[tirekicker11]

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?

[AMG]

What would be the purpose with this alarm..?

[tirekicker11]

Originally Posted by AMG

What would be the purpose with this alarm..?

To make sure that the watchkeeper stays alert.

[CaptPKilbride]

If your watchkeeper is not alert in poor visibility with congested traffic you might consider a new watchkeeper.

[Pascal]

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

[tirekicker11]

Originally Posted by CaptPKilbride

If your watchkeeper is not alert in poor visibility with congested traffic you might consider a new watchkeeper.

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.

[tirekicker11]

Originally Posted by Pascal

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

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.

[Pascal]

Put the phone in a zip lock bag

[K1W1]

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.

[Kafue]

An alarm that rings every 15 minutes is no longer an alarm, it quickly becomes part of the background noise.

[AlfredZ]

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.

[luckylg]

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.

[Swamp fox]

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.

[Chris W]

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..

[RT46]

train operators have some kind of deadman control that they have to constantly activate to make sure they are alert