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Ronstan Clearstart #233033
05/31/11 01:02 PM
05/31/11 01:02 PM

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MarkMT
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MarkMT
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I'm looking at the prices of Clearstart timers and notice that the big round one that you can strap to the boom (RF4030) is a whole lot more expensive that the wristwatch (RF4031) - e.g. $100 vs $65 at West Marine. Is this just the extra cost of the bigger LCDs or is there some functional difference? Anyone know?

-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: ] #233041
05/31/11 02:40 PM
05/31/11 02:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,525
pgp Offline
Carpal Tunnel
pgp  Offline
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Posts: 5,525
I can SEE the clear start. wink


Pete Pollard
Blade 702

'When you have a lot of things to do, it's best to get your nap out of the way first.

Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: ] #233043
05/31/11 02:59 PM
05/31/11 02:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,152
tampa, fl
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ksurfer2 Offline
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ksurfer2  Offline
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K

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,152
tampa, fl
The Clear Start is great. What I like most about it is that the display is so big and I can see it clearly mounted on the boom. When I wore a watch on my wrist I could not check the time, watch were I was going, and look out for traffic all at the same time. Defintately worth the price!!!!!!


If your havin girl problems i feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems but my beautiful wife ain't one
Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: ksurfer2] #233044
05/31/11 03:04 PM
05/31/11 03:04 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,246
Orlando, FL
tback Offline
veteran
tback  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,246
Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by ksurfer2
Defintately worth the price!!!!!!

Until you lose it (at Tradewinds) ... don't ask me how I know.

Last edited by tback; 05/31/11 03:05 PM.

USA 777
Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: tback] #233057
05/31/11 07:58 PM
05/31/11 07:58 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Karl_Brogger  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Mark- go with the clearstart.


I'm boatless.
Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: Karl_Brogger] #233058
05/31/11 08:47 PM
05/31/11 08:47 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,911
South Florida & the Keys
arbo06 Offline
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arbo06  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,911
South Florida & the Keys
You can see it from the other side of the boat if needed..... Bad butt.


Eric Arbogast
ARC 2101
Miami Yacht Club
Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: arbo06] #233075
06/01/11 01:21 AM
06/01/11 01:21 AM

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MarkMT
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MarkMT
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Just to be clear, both models are Clearstart - just different form factors. I'm presume that what most of you are recommending is the RF4030. Thanks.

Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: ] #233076
06/01/11 02:05 AM
06/01/11 02:05 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,584
+31NL
Tony_F18 Offline
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Another popular model is the Optimum Time OS315, its basically the same as the clearstart but a lot cheaper.

Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: Tony_F18] #233081
06/01/11 04:02 AM
06/01/11 04:02 AM

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MarkMT
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MarkMT
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Thanks for that. I see the US rep is Ocean Racing who have them for $98, so no cheaper than Ronstan. However OutdoorGB sell for $56 and will ship from the UK for $10. Some negative reviews on SA - http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=76587

Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: ] #233082
06/01/11 04:05 AM
06/01/11 04:05 AM

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MarkMT
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MarkMT
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BTW, they look so similar, you have to suspect they're made in the same factory.

Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: ] #233091
06/01/11 07:14 AM
06/01/11 07:14 AM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,355
Key Largo, FL and Put-in-Bay, ...
RickWhite Offline

Carpal Tunnel
RickWhite  Offline

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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,355
Key Largo, FL and Put-in-Bay, ...
Couple of tips for the Clearstart.
1. Since we usually start on starboard tack, I wear the wrist watch on my right arm (sheeting hand), which is always right in front of my face. Easy to see and watch where that hold may open up for you.
2. I program it for 1 minute, and if a 3 minute sequence, press it 3 times; 5 minutes, 5 times.
3. Best feature is the Sync.., if you miss the initial flag, you can hit sync on the next one and it will get you right back on time
https://store.catsailor.com/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=13178&idcategory=124


Rick White
Catsailor Magazine & OnLineMarineStore.com
www.onlinemarinestore.com
Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: ] #233101
06/01/11 09:04 AM
06/01/11 09:04 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston
carlbohannon Offline
old hand
carlbohannon  Offline
old hand

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston
Get the big one. In addition to what everone else said, they are durable and you change your own battery. The Ronstans seem to have better quality control than the generic models.

Also one I bought one on ebay from China that has a GPS. It uses the same case and buttons but the functions and operation is like a bike computer. It is not very well made. It fogs from sweat.


Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: ] #233124
06/01/11 05:39 PM
06/01/11 05:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 329
Chicago, Illinois USA
TEH Offline
enthusiast
TEH  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 329
Chicago, Illinois USA
Mark,

I have the small one. That's what I used at Ripley (and helped us acheive such killer starts). It works fine.

If you start it late, you can hit sync and it advances to the next minute. There is also an audible beep each minute and then more beeps during the last minute and a beep a second during the last 10 seconds, so you don't necessarily have to see it but I can see where you would want to see how much time was left. I wish it was louder.

I went with the smaller one due to cost and I use it for more than just sailing.


Blade F16 USA 725
Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: TEH] #233125
06/01/11 06:30 PM
06/01/11 06:30 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,224
Roanoke Island ,N.C.
Team_Cat_Fever Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Team_Cat_Fever  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,224
Roanoke Island ,N.C.
I've used the small one for awhile. Killed one and they gave me a new one under warranty. I do have a problem with the sync button getting pressed by my hand or glove if I bend my wrist( making you start a minute early). I solved that problem by grinding the button off.You can still sync but you have to press the little metal post instead of the whole button.I also blew the pins out of the first one, breaking the case, and had to drill holes and tie it to the wrist band.
If I had it to do over I'd just get the big one and be done with it.


"I said, now, I said ,pay attention boy!"

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea
Isak Dinesen
If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most.
E. B. White
Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: Team_Cat_Fever] #233149
06/02/11 10:08 AM
06/02/11 10:08 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 120
M
maritimesailor Offline
member
maritimesailor  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 120
Big one, but get two! Put one on your boom (you can swivel the face around in the mount for when you are on port so it isn't upside down), put the second on your crew's arm!

Sync button is key!

Also, I've gone through a lot of these, the plastic "clip" on the strap will eventually break. I take it off (break it off) and stitch the two bands together. You'll thank me when the clip never breaks off and you loose the damn thing overboard....

Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: maritimesailor] #233158
06/02/11 11:21 AM
06/02/11 11:21 AM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,590
Naples, FL
waterbug_wpb Offline
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waterbug_wpb  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,590
Naples, FL
the best part is in light air starts when all the boats are bunched up at the line and everyone's start watch is beeping. It's like you're stuck in a cage with 30 finches...


Jay

Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: waterbug_wpb] #233160
06/02/11 12:01 PM
06/02/11 12:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,969
B
brucat Offline
Carpal Tunnel
brucat  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,969
Yet another reason to hate racing in light air...

On the plus side, anything is better than having to listen to an Ollie horn during Appendix S starts...

Mike

Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: ] #233187
06/03/11 07:18 AM
06/03/11 07:18 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26
MN
Miracle804 Offline
newbie
Miracle804  Offline
newbie

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26
MN
Hi Mark, I have experience with the 4032 model wristwatch (now discontinued) and the larger Clearstart. For the first season I thought the wristwatch was great -- the numerals were large enough, etc. However, after the battery went dead and subsequent replacements never lasted more than a few days, I was forced to go large. It has been just fine and easier to get around the bulky sleave/cuff of my wetsuit or spraytop. West Marine had it on sale for about $60 for a week that season, so keep checking. You may find a lower price if you can afford to wait. Wally

Re: Ronstan Clearstart [Re: Miracle804] #233197
06/03/11 10:42 AM
06/03/11 10:42 AM

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MarkMT
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MarkMT
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M



Thanks Wally. Is that Mr Schuette?


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