NavList:

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I do, in fact, own two Casio radio updated watches. Both are solar powered. One is a fancy model which I wear all the time. It has a built in barometer, thermometer, altimeter, compass...the list keeps going. Even on days when it doesn't sync correctly, I find it is never more than about a half second off. But I still want a highly regular *mechanical* timepiece. My fiancee gave me a very nice mechanical stopwatch. But eventually I'd like to get a proper chronometer, perhaps a Mühle:

http://www.muehle-glashuette.de/en/nautical-instruments/yacht-and-marine-chronometer.html

...or, in lieu of an actual chronometer, maybe even a Bulova Precisionist:

http://bulovaprecisionist.com/

Being able to find one's position entirely without electronics and with no connection to the rest of the world is a big part of what drew me to cel nav. I am also fascinated with all things mechanical. I was one of those kids who took everything apart even if I couldn't quite get it back together. I am inspired by the ways in which inventors solve problems, and I just have to see inside to know how they did it! (I won't take the chronometer apart though!)

As for the index error, I was very careful to read the off arc number correctly, subtracting the indicated minutes value from 60. I have since attempted to adjust the index error out. I will be taking some more sights soon to see if that improves my results a little. I do plan on getting a 7x scope as well. Hopefully sooner than later. I believe that will help, too. A question: does the 7x scope sold by Celestaire fit in the Astra's box? Mounted, unmounted or both?

And finally, regarding the use of an exclamation point as both decimal and minute indicator: I had never seen this until I came here, to NavList. I admit that at first I was a bit puzzled by this, but having later seen the similar way in which some texts denote minutes it made sense. I assumed it was the preferred way, but either way is just fine with me. :)

-Sean C.
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