurph]

Thank you all, bought an optimum time race sailing watch today.

Cheers.

Now i need to find a ride - anyone looking for crew?

[HANDYCAP10]

Whatever you do don't buy the Ronstan clearstart. Bought it Friday and was reading the manual over the week end and it says the watch is water RESISTANT ! What kind of sailing product company makes a non-waterproof watch? New furlers are great however.

its been a few months - whats your opinion on the ronstan watch? i'm thinking of buying one, and i'm pretty sure every watch i have owned (from 30-200m) has been water "resistant" ...thanks for your opinion. Doogs.

[Erik O]

I find it a real shame that they stopped making the Musto Regatta watch, that was a great piece of kit.

After sending back 4 Musto Regatta watches, the 5th is going strong for several years now, only problem is when replacing the battery to get the beeper working again

[robalex117]

+1

Timex Ironman - Nuff' said.

[Jonathan Green]

Casio PAW1500 Pathfinder. Mine is going on 6 years of hard, ugly abuse and it keeps on ticking (metaphorically). The tides feature works well (if set up properly), compass is great if dinghying back to your boat in a fog bank, easy to use starting sequence timer, barometer, good to 200 meters depth, etc. Only complaint is that it's on the large side - looks like a tuna can is strapped to your wrist.

[Shaggy]

Man this place is getting soft, dorag had the only correct answer. Do a fricking search.....

Also,

Fuck off newbs and show your wife/GF tits.

[mr_fabulous]

Whatever you do don't buy the Ronstan clearstart. Bought it Friday and was reading the manual over the week end and it says the watch is water RESISTANT ! What kind of sailing product company makes a non-waterproof watch? New furlers are great however.

Clear Start Works great when wet, big buttons, easy to use and if you are an old guy, you can see the time with your contacts in, and goggles on, plus, the look is all 'Mega Dork-Factor' Advice: Electrical tape it into the band-holder thingy or it is going into the drink...

[Anthonyvop]

We have been toying with the idea of adding Yachting watches to our line at RaceWatches.com.

Currently we do carry the Seiko Velatura line
http://www.racewatch...mer-Chrono.html

http://www.racewatch...ting-Timer.html

And we have been talking with Alpina, Edifice/Oceanus(Casio) and Edox. Of course these will be a more costly line of watches. One thing we can offer is a club, series or team their own line of limited edition watches.

We have also been looking into sponsorship of either a regatta or series and that has been quite the experience.

[UniGor]

I find it a real shame that they stopped making the Musto Regatta watch, that was a great piece of kit.

After sending back 4 Musto Regatta watches, the 5th is going strong for several years now, only problem is when replacing the battery to get the beeper working again

Great watch but mine used to eat batteries. 2 a year. Got a Casio Sea-Pathfinder instead.

[Black Dog]

Anybody have one of these?

Attached Files

•  7931.jpg   15.78K   51 downloads

[Left Hook]

+1

Timex Ironman - Nuff' said.

+2

The numbers are great and make it very easy for me to tell just what time I can start yelling at Robalez117 to come up on the starting line

[Ringmaster]

Krieger tide watch. Nice enough to wear to the awards banquet.

http://www.kriegerwatch.com/

[Anthonyvop]

So what do you guys look for in a Yachting Watch? What functions? type of band?

[Rail Meat]

I use an Iron man today. My functionality needs are:


A

• comfortable band. More than any other issue, this is my biggest problem. I have tried velcro, I have tried the rubber OEM band.... every single one of them starts to chafe after 3 days offshore in wet conditions. What I think I need is a fleece lined velcro band.
• Digital read out
• Count down timer, one that can accomodate different times
• Sync - nice but not necessary
• Ideally an alarm on the count down timer that is lound enough to wake me when I am taking naps offshore.
• A separate alarm function set on clock time, again loud enough to wake me.
• Tough. It has to stand up to being beat on.

[J22guy]

If you liked the Casio put a new battery in it and you should be good for another five years.
If the battery is not the issue just get another one. Get the $29 version with dual display and get a velcro band to replace the rubber stock band. I love the Casios IMO much better than the Timex iron man. The Iron man buttons (on the one I had) were big and often got bumped accidentally. It was also harder to change setting as I recall.
If you just want something to start races with the Ronstan clear start is the way to go. The sync button alone makes it a first choice. I've had mine for a 2 years on a Laser and have no problems with water resistance. The best feature for me is the big numbers, I can attach it to the Laser mast and still read it from a full hike position.

[pmw]

I have used an Ironman up until my last strap broke and couldn't find a replacement without sending it away. Thought I'd try the Ronstan this time. I loved the Ironman but having the additional audible sequences makes it a hell of a lot easier. I am finding as I get used to it, I am not looking at it as much and am able focus more on whats going around.

[duncan (the other one)]

I use an Iron man today. My functionality needs are:


A

• comfortable band. More than any other issue, this is my biggest problem. I have tried velcro, I have tried the rubber OEM band.... every single one of them starts to chafe after 3 days offshore in wet conditions. What I think I need is a fleece lined velcro band.

Have you tried a nylon band like this: http://www.topspecus...l_watch_straps/

Velcro sucks.. there's always a sharp little bit somewhere poking into your skin, or catching on clothing.

Rubber tends to pull hairs out.

I would have thought anything fleece lined would just stay wet.

[Rail Meat]

Interesting... I have not tried the nylon band but am willing to give it a shot. It has gotten to the point where I have stopped wearing a watch offshore.

[CarbonComposite]

Dakota Clip Watch

Was turned on to this by a number of naturalists on high end ecotourism trips. If you are sailing, you want secure wrist closures. The Dakota can be hung from any convenient attach point.

[DoRag]

Dakota Clip Watch

Was turned on to this by a number of naturalists on high end ecotourism trips. If you are sailing, you want secure wrist closures. The Dakota can be hung from any convenient attach point.

Good point. A secure wrist closure is often overlooked.

You must have been on the very same high end ecotourism trip!

[Alysum]

So I lost my Ronstan Clearstart (the smaller RF4031) in the tide - I used a lot for dinghy racing and yachting.

Planning to get the Gill Regatta Master 2 which looks like the one to get for yachting, but is small/lightweight enough for dinghy racing as well?

[Shutyomouf]

So I lost my Ronstan Clearstart (the smaller RF4031) in the tide - I used a lot for dinghy racing and yachting.

Planning to get the Gill Regatta Master 2 which looks like the one to get for yachting, but is small/lightweight enough for dinghy racing as well?

so... not man enough to carry anything more than small and lightweight? perhaps this is the way to go...

[learningj24]

So I lost my Ronstan Clearstart (the smaller RF4031) in the tide - I used a lot for dinghy racing and yachting.

Planning to get the Gill Regatta Master 2 which looks like the one to get for yachting, but is small/lightweight enough for dinghy racing as well?

I had a Gill that was absolutely wonderful right up until it wasn't. After that, it was a nightmare of failure. Three trips back to the factory to prevent parts fallling out of it did not solve the issue. A trashcan and a Timex did.

The Aquastar Matchrace series looks interesting.

[Alysum]

The Gill one is also $100 more than the Ronstan clearwatch - hard to justify the extra $100 with nearly just the digital compass in extra...how does the compass work? which part of the watch do you have to point it to?

[RParentsail]

My little Ronstan watch has worked pretty well for me so far.

http://www.go2marine...CFUJo4Aod-m4KDg

[DoRag]

My little Ronstan watch has worked pretty well for me so far.

http://www.go2marine...CFUJo4Aod-m4KDg

That's the one that I prefer.

[Alysum]

My little Ronstan watch has worked pretty well for me so far.

http://www.go2marine...CFUJo4Aod-m4KDg

thats the one I lost... wondering whether to get another one or get the Gill.

[JL92S]

http://www.20000feet.com/

[MSA]

http://www.monkeyfis.../1/watches.html

FYI. Same company that makes the Ronstan ones. Just under their own label.

[USA190520]

http://www.20000feet.com/

when you're setting world records for being deep....

[Left Hook]

http://www.monkeyfis.../1/watches.html

FYI. Same company that makes the Ronstan ones. Just under their own label.

Yet they still charge about twice what it should realistically cost.

[Presuming Ed]

Compared to Casio etc, it's a tiny company operating in a tiny market, even after they've moved into watches for 3 day eventing (equestrian) and (field) hockey refereeing.

http://www.optimumtime.co.uk

[MSA]

http://www.monkeyfis.../1/watches.html

FYI. Same company that makes the Ronstan ones. Just under their own label.

Yet they still charge about twice what it should realistically cost.

Kinda agree.. But anybody in business knows you charge what people will pay... Like it or not, its how people make money.

[Merit 25]

Compared to Casio etc, it's a tiny company operating in a tiny market, even after they've moved into watches for 3 day eventing (equestrian) and (field) hockey refereeing.

http://www.optimumtime.co.uk

I've been using the OS121 for about 4 years now. Love it. At less than $40, you can't beat it. Sync button as well.

[DoRag]

http://www.monkeyfis.../1/watches.html

FYI. Same company that makes the Ronstan ones. Just under their own label.

Yet they still charge about twice what it should realistically cost.

Kinda agree.. But anybody in business knows you charge what people will pay... Like it or not, its how people make money.

It's called branding, works like a charm.

[Oxygen Mask]

Whatever you do don't buy the Ronstan clearstart. Bought it Friday and was reading the manual over the week end and it says the watch is water RESISTANT ! What kind of sailing product company makes a non-waterproof watch? New furlers are great however.

its been a few months - whats your opinion on the ronstan watch? i'm thinking of buying one, and i'm pretty sure every watch i have owned (from 30-200m) has been water "resistant" ...thanks for your opinion. Doogs.

+1

Timex Ironman - Nuff' said.

I have used an Ironman up until my last strap broke and couldn't find a replacement without sending it away. Thought I'd try the Ronstan this time. I loved the Ironman but having the additional audible sequences makes it a hell of a lot easier. I am finding as I get used to it, I am not looking at it as much and am able focus more on whats going around.

I used the Ironman for 30 years, been through dozens of bands. ANY rack of bands at most ANY store had bands to fit, if you can't replace a watch band how do you do on sailboat maintenance?
I finally ended up using a velcro band, loved it.

When it reached the point I needed to put on my glasses to read my watch, I got a Clearstart (the big one 4030.) I LOVE that watch! Easy to read, easy to use, sync, love the 5,4,1,0 timer, and the heart-attack beeping work great. Battery lasts 3-4 years of regular racing, for me anyway. Not a bunch of extra crap on it to confuse the issue. Hard to beat.
Had it 8 years? and it's been wet dunked swimming etc, no water issues. Replace the battery once and you won't be worried about 'water resistance.' Perhaps just don't use it for a dive watch...

[jackdaw]

Compared to Casio etc, it's a tiny company operating in a tiny market, even after they've moved into watches for 3 day eventing (equestrian) and (field) hockey refereeing.

http://www.optimumtime.co.uk

I picked up a OT 434 and love it. But you need a decent size wrist.

Plus now stocked in the USA by Ocean Racing.

http://www.oceanracing.com/products/Optimum-Time-OS-434.html

[Gouvernail]

My old Aquastar kicks butt.

[Varan]

I have used an Ironman up until my last strap broke and couldn't find a replacement without sending it away. Thought I'd try the Ronstan this time. I loved the Ironman but having the additional audible sequences makes it a hell of a lot easier. I am finding as I get used to it, I am not looking at it as much and am able focus more on whats going around.

You can buy a new ironman for less than a decent band. Plus, nothing worse than an audible reminding you beep beep beep beep that you are late and blew the frigin start, like duh... you know you blew it, sure don't need a frigin watch to remind you you're an idiot, I mean late for the start. But maybe that's just me.

[knobblyoldjimbo]

+1 on the Optimum Time watches. had mine for three or four years now, got it via an ebay shoppe in UK (posted to Oz) was less than half the price (including shipping) of the equivalent (and identical) Ronstan

[keel trimmer]

Another +1 for Optimum. Got 2 for $100 from the UK - had to go overseas because no one in the US stocks Yellow. I bought two because when I lose one I won't have to worry about finding another. I never take anything on the boat I can't afford to lose, except eyeglasses. A cheap watch with a synch button is perfect.

[Jonathan Green]

Casio PAW1500 Pathfinder. Mine is going on 6 years of hard, ugly abuse and it keeps on ticking (metaphorically). The tides feature works well (if set up properly), compass is great if dinghying back to your boat in a fog bank, easy to use starting sequence timer, barometer, good to 200 meters depth, etc. Only complaint is that it's on the large side - looks like a tuna can is strapped to your wrist.

UPDATE

The above mentioned watch finally died so I replaced it with a Casio PRW2500-1 prior to the Newport-Bermuda race and am very happy with it so far. The solar feature means the annoyance of short battery life on the old one is history. It's still as big as a tuna can. I went with the resin band because the titanium band on the old one chewed up the cuff on my foulies.

[Left Hook]

My 6 year old, 35 dollar Timex Ironman is still kickin and going strong.

[sailman]

My 6 year old, 35 dollar Timex Ironman is still kickin and going strong.

Too bad it can't get you up on time.

[Left Hook]

My 6 year old, 35 dollar Timex Ironman is still kickin and going strong.

Too bad it can't get you up on time.

Thanks to you poor mustang__1 gets woken up at 4:45 in the morning on saturdays every weekend for 2 months by the stereo system hooked into my alarm.

[Wonky]

My old Aquastar kicks butt.

Very Nice! I have the same watch...used to belong to my dad. The timer mechanism got removed at some point in time though. A shame, but a good overhaul a couple of years ago got it keeping time again.

[howardbass201]

My 6 year old, 35 dollar Timex Ironman is still kickin and going strong.

I have that too. And that was the best watch for me.

[sailblogger]

Looking to pick up a new watch - old casio one died - looking to find out whats good what works and what i shouldn't go near.

Any ideas/guidance?

What kind of sailing shoes goes best with your Casio?

Dunno ~ always sail barefoot.

Thanks all for advice.

Cheers

Love sailing barefoot, i use the Vibram 5 fingers. like being barefoot with better grip. they have many different soles some better than others for wet decks.