# Metrification in the U.S **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [March 14, 2022, 12:03pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580 "2022-03-14T12:03:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tengineer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@tengineer1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tengineer1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/42 "2022-03-17T16:39:00Z")
> [@powerabout](#): > > stick a match or tooth pick in as well… A long time ago when PTFE {Teflon] tape became popular as a replacement for sealants like Rectorseal and similar products I went to a class at MIT being conducted by Dupont to promote their tape. The engineer from MIT that introduced the speaker began by saying that tapered threads do not need sealant, by design. But only if manufactured to exact tolerances on both male and female fitments. In the real world machine tools get duller and the machines themselves get worn. But if fitments are bought from a reputable manufacturer the biggest advantage for using a thread sealant is not to seal but to lubricate for a tighter fitting. If one is buying threaded parts from the lowest bidder having solids to fill in the flaws from the manufacturer is an advantage. Someone asked what to do if a fitting leaked after using PTFE and the engineer said slobber a bunch of Rectorseal on top of the tape, the solids should fill in the gaps. If that bothers you go work on the Apollo space program, thread sealant isn’t used as much. It’s a QC thing. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Seadog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/67e7ee/32.png) [@Chief\_Seadog](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Chief_Seadog)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/43 "2022-03-17T17:02:33Z")
The hardware store I frequent **finally** are beginning to stock metric/inch measuring tapes. I picked up an 8m/26ft one today. ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/44 "2022-03-17T19:11:32Z")
Another example of US cross contamination in the field of measurements. [OM\_ProC\_EM.pdf](https://forum.gcaptain.com/uploads/short-url/ctnYe84bTYqlOAnggqf3a2iEhFo.pdf) (4.6 MB) ![ml](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/4/7/478c7ca04939b9866353c57f269dc8f88596635c.jpeg) ![oz](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/9/e/9e8de98f731c3c6edcf19f14be8c6997d8448e24.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/45 "2022-03-17T21:48:00Z")
![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/5/9/59f58ae5bf40f8b6304185e3183356e088670663.jpeg) Maybe with tapered threads can? PS\> ALA it is NPT. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/46 "2022-03-17T23:37:52Z")
NPT should be the global standard as it works. Metric world is cursed by going down the BSP route ---
**Author:** ![Hogsnort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@Hogsnort](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hogsnort)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 2:48am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/47 "2022-03-18T02:48:58Z")
Senior British and Commonwealth naval officers were very particular on brevity with their signals and sometimes things went wrong. There was a book called “Make a signal” where many, including humorous ones, were recorded. One of my favourites was a flag lieutenant was instructed to organise the admiral’s laundry. He sent without further editing a signal “ have admiral’s woman attend ship’s arrival”. Aghast after reading the hard copy of the signal he sent a further signal. “ Between admiral and woman insert washer. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 3:42am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/48 "2022-03-18T03:42:38Z")
Was always taught never to use tape on hydraulics and fuel systems, never did luckily by my time its was a paste in a tube. ---
**Author:** ![tengineer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@tengineer1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tengineer1)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 5:22am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/49 "2022-03-18T05:22:23Z")
The yellow tape is OK . Worst misuse of tape I saw was teflon tape used on pneumatic instrumentation compression fittings. That stroke of ignorance cost a lot of money. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 11:25am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/50 "2022-03-18T11:25:42Z")
. Measuring systems in the U.S. have evolved such that for most people having to convert is not very common so daily life is not the hellscape some may imagine. Many rulers, measuring cups speedometers, barometers etc are marked with both. A shopper grabbing a two liter bottle of soda off the shelf is not going to bother to convert. For tasks like cooking most recipes match the tools found in the in the kitchen. In the shop tools sets come with both metric and customary. For most cases trial and error works as do adjustable wrenches, no need for any conversions. Other tasks are entirely metric, land navigation for example can be done with a rough sense of the size of a meter (about a yard) USGS topo maps and a GPS set on UTM. For conversions that are common it doesn’t take long to to have memorized or roughly estimated; meters to feet, miles to kilometers, pounds to kilograms, liters to gals and so forth. Be more efficient to use metric only but for most people in every day life having two systems is rarely an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Boebert1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/earl_boebert1/32/116_2.png) [@Earl\_Boebert1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Earl_Boebert1)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/51 "2022-03-18T14:40:53Z")
My go-to conversion site for cooking: > **[Grams to Tablespoons, and Other Cooking Ingredients Conversions.](https://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/cooking/)** > > Online converter for recipe units and cooking ingredients. Got that recipe from an international cookbook with strange units? Convert them! Instantly convert any unit to all others. Cheers, Earl ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/52 "2022-03-18T14:43:10Z")
I grew in the right country at the right time so happy to use both systems ( plus us gal etc )every day and still do, hence notice when either doesnt work. Whats the metric for pressure, cant decide so there are several What the metric for force, cant decide so there are several Love UTM its metric and implemented by US army engineering corp. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/53 "2022-03-18T15:46:09Z")
> [@powerabout](#): > > UTM Almost all USGS topographic maps produced after 1977 show UTM tick marks on the sides of the map (or a full-line grid) every 1,000 meters. Some maps, including all those produced after 2009 ([US Topo maps](https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geospatial-program/us-topo-maps-america?qt-science_support_page_related_con=0#qt-science_support_page_related_con)) include full UTM grid lines. > **[How are UTM coordinates measured on USGS topographic maps? | U.S. Geological...](https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-are-utm-coordinates-measured-usgs-topographic-maps#:~:text=The%20UTM%20)** > > The UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinate system divides the world into sixty north-south zones, each 6 degrees of longitude wide. UTM zones are numbered consecutively beginning with Zone 1, which includes the westernmost point of Alaska,... Example: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/3/2/32c4df1ceddd9e8b02a32da696702052fbbedf19.png) PS\> The height is still in feet though ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/54 "2022-03-19T11:24:52Z")
> [@powerabout](#): > > Whats the metric for pressure, cant decide so there are several Except for the barometer I haven’t encountered SI pressure units outside a classroom but did figure out a good conversion. I recall from school standard pressure (1013.25 mb) is 14.7 psi That’s close to one bar which is 1000.0 mb or 14.5 psi. 10 bar = 1 Mpa. From there a small step to 1 Mpa = 145 psi. The engineers on foreign going deep sea ships use the units bars for pressure. ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/55 "2022-03-19T12:21:02Z")
In aviation, standard atmospheric pressure is given as 29.92 Hg (inches of mercury). I doubt there’s a country or industry that is dependent on a single system of measurement across the board. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 12:30pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/56 "2022-03-19T12:30:09Z")
I can deal with BAR as its common sense, its one atmosphere for a diver and your radiator cap. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 12:31pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/57 "2022-03-19T12:31:02Z")
flying is 50 :50 altitude is feet, distance is metric to keep the frogs happy ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 12:41pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/58 "2022-03-19T12:41:04Z")
In the US, it’s altitude in feet and speed in mph to keep motorists happy as well as speed in knots and distance in nautical miles to keep sailors happy. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 12:52pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/59 "2022-03-19T12:52:38Z")
> [@powerabout](#): > > , its one atmosphere Yes, approximately, 1 atm = 1013.25 mb. ---
**Author:** ![Urs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/958977/32.png) [@Urs](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Urs)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 1:01pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/60 "2022-03-19T13:01:40Z")
The worldwide Airport METARs, distributed by [aviationweather.gov](http://aviationweather.gov), send: - temperature and dewpoint in °C + °F - pressure in inches Hg + mb - winds in MPH + knots + m/s - visibility in sm + km - altitudes in feet AGL ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580/61 "2022-03-19T13:43:15Z")
Nautical miles tie into latitude, as you know “a minute’s a mile”, that is a minute of latitude is (approximately) a nautical mile. Meters ties into latitude as well but in a less convenient way. 90 degrees of latitude ≈10,000,000 meters. 10,000,000 meters / (90 \* 60) = 1851.9 meters, but defined as 1852 meters / mile Some foreign weather forecasts use m/sec for wind speeds, 1 m/sec is 1,94 kts or about 2 knots. [Previous page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/metrification-in-the-u-s/62580.md?page=4)