# What is stopping you? Metric, again **URL:** \ **Category:** Scuttlebutt\ **Created:** [May 9, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402 "2024-05-09T11:35:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [May 9, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/1 "2024-05-09T11:35:14Z")
> [@USNS Alan Shepard ran aground in Bahrain after captain left bridge to eat,](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/usns-alan-shepard-ran-aground-in-bahrain-after-captain-left-bridge-to-eat/69385/14): > > Although, it does get confusing when ENCs have their depths in meters and american ships have their drafts in Feet, thats when there is just an ounce of math to do. Simple solution: Join the rest of the world and use the metric system. What can go wrong? Everybody on the same page. No confusion, no math and no need to convert anything. What is stopping you? ---
**Author:** ![50thState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/a6a055/32.png) [@50thState](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/50thState)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/2 "2024-05-09T14:00:12Z")
![dead horse](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/3/363466cb0812e31ebf52bcd40a22cf05b2e45395.gif) ---
**Author:** ![yacht\_sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed655f/32.png) [@yacht\_sailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/yacht_sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/3 "2024-05-09T19:13:21Z")
Or set the display to feet or set the shallow color correctly or remember a meter is about a yard or just not be a dumbass and pay attention or probably a few more I missed. ---
**Author:** ![Alex63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@Alex63](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Alex63)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:31pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/4 "2024-05-09T19:31:45Z")
What’s stopping? US high school education. Or rather lack of it ---
**Author:** ![Ea\_y\_Money](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@Ea\_y\_Money](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Ea_y_Money)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/5 "2024-05-09T19:49:14Z")
![20231222_081431](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/8/9/890632651e3b4340e4fab340fddb92252f60b9cb.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:** [May 9, 2024, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/6 "2024-05-09T19:59:45Z")
No, not a dead horse, a VERY relevant and up to date question It is simple, practical and used by the rest of the world. > [@yacht\_sailor](#): > > remember a meter is about a yard A meter is 100 Cm. or 1000 mm. The other way it is 0.001 km., or 0.6213711922 of a US Mile.(1km=3/5 of a Mile if you prefer fractions) Even the “US founding Fathers” realized that decimals were a lot easier than fractions, thus $1=100 cents. That was in 1792. Maybe time to follow their lead on this as well? > [@](#): > > In the period of 1970 to 1980, there was a strong movement in the United States toward widespread use of **the metric system**. That initiative lost momentum, and the nation continues to use a dual system of measurement even though the system is now employed widely throughout the world. There is a strong likelihood that the United States will eventually yield to international pressure to produce and label U.S. goods in **metric units**. Some industries in the nation have already converted to **the metric system** , which is now known as the SI, or International System of Units. > > - \*“_ **Timeline of Important Dates In The History Of The Metric System** _ > - 1668: John Wilkins proposed an integrated system of measurement, similar to the [metric system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_system). > - _1670: Gabriel Mouton proposed his decimal system of measurement based on a fraction of the Earth’s circumference._ > - _1671: Jean Picard proposed the swinging pendulum as a measure of length. > 1790: The National Assembly of France asked the French Academy of Sciences to create a standard system of weights and measures._ > - _1795: France adopted the metric system._ > - _1840: French government required all Frenchmen to convert to the metric system._ > - _1866: Congress legalized the use of the metric system in the United States. However, its use was not required._ > - _1875: The Treaty of the Meter was signed at the close of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures conference._ > - _1957: The U.S. Army and Marine Corps adopted the metric system. Used as the basis for their weapons and equipment._ > - _1965: Great Britain began adopting the metric system._ > - _1988: Congress passed the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act. This act called for all federal government agencies to use the metric system for business by the end of 1992. ”_ Source: [History Of The Metric System | Metric Metal](https://www.metricmetal.com/history-of-the-metric-system/) ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/7 "2024-05-10T00:54:26Z")
All compasses should change to radians…lol Then we can convert to metric time ---
**Author:** ![jdcavo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jdcavo/32/108_2.png) [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 2:39am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/8 "2024-05-10T02:39:33Z")
> [@powerabout](#): > > All compasses should change to radians Cubits ---
**Author:** ![MAK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MAK](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/MAK)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 3:26am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/9 "2024-05-10T03:26:54Z")
> [@ombugge](#): > > What is stopping you? Moon ownership. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 3:57am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/10 "2024-05-10T03:57:06Z")
All DP and I assume other pieces of tech actually use radians but thats hidden from the operator Thanks to India we have a zero and with 1 so all IT is metric but not ---
**Author:** ![50thState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/a6a055/32.png) [@50thState](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/50thState)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 5:28am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/11 "2024-05-10T05:28:05Z")
Yeah you’ve made all those points here like five times before. No one is going to debate you on the merits, we’re also not gonna go lobby our congressmen, we just don’t give a shit. Waste your breathe, flog that deceased pony, post more links and sources and passionate screeds, maybe someday you’ll convince someone. Then again maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 6:02am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/12 "2024-05-10T06:02:53Z")
part metric and part imperial is perfect as many things in metric are a fudge to fit the system Or the numbers are not for daily use as too small or too big ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 10:02am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/13 "2024-05-10T10:02:42Z")
This topic has come up many times. My question is who is the ‘you’ in the 'What’s stopping you?" Who do you think is reading this thread that has to power to switch? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/6/0/602d29d26ffb80fc72f4789d6be4b8a42675aad5.jpeg) @Uncle\_Sam giving @ombugge’s posts careful consideration. I actually made the switch a few years ago and it didn’t work out so I switched back. Posted about it last time this was discussed. [https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/this-metric-imperial-map-lacks-resolution/65512/4](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/this-metric-imperial-map-lacks-resolution/65512/4) Likely it’ll be at least another decade or two before metric becomes official in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 10:26am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/14 "2024-05-10T10:26:23Z")
I grew up with both so it easy till you get to the part where they cant decide which metric units to use in several areas ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 10:32am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/15 "2024-05-10T10:32:44Z")
did overuse of the metric system cause this? [https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/human-butchery-notorious-mutilator-who-streamed-body-modifications-on-30-victims-jailed-for-life/news-story/b961627457789b5a7059666928c5de5c](https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/human-butchery-notorious-mutilator-who-streamed-body-modifications-on-30-victims-jailed-for-life/news-story/b961627457789b5a7059666928c5de5c) Looks like he moved to an imperial country to operate, pardon the pun ---
**Author:** ![Meme.Lord](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/meme.lord/32/29401_2.png) [@Meme.Lord](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Meme.Lord)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 10:57am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/16 "2024-05-10T10:57:17Z")
> [@ombugge](#): > > What is stopping you? I’m not certified to weld new draft marks on the bow and stern. American flagged, foreign built ships that were strapped in metric, we used metric, it was heavenly. It makes sense. Even started to visualize what a meter looks like. Please tell someone to make our ships metric. Topping of tanks with fractions is the silliest thing in the world when we could be using decimals that make sense. > [@yacht\_sailor](#): > > Or set the display to feet This isnt actually an option on an ECDIS. ENCs are metric and that is that, you can change everything else to feet, except for soundings ans contours. If you know about a secret setting I’ve never been able to find, nor has anyone on any of the other ships ive been on, let me know. Instead I have had to look at the “depth in meters” warning on every ships where they cant figure out what it means if their XTD is 50 meters. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 11:02am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/17 "2024-05-10T11:02:29Z")
> [@powerabout](#): > > All compasses should change to radians…lol The radian, denoted by the symbol rad, is **the unit of angle in the International System of Units (SI)** and is the standard unit of angular measure used in many areas of mathematics. > [@powerabout](#): > > Then we can convert to metric time Maybe get used to the 24-hr. clock first. With the now commonly used digital watches it is little use for “AM or PM”. That has caused enough confusion over the years. PS\> Holliwood can still use; “Enemy at 9 o’clock” (w/o AM/PM) for dramatic effect. “Metric time” has not caught on for some reason, although the concept was first proposed in the late 18th century (during the French Revolution) as part of the broader metric system of measurement. > [@](#): > > Metric time is a unique system of measuring time that deviates from the traditional 24-hour clock used in most parts of the world. It is based on the decimal system, making it more consistent and easier to calculate. In this system, a day is divided into 10 hours, each hour into 100 minutes, and each minute into 100 seconds. This means that a metric day consists of 100,000 metric seconds, making conversions between different units of time much simpler. Being a computer wizzard I presume you are familiar with Unix time?: > [@](#): > > Unix time, also known as POSIX time or epoch time, is a system for measuring time in computing. It represents the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This standardized method of timekeeping is widely used in Unix-like operating systems and serves as a fundamental reference point for various computer systems and programming languages. Source: [Time conversion](https://www.metric-conversions.org/time-conversion.htm) Make your pick, but I stick to the 24-hr. clock as the most convenient way of counting time for everyday use. (Less confusion is a bonus) ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 11:05am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/18 "2024-05-10T11:05:12Z")
The typical green third mate using an ECDIS is likely navigating in a virtual world anyway. As long as they understand the draft is x units and depths less than x are dark blue they are set. Eventually with use of any system becomes more intuitive. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/19 "2024-05-10T11:06:28Z")
99% of the world has been convinced already, incl. many in the US. ---
**Author:** ![MAK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MAK](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/MAK)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 11:08am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402/20 "2024-05-10T11:08:10Z")
Given how easy conversions are nowadays this conversation is even dumber than it used to be. [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/what-is-stopping-you-metric-again/69402.md?page=2)