Retail:
$159 (45581 - black band, 45601 - leather band)
$169 (45781 - Metal Band)
Our Price: Much Less.
This review covers Three Timex E-Instruments E-Tide, Temperature and Compass Watches. All are the same, except for different face and band styles. We will talk about the Timex E-Instruments E-Tide, Temperature and Compass Watch models 45601 (brown leather band, beige face), 45781 (Black Silver Metal link Band, White face) and the extremely popular 45581 (Black Silicone Band, Black face) models. You may also see these with a T in front of them. It is the same watch. Timex adds the T, some dealers (myself included) drop it as all timex Models begin with a T. This watch is great for surfers, sailors or anyone who loves to know the current tide, air or water temperature.
This all-new design is super stylish while providing analog temperature, tide tracking and an analog compass. You'll simply be blown away by the styling of this watch and the awesome functionality. It's a great everyday watch for those who want to track the tides, or have a compass yet still have a great looking watch.
The Timex E-Instruments E-Tide, Temperature and Compass Watch features:
Analog Compass
Temperature Sensor
Tide tracking indicator (see note below)
INDIGLO(R) night-light
Water resistant to 100 meters
Stainless Steel Case
Stainless Steel bracelet or Black Silicone or Brown Leather Band
Fourth hand which trackes tides, temperature, and compass heading.
It is water resistant to 100 meters.
This is a big watch at 45 mm, 4.5 centimeters or almost 1 inches wide. Easily visible in low light conditions and easy to read display. Has Date Window at 6 o clock postion.
The compass feature is a really nice feature to have on a tide watch. Not only will you know tide, you ll know your compass heading or the compass heading of the wind so you can plan your day a on the water. The compass takes a few minutes to set up, and requires calibration, which is decribed in the manual here:
{To calibrate compass, pull crown to MIDDLE position. Keep watch level or place on level surface (if band interferes, place watch on inverted cup). Watch may be face down, but take care to protect watch face. Press COMPASS push button to begin. Indicator hand rotates two revolutions to remind you to rotate watch. While level, SLOWLY rotate watch two revolutions, taking at least 15 seconds per revolution. This is critical in achieving proper calibration. When done, press any push button, keeping watch level. Indicator hand moves back and forth to acknowledge end of calibration and then moves to current declination angle setting (see DECLINATION ANGLE for more information). If you do not wish to set declination angle, push crown in. Otherwise, to have watch automatically compensate for declination angle, turn compass ring until north is at 12 o clock. Press either TIDE or TEMP push button to move indicator hand east (+) or west (-) to point to your location s declination angle (see table below) using declination scale. Hold push button to move hand fast. Push crown in when done.}
Not too hard, a couple of slow revolutions and boom, your watch is calibrated. I used the additional declination chart (which features major cities in every time major time zone (sorry pacific islanders, didn t see anything for you guys). Timex in their manual references an old website address, but that s OK, this is a simple task. You shouldn t have to, as most of the major cities are represented, but if you really want to dial the calibration in, a simple google search for compass calibration or declination angle should point you in the right direction. (I made a pun.)
I checked the accuracy with both a GPS, regular compass and another digital compass and it was accurate and sensitive. Good Feature.
The Temperature sensor functioned flawlessly in both air and water when compared to a digital sensor. I tested the watch both inside and outside, various times of day, in the pool and on the track. It was very accurate for an analog display. It is neat to watch the fourth hand swing around and dial in the temperature.
Now on to the Tide Tracking indicator. It does not predict the tides out of the box. That is impossible. So many places on earth with tides, and all have different tides. This is a big misunderstanding amongst buyers of this watch. You have to set it first. You d be surprised at the people who ask this question and have bought and returned this item because of that.
Here are the directions from the manual:
{The primary factor in determining tides is moon position. Tide clock uses moon position to predict high and low tides, which are 6 hours and 12.5 minutes apart.Tides are also influenced by sun position and shape of shoreline, so tide clock cannot precisely give times of high and low tides. Periodic adjustment may be necessary.To set tide clock, pull CROWN to MIDDLE position. Press either push button to move hand to current tide. TIDE and TEMP push buttons move hand clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. Push CROWN in when done.
For tide information, go to www. timex.com/expedition}
However that is a dead link Timex changes their site every month or so, so the page is wrong and probably was wrong when the manual went to printing. The original link on that page pointed to the NOAA page for Tides, Currents, Water Level and Tidal Predictions. A link to NOAA and the watch manual in PDF format can be found in the resources that follow this article or simply point your favorite search engine to NOAA Tide Tables or contact your local surf, dive or boating store.
That said, I decided to test the Tide Tracking indicator. I picked my favorite dive spot Destin Jetties, Destin Florida. I set it using the directions and the information found at NOAA. Next day, when the tide watch said High Tide, I logged into NOAA and checked the Tide there. It was right on. Same thing with Low tide later that day. A week later, same thing. Unfortunately, I live in Colorado and it was a painful reminder of my previous life looking at the Tide Tracker everyday.
Overall I d say this is a good watch with a nice easy to read design and nice features. It was very accurate and would be of immense help to any surfer, kayaker, diver, boater to know the current tide position.
Lets recap the Fourth Hand Features:
Compass: Accurate. Pointed me in the right direction. Took a few moments to set up, but was no hassle. Easy to use, function and stylish. Big easy to read hand.
Temperature: Accurate, Inside, Outside. In Water, Dry. Good Feature.
Tide Feature: Accurate if you set it correctly. The directions were a bit difficult as the website address wrong, but overall good feature once figured out and referenced the NOAA Tables. It was worth the trouble to set up properly.
Summary Overall:
Pros: Design. Easy to read, stylish fourth hand. Compass. Temperature Sensor. Tide Tracking Indicator. It looks good as a dress watch or a sports watch. Good choice of colors, band design, material.
Cons: Big. (Ok for some). Bad link in instructions and no link on Timex website for tide tables or additional compass info. Reference NOAA tables or local compass declination charts. Chances are if you own a boat, dive gear or are an outdoor enthusiast you already have this information.
Total: 4.7 of 5 stars
Timex Expedition E-instruments E-tide With Temperature & Compass Watch Series 45601 45581 45781
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