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Matt Jackson View Drop Down
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Posts: 962 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Matt Jackson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Ronstan watches
    Posted: 03 Dec 08 at 12:52pm

My Optimum time OS223 has just packed up... again... and I love Ronstan kit so was quite excited about being able to ask the other 'alf to buy a Ronstan watch for crimbo. Then I noticed they are just re-badged Optimum Time watches.

I love the functions and the look of Optimum Time watches but find them incredibly unreliable. I used to have the big yellow blokes but they gradually filled with condensation until unusable (went through 3 before giving up). The first OS223 kept resetting itself randomly and my latest goes through batteries every 3 months.

Customer service at OT is great and they have always replaced watches FOC it's just really inconvenient.

What other choices are there? I like the styling (wear it all the time), features (needs to be a proper race timer with 5,4,1,0 and sync) and price (anywhere from £30-120) of OT watches just want something more reliable. NOT Ironman or cheap market jobs, a nice looking watch that does the job. Any ideas?



Edited by Matt Jackson
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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 08 at 12:59pm

http://www.suunto.com/suunto/main/product_short.jsp?CONTENT% 3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673959341&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852 723697223384

 

I don't have one but if I wanted a watch to wear all the time this could be an option.
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Matt Jackson View Drop Down
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Posts: 962 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Matt Jackson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 08 at 1:08pm
Yeah, I like it and was looking at the Regatta already but they don't seem to have a 5,4,1,0. I used to work for a dive company and the divers all swore by Suunto instruments.
Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36
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craiggo View Drop Down
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Posts: 1810 		Post Options Post Options   Quote craiggo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 08 at 4:28pm
At that price I'd have to take out a mortgage on it!

Whats wrong with a good old Casio Sea Pathfinder for £25
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Matt Jackson View Drop Down
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Posts: 962 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Matt Jackson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 08 at 4:54pm

Seems good value but it looks like a Casio... which personally I don't like.

1 Casio Sea Pathfinder2 3

1, Casio Sea Pathfinder. 2, Suunto M3. 3, Suunto Regatta



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Posts: 85 		Post Options Post Options   Quote deadrock Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 08 at 6:49pm
I've had a Suunto M3 for about 2 years. It's super-reliable, and it even
looks good on the wrist, unusual for a digital. I gave up on Optimums
after two failed me on the water: never again, ever. On the Suunto you
can set an extra warning signal: I set mine up for 4 mins+10 secs, in case
my mind wanders befpre the 'P'. The little numbers on the fancy bezel for
checking line-bias quickly wear off, making that feature useless, but
there are better ways of checking the line than looking at a dial anyway.
The glass is crystal and super-tough, and a valuable bonus is that you
can lock the countdown once it's started: who hasn't accidentally
stopped/re-set their Casio with less than a minute to go? You will find
that the Suunto can do a few things that aren't even in the manual.
Essential for me was that it doesn't have a compass - see the UK Laser
Assoc. website: the other Suuntos are illegal for just that reason. The
beeps could be louder for a crowded start-line - too much white noise
around - but otherwise it's a good buy. I bought a Sea Pathfinder as a
backup in case the other one went AWOL in Spain. The Sea Pathfinder is
for those who prefer to bury themselves in the pack; I'd do the same if I
had to rely on one.
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radixon View Drop Down
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Posts: 2407 		Post Options Post Options   Quote radixon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 08 at 8:18pm
On the subject of Watches, did you know the following are banned form Laser Class sailing:


Casio Sea 1 Triple Sensor
Gill Regatta Master
Optimum Series 4, Series 5 Series 8 and Series 9
Optimum Series 3 Blue
Origo Accusense Digital Compass Watch
Suunto Mariner, Regatta and Yachtsman

Reason - because they all contain electronic compass

Many of the Laser rules were drafted specifically to keep the costs of racing down, to prevent an arms race. A Laser sailor can race with a compass, but only one, and it must be attached to the boat, not to the sailor. And it cannot be electronic, so a Tacktick is definitely out! You can have whatever kit you like on the boat when you're practising, but it has to come off for racing.

The above watches are not allowed to be used for Laser racing
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pete_chinnock View Drop Down
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Posts: 70 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pete_chinnock Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 08 at 10:07pm

RF4030

The one to get, easier to use than the big yellow, its blue and simple lay out...
Pete
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alstorer View Drop Down
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Posts: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Quote alstorer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 08 at 7:05am
Originally posted by craiggo

At that price I'd have to take out a mortgage on it!

Whats wrong with a good old Casio Sea Pathfinder for £25

£25? Try £18. I'm on my second, but that's because I managed to destroy the first with solvents... seen a fair few much better sailors than I using them.
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craiggo View Drop Down
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Posts: 1810 		Post Options Post Options   Quote craiggo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Dec 08 at 10:02am
I cant kill my Sea Pathfinder. Its now on its 3rd battery and the beeps dont work but other than that, 8yrs of service for £20ish is pretty good going.

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