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Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by tirekicker11, Mar 5, 2012.

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  1. tirekicker11, Mar 5, 2012
    #1
    tirekicker11

    tirekicker11 Senior Member

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    For an upcoming crossing trough dense populated fishing grounds and forecasted very poor visibilily I'd like to have a timer at the helm that could be set at 15 minute intervals. The commercial equipment is out of the question so I'd like to come up with something cheap but effective.

    An ordinary egg timer would do if it only could be set at 15 min. and not 60 min.

    Are there any other idea's out there?
  2. AMG, Mar 5, 2012
    #2
    AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    What would be the purpose with this alarm..?
  3. tirekicker11, Mar 5, 2012
    #3
    tirekicker11

    tirekicker11 Senior Member

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    To make sure that the watchkeeper stays alert.
  4. CaptPKilbride, Mar 5, 2012
    #4
    CaptPKilbride

    CaptPKilbride Senior Member

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    If your watchkeeper is not alert in poor visibility with congested traffic you might consider a new watchkeeper.
  5. Pascal, Mar 5, 2012
    #5
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I would be worried if i had to rely on a 15' alarm to ensure the watchkeeper stays awake!

    How about a smart phone? On an iPhone you can set multiple alarms, don't know what the limit is but it s probably enough
  6. tirekicker11, Mar 5, 2012
    #6
    tirekicker11

    tirekicker11 Senior Member

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    I'm sailing with 2 new crew this time. They seem experienced and ok but you don't know until it's to late to change them.
  7. tirekicker11, Mar 5, 2012
    #7
    tirekicker11

    tirekicker11 Senior Member

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    That's a good idea, I can set an alarm every 15 min on my phone that they would have to deactivate. I would wake up when it keeps ringing.
    I prefer a low tech simple (spray resistant) timer but my phone would be a good alternative.
  8. Pascal, Mar 5, 2012
    #8
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Put the phone in a zip lock bag :)
  9. K1W1, Mar 5, 2012
    #9
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Tirekickrr, up to now you have seemed reasonably competent, your current post call that into doubt.

    If you are going somewhere from around Singaporebattention by your watch keepers is paramount.

    Don't take on idiots or in experienced people for kegs around there. Big ships don't see small boats very well and do not often respond to radio calls from small boats that ain't on AIS.
  10. Kafue, Mar 5, 2012
    #10
    Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

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    An alarm that rings every 15 minutes is no longer an alarm, it quickly becomes part of the background noise.
  11. AlfredZ, Mar 5, 2012
    #11
    AlfredZ

    AlfredZ Senior Member

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    Hi there,

    I agree that the alarm will become a part of the background noise after sometime. In the mean while search for "Cooper Atkins" digital kitchen allarms, they have a good collection starting at around $10, depending on the options you want, most of the stuff above $40 are made for commercial kitchens and are water and grease proof so they can withstand spray I guess, the only thing I would suggest is sealing the battery with some silicone to avoid salting from humidity at sea. Share your experience with us when you do!

    Cheers.
  12. luckylg, Mar 5, 2012
    #12
    luckylg

    luckylg New Member

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    I have a cheap digital watch that I have used for this purpose. Set a 15 minute timer and it requires you to press a button on the watch to silence it. It further requires a couple of steps to turn it off.

    Anyone with more than a passing knowledge of sleep patterns knows that when you are inactive (standing watch) at a time your body is used to sleeping, any person is subject to weariness.

    My rule of thumb is to have any watchstander wake me if they feel they are becoming weary. What they can't always do is guard against the sudden onset that can catch anyone unawares. A 15' alarm is just a good idea.
  13. Swamp fox, Mar 5, 2012
    #13
    Swamp fox

    Swamp fox Member

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    I've got an older Furuno navnet Autopilot (8 yrs old) and was flipping through the manual the other day when I came across an alarm setting that will buzz at x minute intervals. (Only when actually using the pilot.)

    Don't know what you have, but its worth checking out under your settings.
  14. Chris W, Mar 8, 2012
    #14
    Chris W

    Chris W Member

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    bridge watch

    we used to use a device called " bridge watch" when i was on draggers coming home after abunch of long days working nobody ever wanted the first watch. it was a proper black box with a key the capt used to set and lock the timer and it count down from however many minutes it was set for. you got a coutesy beep first than it would go ballisitic and wake everybody up insureing a frown from the old man.. i always used a cheapo kitchen timer when i was single handing my own slow sailboat though..
  15. RT46, Mar 8, 2012
    #15
    RT46

    RT46 Senior Member

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    train operators have some kind of deadman control that they have to constantly activate to make sure they are alert
  16. dennismc, Mar 8, 2012
    #16
    dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

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    Mandatory logging of time, course etc every 15 mins...mandatory resetting of radar out to maximum and scaling back in to minimum every 10 mins along with logging of targets and range, I did with crew from Vancouver to Mexico and from Ft Lauderdale to Vancouver, worked really well till 2 mutinied in North California on return from Mexico, replaced them and on we went...you do what you as Captain feels is necessary to maintain safety, specially on pleasure craft where many think it is less important.
  17. tirekicker11, Mar 9, 2012
    #17
    tirekicker11

    tirekicker11 Senior Member

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    KiWi, it's a brand new boat with only VHF installed.
    I bring and install my Echomax active radar transponder, AIS on my laptop, soft and paper charts, Epirb etc.

    I wish I could have the AIS transponder but this will have to be programmed with boat's MMSI everytime I deliver a new boat, so not feasable unfortunately.

    Crew is experienced and qualified but new to me. We'll have a 2 on- 1 off watch schedule.

    Just read the MAIB publication on the grounding of FV Golden Promise that made me start considering bringing a clock.
    It's a Taiwan Straits passage, so lots of traffic and poor viz with choppy following seas.
  18. costalive, Mar 9, 2012
    #18
    costalive

    costalive Member

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    I second this!
  19. Bamboo, Mar 9, 2012
    #19
    Bamboo

    Bamboo Senior Member

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    I hope I never come close to a boat you are on in the water. If you are relying on a $10 kitchen alarm clock to insure "you" (as captain) don't hit the rocks, get rammed or do the ramming I question your whole abilities. Sorry to offend but that's what you are asking in a nutshell.
  20. Marmot, Mar 9, 2012
    #20
    Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    Oh for Heaven's sake ... there are countless examples of maritime accidents that would most likely have been prevented if there had been a kitchen timer on the bridge.

    It is a bit unreasonable to attack someone for looking for an alternative to doing nothing as is the case in the vast majority of one-man bridge situations.
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