What Makes a Good Barometer?

[Gypsyjon]

Get a cheap one. The actual reading does not matter, what you want to see is if its rising or falling.

[Martkimwat]

Originally Posted by SalingSue

Accuracy wise you see a actionable difference between the digital and the analog?

The iPhone barometer, the HAT2 barometer, and my brass analog all show the same readings, just a different way of displaying the same thing, If you have to tap it, it needs service ,or to be removed, or marked inop

Not true, a small amount of hysteresis or 'stiction' is normal in most Baros, it will move once a large enough change has taken place (usually only a Mb or two) but giving it a light tap is a useful way off seeing a trend, it will either move up, down or stat the same, which is useful information for predicting the weather moving towards you along with the actual reading. Of course if you have a Barograph, it will give you that information, but traditional Barographs are horrendously expensive, whereas digital ones are typically under a $100. I have French Vion which I have had for over 30 years, one of the first quality digital barographs. it's still going strong.

[Gypsyjon]

Martkimwhat is absolutely correct. All barometers require a light tap of of a finger nail to make them move, expensive or cheap, I always give my baro a tap before reading it.

[dannc]

My Casio watch has a barometer with a graph.


We just had a front move through. The barometer dropped pretty fast and winds were pretty strong. Temperature has been falling all day.


Later,
Dan

[ussvdharma]

a good substite is a boating altimeter de W7KFI (Sorry couldnt helkp myself)

[OS2Dude]

If you really want to go cheap, a balloon on an empty coke bottle with a straw glued to it works. . .

My Nexus (Garmin gWind) wind anemometer has a barometric pressure sensor in it that can be displayed on my NMEA 2000 devices. (Wish it had Air Temperature too...)

[jmh2002]

There is an existing thread on Electronic Barometers here:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...er-227907.html

For Android users there is also another thread here:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...pp-162735.html

I made a couple of comments in that thread because while there are a lot of barometer apps, many don't have graphs, and almost all don't have a graph widget which means it's necessary to open the whole app regularly for monitoring:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post2812233
&
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post2812740

I also made a screenshot of 3 of the widgets, and I've continued to use the very simple Barograph widget for several years with great success (the first in the image) because my phone does actually have a barometer sensor.

[Heathenly Twins]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

If what you want is good data, forget the shiny brass aneroid things seen adorning so many yacht's bulkheads. For far less money there are many electronic baros available, and they are in general far more accurate than the standard brass issue.

Not romantic, not scenic, but do not require polishing or tapping, and many include at least primitive barograph functions (and that is quite useful). And the one that has graced our boats for the past 20 years cost the majestic sum of 70 USD. I keep a little log on a sticker on its back, and I've had to change the 4xAAA batteries five whole times in that period. Better than Brasso!

Oh... there is a shiny brass job along with an inaccurate "chronometer" on our bulkhead as well, courtesy of the PO! I never even look at it!

Jim

Hahaha, I love this response, thank you for this. I will give an electronic one a go in 2021 then. I like the low cost, low hassle approach.

[GreenWave]

Originally Posted by AlexCollier

I carry a handheld called "Windmate" from WeatherHawk.
https://www.weatherhawk.com/

This little gadget give all the info a sailor could possibly want...
Barometric pressure
Wind Speed
Temperature
Humidity
Dewpoint
and many more...

I do not go sailing without it...

Weatherhawk has ceased operations and sales due to a sale to Campbell Scientific. Maybe CS has something instead?