Imperial measurements.

[J Gowers]

#29 Fair comment Marion since I retired, 7 years ago my wife became housebound so I do all the shopping and cooking and buy most of my meat from COSTCO, its cheap and good quality, but you have to buy big packets so most of it goes straight in the freezer, no idea what it weighs.

On slightly different subject

I went on drilling rigs in the late 80s and every length of drillpipe ( approx 30 ft) has to be measured before it goes in the hole so they know exactly where the drill bit is in what could be a 30,000ft hole. I was amused to see that the measuring tapes used had 10 inches to the foot, the foot is the correct size but the inches on the tape are actually 1.2 imperial inches. When I asked why, the reply was it makes it easier for counting. This is standard Worldwide on drilling rigs although many companies now use metric measurements.

[happy daze john in oz]

Hectopastals, sounds a bit like some form of throat lozenger.


But there could be a benefit in going back to pounds shillings and pence.
Then Cappy would have no excuse for not paying the 3/9 three farthings back.

[j.sabourn]

#33 Bet you thought a decometre was to measure the rust on the deck as well John.
If it was to replace 6 inches, then by the same token 3/9 should be about 13 pence, and as 13 is unlucky Cappy might settle for 12 pence , which by present day scrap prices out here , is 6 empty beer cans . Cheers JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Yes and he would by the beer with the money and give you the empty cans to bet your money back on.

[Colin Wood]

Think I have mentioned in another forum, of taking a nephew who was studying at Launceston Nautical College down to do a draught survey at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal. AS the ship came alongside, an old Greek ship, I noticed draught marks were in Imperial, and of course all tables were in long ton's. He of course was completely out of his depth, but I was able to work with it, with a lot of thought. Really got the grey matter working.
Was at the physio's a few months back, and young lady was doing things by 12's. I asked her if she had been trained under an elderly person. She looked perplexed and I had to point out she was using an imperial measure, not a metric. Don't think she really understood the difference.

[j.sabourn]

Maybe they would if they were on a ship 60:years ago and they were fined 100 pounds for every inch overloaded , especially if the fine was 3.25 inches and it was in sterling of old . JS

[rohitkhan]

I know it's been a while, but when measuring things, using imperial measurements is handy, especially if you're more familiar with feet and inches. It’s like having a trusty old friend by your side. For instance, when tackling a project at home, I often grab my tape measure and go for feet instead of meters. It just feels more intuitive, you know?Plus, in the U.S., everything is still in inches, so sticking with Imperial makes life easier. If you ever need a quick reference, check out https://ruler.onl/ . It's an excellent tool for converting measurements on the fly, so you don’t have to use a calculator. I think sticking with what you know best keeps things simple.

[j.sabourn]

#37 I admire the US for sticking by its guns and retaining their own measurements if they still have done so. I would rather stick with a short ton think the equivilant American was 6000 lbs. As to draft and freeboard imperial measurements including fathoms and feet seemed to be justifiable also in retaining , once again the lack of brains in some depts. of government is sadly lacking. The modern day of thinking out here of doing away with money as cash in hand and relying on bank cards, spells coming catastrophes to me, Cheers JS

[j.sabourn]

Errata for 6000 read 2000 JS. Or 20 cwt. 2240 for a long ton.JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Imperial is fine until the day you have to do renovations on a house built when imperial was in use.
Try fitting an metric size door into an imperial size door frame as a mate of mine tried to do. Almost brought the bloody house down.
Like all of us brought up with feet and inches, pounds and gallons.
But now in UK, petrol sold in liters, distance still in miles!!
Money in metric but saw some veg still sold in pounds!!

But I heard a chippy ay to his mate, we need a bit of timber one meter four inches long!!!