The Maximum Harbormaster Tide Clock is an Atlantic coast tide clock with patented quartz movement. Powered by one AA battery (not included).
Simple mounting system makes it easy to remove for battery replacement or to make adjustments for different locations.
It has been known for centuries that up and down the east coast, tides occur approximately 50 minutes
later each day than they did the day before. The primary reason for this daily lag can be traced to the
moon. It takes the earth 24 hours to make one complete rotation in relation to the sun. This rotation is
called a “solar day”. It takes the moon 24 hours and 50 minutes to make one complete rotation around
the earth. This rotation is called a “lunar day”. It is the moon’s close proximity to us and the relatively
strong gravitational effect it has on the earth that causes the tides to follow the moon’s lunar schedule of
24 hours and 50 minutes per cycle.
While this lunar cycle is the primary force behind the workings of the tide, it is not the only force. On a
daily basis the average tidal cycle of 24 hours and 50 minutes can be affected by such cosmic variables
as the relative position of the earth to the sun and the specific elliptical pattern of the moon around the
earth. Localized variables affecting daily tides also exist. These would include strong winds, changes in
atmospheric pressure, distant storms and an infinite number of other atmospheric conditions. The total
affect of all these different factors cause tides to vary around the average point of 24 hours and 50
minutes. These variations can cause the reading of your tide clock to be either fast or slow in relation to
actual tides, by as much as one hour or more on any given day. However, the rhythmic 24 hour and 50
minute cycle will prevail over any given 28 day lunar period. Basically what all this means, is that on any
give day the clock may read fast or slow, but over a 28-day period it will average itself out to be correct.
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