Every year I spend inordinate amounts of time estimating distances on maps using dental floss, twist-its, wires, string, etc. Does anybody find "map odometers" (rulers with wheels) to be accurate? If so, any suggestions on where to get them? TFJ ------------------------------------------ The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any further disclosure or use, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message or any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in error, please delete it and notify the sender. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Joyce, Thomas F." <TJoyce_at_bellboyd.com> > Every year I spend inordinate amounts of time estimating distances on maps using > dental floss, twist-its, wires, string, etc. Does anybody find "map odometers" > (rulers with wheels) to be accurate? Mine is no more or less accurate than any other way of measuring, but it's a tad finicky to use. I'd guess there are better models on the market. Mine is a no-name device I got almost 25 years ago. > If so, any suggestions on where to get them? A good map store should have them. This one looks decent and is made by a reputable manufacturer. Never used this one, so I'm not endorsing anything! http://www.acornnaturalists.com/p9498.htm Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On a chart you can use longitude (not latitude, except equator) to measure nautical miles (nm). A minute is a nm. Just use some dividers to walk-off distances. Hell, use a piece of paper with tick marks. How precise do you need to be? I often use fingers or any handy object. Those roller type devices are ok when you're sitting at a desk. Do your float plan and use it for reference. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 5/3/2002 10:10:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time, tayls_at_snowcrest.net writes: > Do your float plan and use it > for reference. > Agreed. I often sit at my desk, lawn chair, crazy creek, barcolounger, et al, with the string and dividers, writing the distance on my chart, as per the intended route. I've not used a wheely thing. Do they work? Rob G. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Joyce, Thomas F." <TJoyce_at_bellboyd.com> > If so, any suggestions on where to get them? Here's another if you want digital: http://www.ewalker.com/adgear/gift.htm *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Every year I spend inordinate amounts of time estimating distances on maps using dental floss, twist-its, wires, string, etc. Does anybody find "map odometers" (rulers with wheels) to be accurate? If so, any suggestions on where to get them? TFJ ------------------------------------------ I certainly get a lot of mileage out of mine... On most topo maps at 1:24000 I'm generally within 1/4 mile of the true distance... Running the river subsequently with a gps receiver bears that out... It's the readability of the scale that's the limiting factor. Error would be greater on a 1:63000 map, for example. Still, good enough for most work. I've seen them available at outdoor stores such as EMS in the NJ/NY area, and I think they're in the CampMor catalog. They can also be found in stores that specialize in art & architecture. Here in NJ that's Triangle Inc. or Pearl (which I think may have a website). They usually run about $7-$10 but there are some snazzy ones with built in calculators that will run you up to $100. If they have the maps for your area, you may want to look at the TOPO! series of interactive maps on CDROM. One of its features is the ability to trace a path within the map with your mouse (and across different quads automatically...) and have it report distance, vertical profile, etc. Joe P. PS --- Your word for today: Opisometer. That's the original name for those "map odometers". *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Actually, it's the length of a minute of longitude that changes according to distance from the equator. Use minutes of latitude (on the vertical or north-south side of the chart) to measure distances on a chart. Chuck Holst -----Original Message----- From: Sid Taylor [SMTP:tayls_at_snowcrest.net] On a chart you can use longitude (not latitude, except equator) to measure nautical miles (nm). A minute is a nm. Just use some dividers to walk-off distances. Hell, use a piece of paper with tick marks. How precise do you need to be? I often use fingers or any handy object. Those roller type devices are ok when you're sitting at a desk. Do your float plan and use it for reference. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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