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Ship's Clock
- Thread starter gadangit
- Start date
I put in a Trintec clock & barometer several seasons ago. we really like them. Great looks and high quality. And, it's easy to read from a ways away for us bifocal wearers.
https://trintec.com/collections/quartz-clocks/products/odyssey-quartz-clock
I recall that these may also be sold by other vendors, with another name on them. Not sure of that, these days.
I also stopped wearing a watch when I retired. Mostly I just glance at my cell phone for the time.
Out on the boat I never carry the phone -- no signal anyway very far from the shore line. On board it's handy to have a easily-viewed time source.
Loren
https://trintec.com/collections/quartz-clocks/products/odyssey-quartz-clock
I recall that these may also be sold by other vendors, with another name on them. Not sure of that, these days.
I also stopped wearing a watch when I retired. Mostly I just glance at my cell phone for the time.
Out on the boat I never carry the phone -- no signal anyway very far from the shore line. On board it's handy to have a easily-viewed time source.
Loren
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Frank Langer
1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC
Hi,
We have a Weems & Plath clock and barometer on our boat and it looks very cool and nautical. After 15 years, the clock stopped, new battery didn't help. I sent it to the factory repair (in new Hampshire if I recall). They repaired it for a nominal fee, but it only worked for 11 seconds and stopped. I sent it back, they said it was now fixed, but when I got it back it didn't work. To compensate me for this frustration, they then sent me a brand new clock at no cost. That was several years ago, and it still works perfectly. And I still smile when I look at the clock and recall the interesting conversations I had with them.
Frank
We have a Weems & Plath clock and barometer on our boat and it looks very cool and nautical. After 15 years, the clock stopped, new battery didn't help. I sent it to the factory repair (in new Hampshire if I recall). They repaired it for a nominal fee, but it only worked for 11 seconds and stopped. I sent it back, they said it was now fixed, but when I got it back it didn't work. To compensate me for this frustration, they then sent me a brand new clock at no cost. That was several years ago, and it still works perfectly. And I still smile when I look at the clock and recall the interesting conversations I had with them.
Frank
My boat came with a nice-looking "Chelsea" brass-cased clock and barometer pair. The clock didn't work, of course. The barometer works, but I'm not sure if it's accurate. According to the catalog, these things are supposed to be worth a significant fraction of the price I paid for the boat! I sent the clock in to Chelsea for repair. They threw out the old workings and put in a cheap AA-battery powered movement that you can get at any hobby store for $5. Charged me something like $200 and it took two months. Lasted six months and didn't work in cold weather. Also the "tick" made radio noise. Next time, I'll put a new $5 movement in the case myself. I'd convert it to digital, but then it wouldn't match the barometer face.
It is handy to glance down through the companionway and see if I can keep sailing, or whether it's time to turn back for home. But when standing at the nav station, there are no less than five devices that display the time - local and UTC - some of them digitally calibrated via the internet and others via GPS satellite signals. It's just that you can't read them from a distance. If you want to hear the bells struck - I'm sure there's an app for that. It might be nice to have a non-electronic EMP- and Lighting-proof backup. But those have to be cleaned and adjusted regularly. I'm not even sure if anybody in town does that any more. When I was in high-school and couldn't afford a watch, I used to carry Great Grandad's old Waltham pocket watch. Seems like it had to be serviced every year or two. Heck, I don't think I even own any pants with a watch-pocket any more.
It is handy to glance down through the companionway and see if I can keep sailing, or whether it's time to turn back for home. But when standing at the nav station, there are no less than five devices that display the time - local and UTC - some of them digitally calibrated via the internet and others via GPS satellite signals. It's just that you can't read them from a distance. If you want to hear the bells struck - I'm sure there's an app for that. It might be nice to have a non-electronic EMP- and Lighting-proof backup. But those have to be cleaned and adjusted regularly. I'm not even sure if anybody in town does that any more. When I was in high-school and couldn't afford a watch, I used to carry Great Grandad's old Waltham pocket watch. Seems like it had to be serviced every year or two. Heck, I don't think I even own any pants with a watch-pocket any more.
Couldn't live without the Weems & Plath brass clock. Once glance from the helm shows all.
I did have one once with a mechanism you had to wind. But they've had batteries since the '80s and maybe before.
I did have one once with a mechanism you had to wind. But they've had batteries since the '80s and maybe before.
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A friend gave me a Howard Miller ships bell clock many, many years ago.
Chimes the watches in four hour increments, odd how after all these years I only hear it when I need too. Wind it once a week when the chimes get a little weak or lackluster. Two minutes before the chime you can hear it priming to ring...very nautical. Needs to have a minute added or subtracted each week as well, according to the clock in the phone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship's_bell
Boat came with a Ships Time quartz clock and Barometer. Nice set to look at and very functional but not nearly as romantic. The very regimented one second ticks aren't nearly as comforting as the clk-clk-clk-clk of the winding clock. When I was young, Mom would help ween pups from our Springer Spaniel by putting a winding clock into their box to keep them from whining. Makes one wonder why it doesn't always reduce whining on the boat.
Schatz, Hermle, Weems & Plath, Seth Thomas, Chelsea, plenty of makers (and duplicators) to choose from on auction sites. Plenty of prices and styles to choose as well. Accuracy? Seems to be important when I'm on watch, off-watch not so much.
Chimes the watches in four hour increments, odd how after all these years I only hear it when I need too. Wind it once a week when the chimes get a little weak or lackluster. Two minutes before the chime you can hear it priming to ring...very nautical. Needs to have a minute added or subtracted each week as well, according to the clock in the phone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship's_bell
Boat came with a Ships Time quartz clock and Barometer. Nice set to look at and very functional but not nearly as romantic. The very regimented one second ticks aren't nearly as comforting as the clk-clk-clk-clk of the winding clock. When I was young, Mom would help ween pups from our Springer Spaniel by putting a winding clock into their box to keep them from whining. Makes one wonder why it doesn't always reduce whining on the boat.
Schatz, Hermle, Weems & Plath, Seth Thomas, Chelsea, plenty of makers (and duplicators) to choose from on auction sites. Plenty of prices and styles to choose as well. Accuracy? Seems to be important when I'm on watch, off-watch not so much.
dt222
Member III
My wife was able to get a Chelsea brass battery powered ships strike clock from West Marine for a very good price (they were discontinuing them) for a Christmas present. It's mounted on the bulkhead and I will remove it for the winter, and I can just see it from the helm. The strike was a bit lackluster so I drove it down to the factory and they repaired it under warranty. I really enjoy it (we have a matching wind-up version at home).
gadangit
Member III
Thanks for the replies, they are great. I figured there'd be some good stories, there is something about a clock. I remember the cuckoo clock in our house and some sort of mantle clock at my grandparents house. Each made a different sound I would recognize today.
My coworker waxes nostalgically about the ship's bell clock on his father's old Morgan he sailed up on Lake Huron. His dad would walk over to the barometer every morning, tap tap tap to shake the needle loose. He loves to tell that story.
This came up a couple weekends ago when Lisa and I were double handing a race up from Freeport. We were becalmed for a while, I managed to keep it to one uncontrolled 360. We listened to half the fleet abandoning the race, got places to be ya know. We sill had 50 miles to go, it was going to be a long day and night. I was down below, the afternoon was going by and I wondered what time it was. Yes, I could look at my phone stashed in the drawer, the laptop running OpenCPN or climb up the companionway ladder to the chartplotter at the wheel. That all seemed like too much work, we need a ship's clock.
We finished the race at 01:09 and motored 5 hours home from there. We had places to go too.
Chris
My coworker waxes nostalgically about the ship's bell clock on his father's old Morgan he sailed up on Lake Huron. His dad would walk over to the barometer every morning, tap tap tap to shake the needle loose. He loves to tell that story.
This came up a couple weekends ago when Lisa and I were double handing a race up from Freeport. We were becalmed for a while, I managed to keep it to one uncontrolled 360. We listened to half the fleet abandoning the race, got places to be ya know. We sill had 50 miles to go, it was going to be a long day and night. I was down below, the afternoon was going by and I wondered what time it was. Yes, I could look at my phone stashed in the drawer, the laptop running OpenCPN or climb up the companionway ladder to the chartplotter at the wheel. That all seemed like too much work, we need a ship's clock.
We finished the race at 01:09 and motored 5 hours home from there. We had places to go too.
Chris
Teranodon
Member III
When I bought my boat, one of the many things that didn't work was the Weems & Plath quartz clock. W&P fixed it for free! Trouble is, someone I know can't stand the ticking during the quiet of the night (it is right there on the bulkhead). So I have to open it up, remove the battery, etc. Am thinking of putting in a mini-switch to make that a little simpler. It's on The List...
Reminds me. Back in the days when I travelled constantly for work, I looked for a tickless analog alarm clock. Never succeeded. One of those things that you just can't buy. Like UNpolarized sunglasses for sailing (so you can read the #!%$#! LCD instruments). Can't be done.
Reminds me. Back in the days when I travelled constantly for work, I looked for a tickless analog alarm clock. Never succeeded. One of those things that you just can't buy. Like UNpolarized sunglasses for sailing (so you can read the #!%$#! LCD instruments). Can't be done.
My w&p quartz made in Germany ship's bell (orig equipment) is silent, even thought the sweep second hand jumps in one-second increments. Different movement I guess. Sent iphone
If you shop around for a new movement, they are available in ticking and non-ticking. I think I will go with a smooth sweep, since the last ticker actually produced radio noise on VHF and SSB with each tick.
I seem to be able to tune out the ticking clock in my office, but I don't think I could handle it in the bedroom.
I seem to be able to tune out the ticking clock in my office, but I don't think I could handle it in the bedroom.
Weems & Plath striking clock.
I've had a pair of Weems & Plath Atlantis(?) model striking clock and barometer for longer than I can remember. The clock keeps relatively good time as such but the striking function leaves a very lot to be desired. Each time I send it to the factory for repair, I mark inside in pencil how many times its been done. I think I'm up to 9 or 10 returns over the years and have essentially given up on ever having it strike properly again at all. I spoke a bit hastily a moment ago, about a month ago after years of silence, all of a sudden it struck once at something like 23 minutes past the hour, only to fall silent again. Attached is an image of the pair mounted in the cabin of our boat. If anyone is tempted to buy a Weems & Plath striking clock, I'd strongly recommend against it unless during the intervening years they have found a better source for their digital modules. Glyn Judson, the Dawn Treader, E31 hull #55, Marina del Rey CA
I've had a pair of Weems & Plath Atlantis(?) model striking clock and barometer for longer than I can remember. The clock keeps relatively good time as such but the striking function leaves a very lot to be desired. Each time I send it to the factory for repair, I mark inside in pencil how many times its been done. I think I'm up to 9 or 10 returns over the years and have essentially given up on ever having it strike properly again at all. I spoke a bit hastily a moment ago, about a month ago after years of silence, all of a sudden it struck once at something like 23 minutes past the hour, only to fall silent again. Attached is an image of the pair mounted in the cabin of our boat. If anyone is tempted to buy a Weems & Plath striking clock, I'd strongly recommend against it unless during the intervening years they have found a better source for their digital modules. Glyn Judson, the Dawn Treader, E31 hull #55, Marina del Rey CA
Attachments
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Hull #55, Main saloon.jpg
We like our ships bell for those chilly mornings when you need to know whether to get up and go to the head now or just wait another hour and start coffee and fire up the heat, too. We have a W&P aboard that we just had repaired but we also have a much older Seth Thomas external bell at home that needs some love.
Was recently gifted a Chelsea tide teller and matching barometer.
A clock with a second hand, a 12 hour time dial, and a 12 hour hand included to sweep the high and low tides. Sadly, the mechanism didn't work but the barometer was 100% accurate... well... for Southern California anyway where the dial always points to fair. Not wanting to split the set I found a source for a new mechanism. https://www.clockparts.com/
Perhaps your solution for a quiet mechanism lies within, least ye be late, yes late, for a very important date!
Reports on restoration to follow if successful; if not the leftover parts can be had from the bilge.
A clock with a second hand, a 12 hour time dial, and a 12 hour hand included to sweep the high and low tides. Sadly, the mechanism didn't work but the barometer was 100% accurate... well... for Southern California anyway where the dial always points to fair. Not wanting to split the set I found a source for a new mechanism. https://www.clockparts.com/
Perhaps your solution for a quiet mechanism lies within, least ye be late, yes late, for a very important date!
Reports on restoration to follow if successful; if not the leftover parts can be had from the bilge.
That most marvelous of inventions, the tide clock, does not work on west coast. Here the tides have a different lifestyle. Also, grunion.
I am against multiple confusing wavy-line tides daily, but the legislation to change it is stuck in committee.
I am against multiple confusing wavy-line tides daily, but the legislation to change it is stuck in committee.
I think the days of sending our stuck clocks off to get fixed are over, based on the link Max ("Fool") posted above.
What took centuries to perfect is now $8 plus postage.
https://www.clockparts.com/american-made-mini-quartz-movements/
What took centuries to perfect is now $8 plus postage.
https://www.clockparts.com/american-made-mini-quartz-movements/
Rocinante33
Contributing Partner
It would take an independent counsel to resolve it and despite bi-partisan congressional support, the DoJ has shown no inclination to appoint one!
Rocinante33
Contributing Partner
And as people are want to say here in the 21st century, "there's an app for that!"
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ship...597159650?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ship...417103751?mt=8
Who knew...
Me singing <<< Up on the poop deck walkin' about, there is the Second Mate so steady and so stout.
What he is thinkin' o' only he can tell.
He's lookin' at his phone when he should strike, strike the bell.
Strike the bell Second Mate, Let us go below.
Look well to windward you can see it's gunna blow.
Look at the glass and you can see that it has fell.
You won't connect when 'ur on deck , just strike the bell.