Your best stopwatch for clocking laps and engine runs

[RknRusty]

When I'm out flying by my myself, or helping someone trim a plane, it's nice to have a stopwatch to keep track of engine run time and also check lap times. I have a simple Sportline brand I bought for $10 bucks at Wally World, but the buttons apparently have bad contacts and continuously double or triple click, fouling any measurement I wanted. I took it apart and cleaned the contacts with acetone, and it worked great for a day... until I needed it. Now it's back to triple beeps on the start button and worse on the split button.

So, I have a 5 pound mini sledge and an anvil, where I'm going to perform a more radical type of surgery.

Just curious what you stunt/carrier/speed/combat aficionados prefer to buy in a stopwatch. Any particular brand in a reasonable price range that makes a dependable simple stopwatch? Where do you buy them?
Rusty

[Dick Pacini]

I had a similar issue with an el cheapo stop watch from Wallyworld.  I returned it and went to Olympia Sports and bought a decent one that cost more, but worked like it should.

[John Craig]

I had one of the super cheap ones, it did not last long.  I found a medium priced one at one of the sport stores.  Works well, just change the battery now & then.  Then I might take a look& see what dabay offers.  You will have a price & style range.

[Paul Wood]

Rusty,

I use  a "talking timer for the blind".  Several styles available so you can search the internet and make a choice.  I clip it to my shirt pocket or pants belt and activate by feeling the buttons.  Works well for me and allows you to keep your eyes on the plane, not the timer.  I also use it to time my flight so I know when the tank is almost dry.  I usually fly alone so this has solved my timing issues.

Paul 

[Motorman]

http://timerspedometersstopwatches.robictimers.com/item/easiest-to-use-athletic-timers-dedicated-use-/sc-501w-event-lap-split-stopwatch/88902?&bc=100|1012|1087


MM

[RknRusty]

Thanks guys. I forgot we have a couple of large sports stores in town. I might take a ride over to one of those. At least I'll have the option of returning it. Once I'm used to a plane I don't need one unless I'm "sporting" around, but over the Summer I'll be trimming three unfamiliar planes. I hate those inverted landings... or worse.
Rusty

[john e. holliday]

If you are going to use a stop watch, it pays to get a good one.   I my self only use a stop watch for racing. 

[Lauri Malila]

I don't care much for measuring laptimes but my favourite flying watch is this one-button Omega stopwatch. It's important for me to have only one button (not possible to press the wrong button). Also, when one revolution of big hand is 1 minute, it's easy to see how the first minute passes.
It's also quite easy to see 7 minutes passing from the small dial. Actually, long ago, our company has made this same movement with the small dial divided in 7 minutes/revolution. That would be perfect but so far I haven't been able to find the necessary parts to do the modification.

Lauri

[john e. holliday]

I still have my old watch that looks like that.   Just have to remember to wind it once in awhile.  No batteries to worry about either.

[Steve Helmick]

I bought two Casio stopwatches quite awhile back. When one quit working, and a new battery didn't fix it, I bought another Casio stopwatch. They're the bee's knees! Nice clicking feel when you push the button. Got the Paul Walker seal of approval, they did. He commented on the good feel of the pushbuttons. They do have two modes and three buttons...too much BS that we don't need, but they're good stuff, otherwise. They were about $16 each when I bought them. I don't check lap times either, Doc. Maybe that's where we're going wrong? Steve

[RknRusty]

I like the ideas of Steve and Lauri. I'd had an analog clockwork in the back of my mind, and now it's moving up to my short list. And Casio has a long standing good reputation. Thanks, Guys. That should be enough info for me, so I'll let you know what I get.
Rusty

[Al Rabe]

I've got four old Casio watches in my shop that I've collected over the years.  They all have broken watch bands.  Casio rubber watch bands crack and fail after four or five years.  The bands can be replaced at the mall for about $11 but I just keep buying new ones for about $20.  They keep excellent time and battery life isn't a problem.  They are all still running.  When flying control line, I carry one, missing a half band, and pull it out of my pocket for timing laps.  I've had real stop watches in the past but I like these old Casios as much.  They are still just fine for everyday use, modeling and exercise and, twenty years ago, as a TriStar captain flying International routes.

Al

[RknRusty]

I used to love flying on Tristar back when I traveled with my job. Rarely ever got on one though, with my usual mid range hops.
Rusty

[Norm Furutani]

I'm sort of new to U/C but have many years in comp FF and RC sailplane, so stopwatches have been a concern.

I like using a wristwatch stopwatch. It's always with you and out of the way. I worry about a watch on a lanyard swinging into the prop.

My favorite is like the Casio DB360 series. It has two large buttons below the face and through the years, using it has become second nature. You should be aware that that the logic between say Casio, Timex and others varies and so once you pick a brand, switching can be a relearning process. Ex- Casio, rt button is start/stop, left is split/reset. Timex is different. I do recommend that you buy the watch in person so you can feel the touch. The Casios vary from model to model. Some are very light in touch and I avoid them.

Al Rabe mentions the wrist band problem. You can get these with a stainless steel band and I have moved the band from watch to watch. BTW the cases don't last forever either but they're cheap!

When checking lap times while flying, I remove the watch and stick it in my pocket since I can't use both hands.

For a dedicated stopwatch, my fav is a Seiko 321. It has a neat countdown (or up) feature but has become ridiculous in price. Casio also makes a very good stand alone stop watch.

Norm's 2 cents

[Bill Little]

Hi Rusty,

I bought a stop watch out of the Hutcherson-Pagan trailer at Daytona during Speed Weeks several years ago to time corner speeds.  It was probably $30-$50 but it does everything including stuff I don't know how to do! LOL!!  A much cheaper one will work for what we need.

Bill

[Norm Furutani]

Hi Rusty,

I bought a stop watch out of the Hutcherson-Pagan trailer at Daytona during Speed Weeks several years ago to time corner speeds.  It was probably $30-$50 but it does everything including stuff I don't know how to do! LOL!!  A much cheaper one will work for what we need.

Bill

This reminds me! Years ago I wanted a good stop watch so I bought one with all the bells and whistles, could time and store any number of flights (or runners, cars etc.). Sat in the store parking lot trying to get a simple start/stop/reset. Couldn't do it with out the manual in my lap. Walked back into the store and exchanged it for a basic function s-watch!
Norm

[RknRusty]

This reminds me! Years ago I wanted a good stop watch so I bought one with all the bells and whistles, could time and store any number of flights (or runners, cars etc.). Sat in the store parking lot trying to get a simple start/stop/reset. Couldn't do it with out the manual in my lap. Walked back into the store and exchanged it for a basic function s-watch!
Norm

Haha, that's me. I have to keep it simple. Especially if I plan on using it during flight. I'll have to have one on a lanyard as I can not put anything on my left arm with its dialysis access. I can hook the lanyard to my belt and keep it in my left pocket. When the July pay cycle comes around I'll hit the sports stores and pick one.
Rusty

[Eric Viglione]

I got stuck storing the club equipment for years... Including stopwatches and the clicker counters for counting combat cuts, etc. The best advice i can give is no matter what quality you buy, and weather its windup or digital doesnt matter as much as these two things. 1) dont handle the watch with fuel or residue on your hands and 2) dont store in a hot un-airconditioned garage. Those two things kill them the fastest. Other than that, the cheap ones work fine as long as you get one that works on your first try, heh heh.

EricV

[RknRusty]

Haha! Oh brother, number 2) I can handle, but number 1)... heck Eric, I think I sweat spent fuel residue. Maybe I should buy them by the 6pack. I can do what my crazy old F-in-law did when he refused to remove his TV remote fron the plastic bag it was packaged in,

Seriously, you guys are giving me lots of questions to address about whatever brands I look at. This turned into an interesting thread, thanks all.

I'm going to knock out my first full pattern tomorrow on video. I can get total engine run on my phone's stopwatch for that. Can't see through the glare for lap times. I did a spectacular touch and go attempting that with my beloved Shoestring one day. The RC guys were impressed. They thought it was a surprise trick. I let them believe that... oh yeah guys, you have to be able to do that. They think I'm a great expert pilot. Lol
Rusty

[Douglas Ames]

Use your Smart Phone. Most of them have an app pre-installed.

[Steve Helmick]

Rusty, back in the early 2000's, when I was just messin' around with learning the pattern, I used to look at my stopwatch (for total run time status) while I was flying inverted. After doing that a few times, I decided that was a dumbass thing to do, and didn't ever do it again. But I never crashed or even came close while flying inverted and looking at the watch. In fact, other than the first time I tried to fly inverted, I have not crashed inverted. As long as outside loops don't count...and those two times were just glancing blows. Steve

[RknRusty]

Use your Smart Phone. Most of them have an app pre-installed.

I'm going to knock out my first full pattern tomorrow on video. I can get total engine run on my phone's stopwatch for that. Can't see through the glare for lap times. ...

BTW I did knock out my first full pattern today, including some stunts I had never tried before. Maybe I'll post a thread about it with the video link. Or if you're interested my Tube channel button is under my Avatar. Scroll down to recent videos and you'll see it. I got my engine run time close to perfect. Never counted lap speeds, but they were comfortable. A little faster today since we had about 14mph wind, but I'm pretty used to that.
Rusty