I used an app on my phone. You paint a white line on the thing that is spinning. The app flashes your strobe, which you can speed up or slow down, and when the white line appears stationary the speed the strobe is flashing at is your rpm. Just use the words “tachometer” and “strobe” in the app search and you’ll find several options. There’s also some that say they use sound, but I didn’t try those.
A good way to safe $50. That said I do like the direct read out of the dedicated tool.
Robin Atkinson
August 7, 2023 7:27 am
I am concerned about Phyllis spending an hour crunched up in the cockpit locker: I did this in my lazarette and got a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) behind my knee. Four years later I unwisely stopped taking the “blood thinning” tablet and immediately developed a pulmonary embolism (a lung clot) which could have killed me and has stopped me sailing for five months. Come out of that locker every ten minutes Phyllis!
Thanks for your concern, and good point, that said, I did let her out several times! Seriously, sorry to hear of your experience. A sobering warning to all of us who work on boats.
Hi Robin and John,
Yes, boat yoga has its down sides.
I would suggest that any time one finds oneself in a cramped position, they should unwind themselves regularly. I find boat cushions go with me into the nether regions of the boat and often makes a difference when strategically placed.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy
I have a friend who, working alone late in the day, became trapped head down in the lazarette. It was luck as much as anything else when someone saw his legs waggling in the air and came to his rescue. I have come close to finding myself in the same predicament but have always managed to extract myself unassisted. Another friend fell head first into a deep and narrow chain locker while cleaning it. It took all of the strength of those of us on deck to drag him up by the legs.
Occupational health and safety regulations for industrial and construction worksites have clear training requirements and precautions for confined spaces, the essence of which are to ensure that there is proper ventilation, to have a spotter in case someone gets trapped and not to enter small spaces with whirling machinery. I have been guilty of ignoring all of these, but it only takes one time …
I used an app on my phone. You paint a white line on the thing that is spinning. The app flashes your strobe, which you can speed up or slow down, and when the white line appears stationary the speed the strobe is flashing at is your rpm. Just use the words “tachometer” and “strobe” in the app search and you’ll find several options. There’s also some that say they use sound, but I didn’t try those.
Hi Courtney.
A good way to safe $50. That said I do like the direct read out of the dedicated tool.
I am concerned about Phyllis spending an hour crunched up in the cockpit locker: I did this in my lazarette and got a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) behind my knee. Four years later I unwisely stopped taking the “blood thinning” tablet and immediately developed a pulmonary embolism (a lung clot) which could have killed me and has stopped me sailing for five months. Come out of that locker every ten minutes Phyllis!
Hi Robin,
Thanks for your concern, and good point, that said, I did let her out several times! Seriously, sorry to hear of your experience. A sobering warning to all of us who work on boats.
Hi Robin and John,
Yes, boat yoga has its down sides.
I would suggest that any time one finds oneself in a cramped position, they should unwind themselves regularly. I find boat cushions go with me into the nether regions of the boat and often makes a difference when strategically placed.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy
I have a friend who, working alone late in the day, became trapped head down in the lazarette. It was luck as much as anything else when someone saw his legs waggling in the air and came to his rescue. I have come close to finding myself in the same predicament but have always managed to extract myself unassisted. Another friend fell head first into a deep and narrow chain locker while cleaning it. It took all of the strength of those of us on deck to drag him up by the legs.
Occupational health and safety regulations for industrial and construction worksites have clear training requirements and precautions for confined spaces, the essence of which are to ensure that there is proper ventilation, to have a spotter in case someone gets trapped and not to enter small spaces with whirling machinery. I have been guilty of ignoring all of these, but it only takes one time …
Wilson