MacGregorSailors.com

Hello Board,
I'm still a bit miffed at aborting the second half of my last sailing trip. The marina computer showed a green blob about four hours away heading in our direction. NOA Weather Radio announced possible popup thunderstorms. We erred way to cautiously and missed two days of great sailing. What I really needed at that time was a a little handheld device I could carry on the Mac that could show me the up-to-date weather radar. Ducking behind an island to wait out a little storm would have been no big deal with adequate warning, but NO storms at all materialized.
Today, while reading National Geographic Adventure Magazine, I spotted an ad for the Bushnell Onix 400. It is a combination GPS and Weather Radar receiver with a very clear 3 1/2 inch screen. A quick Google showed it on sale at Bass Pro Shops for $499. It is a great-looking "toy", and Christmas for the Captain is only 5 months away. The problem with this unit is that the weather radar images come in via XM Radio, and I have no other need to pay for a $$$$ contract for XM Radio.
Do any of your have a device that can produce similar results?
(Yes, my free 8 year-old hand-held GPS is about dead, too.)
Thanks,
Dave "Jac"

I previously had a Treo 300 smartphone and I could surf to the weather channel and or NOAA and view the radar. Trouble is cell phones don't always work in certain areas or if out of range.

I know thats frustrating when you miss a good sail, but lets flip that statement

We erred way to cautiously and missed two days of great sailing.

on its head and consider..

We erred too recklessly and went missing...................

Seriously, risk tolerance is a highly personal thing so what is right for one isnt for another. Ive been caught out twice in the full monte, sky lighting up overhead with jagged lightning -both times on the Hudson, where visibility to a storm is lousy (but cell phones work so now I have local radar ability)

On the Greats, you can usually get cell phone coverage and of course storms are visible..the Mac also mitigates this risk by virtue of shallow draft - you can anchor and wade to shore if you decide you dont want to risk a lightning strike in most, but not all, places.

NOAA's "chance of storms" is a forecast I even have the Admiral rolling her eyes at - when we day sail we check the State radar for systems over the middle of the state since they rarely develop in our area, they almost always move in from Western and Central NY....local knowledge is king.

The guys down in Florida would never sail if they docked at the 'chance of thunderstorms' mantra of course.

Im glad you played it safe, the good news is you gained knowledge about what a safe sky looks like in your area, which means next time you can enjoy a good sail by adding your experience to the forecast.

..

I for one never listen to local wx forecasts. In my job, I read Airport Terminal Area Forecasts every 3 hours. Each is for a 24 period. Even though a new forecast comes out every 3 hours, for a 24 hour period, the meteorologists still can't get it right. They come out with and amended forcast, what we like to call "AFTERCASTING" because it comes out after the weather has clearly changed and is completely different from what they had "FORECAST" to have happened. Quite a joke really, especially when you have seen as many as I have.

I ride my motorcycle to work in the summer months to save gas and ware and tare on my car. If I did not ride every time the forecast called for rain, I would never ride at all. As it is, I ride 99% of the time, and stay dry 99% of the time.

G

G :
I have been retired for a short time but have contemplated it for several years. I had been wondering what I might do that would be fun or interesting and . .put some change in my pocket as well. As I contemplated the possibilities I became frustrated . My background is Construction . Humm did that for 38 years not going there. Ive taught X country skiing, but I never want to see snow again. Taught Scuba nahhh
Then it dawned on me . Weather forecasting. You don't have to do it right or do it well and you still get paid..That's the ticket. So I have purchased a NOAA Doppler weather rock and am now seeking a position as we speak.
If the Rock is wet its raining , if its covered with snow , its snowing, if I venture outside and kick it and it wont move it must be very cold outside and thus frozen to the ground. AND if I see it rolling across the yard its dang windy out there. Might you have any suggestions as to were I might apply for a job??