Barometer and clock install

Ron in BC · 07-25-2016, 07:27 PM

There have been several others who've installed a set of weather instruments and there are several different approaches show in the thread "A few mods in our new to us 17B".

I've always had a barometer etc. on boats and got in the habit of giving it a tap in the morning to see how my day was going to go. So, inspired by the other posts and the set at Lee Valley being so reasonable I made up a base plate for them.

I wanted to mount them to drywall machine screws so I needed a keyhole slot. I didn't have a bit for that so I improvised. 1/2" milling bit straight in, 1/4" bit sideways and a 1/2" Tee slot cutter in and sideways. More fun than going to Busy Bee and buying a cutter for 8 bucks.

I wasn't going to buy two expensive bits just for this project. So I used a hole saw and then a 1" milling cutter to remove the excess wood. Could have used a chisel but I'm lazy.

Went to slap on a coat or two of polyurethane and found the contents had turned into a white hockey puck.

I looked at other clear finishes I had on hand; some varnish from Turkey when I keep my boat there, great stuff but thick and slow drying and not suited to this job; also the oil base Varethane; the Deks Olje is great stuff, beautiful appearance and easy to sand but put on # 1 flat and wait 3 days before putting on #2 gloss. I'm not that patient. Quick trip to store and a new can of water based polyurethane. Looking at the other products made me appreciate how good and easy to use the water based finishes are.

I like the location where I placed it. I can take a quick peak in from the door and see and it's very visible in the trailer. 80 degrees in there now but only 50% humidity so it's not quite as bad as some other places.

So I'm back to my old routine, get up and give the barometer a tap-tap.

Ron

Patandlinda · 07-25-2016, 07:36 PM

Nice Ron ! Pat

**rbryan4** · 07-25-2016, 07:51 PM

It occurs to me that someone could make some decent extra money making these and selling them. But then they'd miss the fun.

cpaharley2008 · 07-25-2016, 07:57 PM

Ron,
Have you given any thought to replacing the hinges on the bath door with ones that allow the door to completely open?

gbaglo · 07-25-2016, 08:28 PM

Just remember to pull the barometer for travel, or the needle ends up in the 6 o'clock position and you have to reset it.

**Donna D.** · 07-25-2016, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Ron,
Have you given any thought to replacing the hinges on the bath door with ones that allow the door to completely open?

What's the point of that? It doesn't make the opening any bigger

cpaharley2008 · 07-25-2016, 08:50 PM

It allows someone else to go past the door if someone is using the sink in the bath with the door open, helps when there are two of you.

gbaglo · 07-25-2016, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

It allows someone else to go past the door if someone is using the sink in the bath with the door open, helps when there are two of you.

What's the rush?

Ron in BC · 07-25-2016, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Ron,
Have you given any thought to replacing the hinges on the bath door with ones that allow the door to completely open?

Oh, trust me, I've thought about it long and hard. I even looked at the new design to see if they still used the same type of bathroom door. They do

I vacillate between fabricating new hinges that have the pins at the outer side allowing for 180* opening and fabricating a completely new raised panel door, inset into the jamb and fully fitting the opening.

Yup, definitely given it some thought.

Ron

cpaharley2008 · 07-25-2016, 09:22 PM

If I replaced the door I'd use a louvered style, but weight can be an issue with those as they are solid wood, unless a resin type door can be found, like those shutter on your homes.

Ron in BC · 07-25-2016, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Just remember to pull the barometer for travel, or the needle ends up in the 6 o'clock position and you have to reset it.

I'll give it a chance leaving it place. I've had them for many years in boats that in some conditions have fallen off a wave or pounded into a head sea with an impact that would loosen your teeth and never had the hand fall down. Different makes may have different tolerances for vibration.

Ron

gbaglo · 07-25-2016, 09:53 PM

I have the same Lee Valley barometer and it has never fallen out of the mount, but upon arrival, the needle is sitting at 6 O'clock. Took the first one back and they replaced it, but same thing happens. Vibration adjusts the needle. I just pull it out ( not a problem ) and wrap it in a towel for travel.

C&G in FL · 07-26-2016, 05:17 AM

I have to admit the weather station looks very cool. But if it has to be removed when travelling and wrapped to prevent vibration from causing the pointer or needle from dropping to the 6:00 position I personally would consider it more effort than it is worth. While I like to know the inside and outside temperatures in my immediate surroundings and have an Ambient Weather electronic thermometer with remote sensor to provide this information, I simply use the iPhone app if I need to know the weather forecast for the day. I can also look at weather radar using the phone. I have a similar instrument cluster in my house, but as Donna would say, the house is not a rolling earthquake. Granted, there are some locations where cell service is lacking, but I can usually turn on a radio and get the forecast for the day, even if I am somewhere in the boonies. I really do think the weather instrument cluster looks magnificent and compliments the interior of the trailer, but if it does in fact need to be taken down and stored for travel, knowing myself very well, I can say at some point it would be overlooked, could bounce off the wall and get damaged or damage something else. Ron, I would be curious if you experience the same vibration problems with the barometer that Glenn has experienced. Would you please provide an update after you have seen how well the barometer travels.

cpaharley2008 · 07-26-2016, 05:53 AM

Weather radios for me, particularly those with an SAME alert, gives you extra safety margin.

Jim Bennett · 07-26-2016, 06:54 AM

I just go despite the weather, or I would likely not go at all.

Still, I like the look of the weather station, and can be a great daily planning tool.

cpaharley2008 · 07-26-2016, 07:18 AM

One could also use the Maine weather stick Maine Weather Stick - The Green Head

Ron in BC · 07-26-2016, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

. Ron, I would be curious if you experience the same vibration problems with the barometer that Glenn has experienced. Would you please provide an update after you have seen how well the barometer travels.

Yup, will do. Heading off next week to circumnavigate the Olympic Peninsula and will report specifically on that. I've noticed a huge difference on the impact of travel on interior contents between my single axle Scamp and my tandem axle 19. That alone may make the difference. We'll see. I agree, taking it on and off would wear thin pretty quick.

I also have electronic devices to get weather but the brass analog instruments are nostalgic and as others have said, nice to look at.

Ron

gbaglo · 07-26-2016, 11:31 AM

I don't remove the mount for the instruments, I just remove the barometer. No more difficult than opening a twist top beer. It is friction fit and I've not had it fall out.

MyronL · 07-26-2016, 11:40 AM

You could remove the door entirely and rely for privacy on the shower curtain.

MyronL · 07-26-2016, 01:58 PM

re: "...Heading off next week to circumnavigate the Olympic Peninsula...etc."

Lucky guy.

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